Shirley Damsgaard - The Witch Is Dead (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 5)

---

SHIRLEY DAMSGAARD
THEWITCH IS DEAD

To Sheba.
May your spirit run with the wolves, my old friend.
Contents
Prologue
A hot, summer wind tossed the clouds across the night
One
Tink stood with her nose pressed to the large plate-glass
Two
Before I reached the front steps, the screen door slammed
Three
Oh, Lord, even my eyelids hurt, I thought, as I
Four
A quick look at my watch told me that I
Five
I noticed my hands were shaking, and I felt icy
Six
Since Darcis classes started in two weeks, I struggled to
Seven
Ophelia, Darci said, this is Gertrude Duncan.
Eight
The light on the base of the cordless phone glowed
Nine
Friday night Darci had arrived as early as promised. As
Ten
Tink, I think the pole goes in that pocket, I
Eleven
Tink and I were up at dawn to break camp
Twelve
As I walked into the viewing room at the funeral
Thirteen
As I walked into the library Tuesday morning, Darci hurried
Fourteen
I examined my face in the mirror on my vanity
Fifteen
How was your date? I heard Tink ask through the
Sixteen
Confused, I followed close on Abbys heels as we walked
Seventeen
Kevins nice, isnt he? Tink commented when we arrived home
Eighteen
Quit pacing, Ophelia. It wont bring Tink home any sooner,
Nineteen
The scenery flew by the car window, but my unseeing
Twenty
The phone began ringing at 7:00 A.M.

Throwing off the
Twenty-One
We escorted Aunt Dot across the yard to the summerhouse.
Twenty-Two
We removed our robes for Abby to wash later and
Twenty-Three
Here, are these okay? Darci asked, handing me a stack
Twenty-Four
The Muzak version of the Beatles Paperback Writer sounded softly
Twenty-Five
We killed the hours between Aunt Dots appointment and noon
Twenty-Six
It wouldnt do to leave Darcis car along the gravel
Twenty-Seven
I woke up to a silent house. Abby and Aunt
Twenty-Eight
Where are we going?
Twenty-Nine
I sat on the passenger side of Ethans car with
Thirty
The need to wash away the scent of death I
Thirty-One
When we pulled into the driveway twenty minutes later, Ethan
Thirty-Two
We waited until the patrol car arrived at Christophers.
Thirty-Three
The tears wouldnt stop.
Thirty-Four
I wandered the dark, silent house. Id tried to sleep,
Thirty-Five
I tore through the library, passing a startled Darci and
Thirty-Six
I couldnt let go of Tinks hand as Bill took

About the Author
Others Books by Shirley Damsgaard
Copyright
About the Publisher
Prologue
A hot, summer wind tossed the clouds across the night sky and tugged at the girls nightgown as she walked down the path.

Above her, leaves whispered, calling her deeper and deeper into the woods. From a distance came the hoot of a solitary owl.
The girl lifted her head, sniffing the humid air. The smell of damp vegetation tickled her nose. She paused. Another scent rode the night breeze, swirling around her like a fog.

She took a deep breath and her stomach twisted. Rotten meat. Did a carcass of a dead animal lie spoiling past the trees on her right? Violet eyes searched the darkness but saw nothing.
A trickle of dread shot up her spine. Should she turn and run, back to the safety of the Victorian cottage she shared with Ophelia, her guardian? But something pulled her forward. She took another step, and the smell intensified.

Again her stomach threatened to revolt. She struggled to swallow the rising bile. Her breath hitched in her throat, and her dread changed to fear.
What waited in the woods?
She turned and swiftly retraced her steps along the path. Sanctuary waited for her beyond the trees that lay ahead.
Her steps quickened.
Suddenly she froze.
Suddenly she froze.

Behind her she heard the low moan of someone in pain. Lowering her head, she felt a current of panic travel through her nerve endings like electricity. She willed her feet to move, but they wouldnt. The moan, closer now, was more like a hiss.
Slowly, she turned.
Chalky gray faces with dark hollow eyes peered at her from the shadows, moving in noiseless unison from behind the trees.

As if a silent signal had been given, they gathered in a group at the end of the path. Their clothes hung in tatters from their decaying bodies. Bony hands stretched out in supplication, while their bloated lips moved in wordless pleas.
She recoiled in horror.
The corpses moved toward her, and their pain washed over her in waves. Her throat tightened.

A scream rose from deep inside her. She wanted to run but couldnt. Helpless, she watched the horrible sight drift closer and closer.
She tried to jerk her body free, but seemed glued to the pathway. What was wrong with her legs? Why couldnt she flee?
Ophelia, she cried in her mind,Ophelia, help me! Help me, please!
They were nearly upon her, and she felt their foul breath surround her.
Resigned to her fate, she clenched her eyes shut and waited for the skeletal hands to grab her.
Resigned to her fate, she clenched her eyes shut and waited for the skeletal hands to grab her.

Any second now the horror would touch her.
The seconds stretched into minutes. She sniffed the air. The stench that had enveloped her was gone. Slowly, she peeked from scrunched up lids. Nothing.

Cautiously she opened her eyes wide.
The vision was gone.
The woods were gone.
The ghouls were gone.
She was safe in her own bed, in her own room. Relief flooded her.

Her body began to relax.
Abruptly, the relief she felt fled. She knew what the dream meant.
With heavy hands she threw off the sheet covering her and rose stiffly. Silently, she walked out of her room, down the hall, and into the next bedroom.
What? Ophelia bolted up and scanned the room, disoriented.
What? Ophelia bolted up and scanned the room, disoriented.

Spotting Tink standing over her, she lay back against her pillows with a sigh. Tink.
Im scared, Ophelia, the girl whispered.
Here, Ophelia said, patting the mattress and scooting over.
Without a word, Tink sank down next to her.
Silently, Tink shook her head.
Alarmed, Ophelia sat upright.
Alarmed, Ophelia sat upright.

Whats wrong, Tink?
Tink wrapped her thin arms around herself. Ophelia, the shadows are back.
One
Tink stood with her nose pressed to the large plate-glass window, then whirled around, her thin face a picture of excitement. Look, she said. Do you think thats Aunt Dots plane?
From where I sat next to Abby, I searched Tinks face to see any lingering signs of last nights vision. Her eyes seemed clear, not shadowed as they had been.

Her smile seemed real, not forced. Relieved, I smiled back. It should be landing soon. I glanced at my watch, then up at the large monitor showing the arrival times of flights. Its three-thirty now, and the flight from Raleigh is supposed to arrive at 4:05.
Tink turned away and went back to her vigil.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Abby studying me, her face mirroring the consternation my face had worn when watching Tink.
What? I said defensively.
My grandmother lifted an eyebrow. Are you going to tell me whats going on? Her voice carried the soft lilt of the mountains in Appalachia where she was born.
Scrunching my eyes shut and rubbing my forehead, I thought about how to answer her.
Do I tell her about Tinks nightmare?I didnt want to upset her.

Abby hadnt seen her mothers sister, Dot, since her visit three years ago to her girlhood home. My grandmother had anticipated Aunt Dots visit to Iowa for months. I didnt want anything to mar it.
Opening my eyes, I slid a look at Abby sitting there, the picture of calm. Her silver hair was done in a neat twist at the back of her head. She wore a floral skirt and ivory shell with a matching scarf.

Next page