But no one else seemed to mind. In fact, Pastor Smith actually said, "Thank God."

Sam said, "Thanks, Daisy. She was driving us nertz."

Dr. Benjamin said, "She fainted? Good."

Well, there you go. I'd been mean, and everyone appreciated me for it.

"What happened to Mrs. Franbold," I asked after making sure Betsy still breathed. She did.

"Don't know," said Sam. "That's why the uniforms are here."

"Oh. I wondered why you'd called the cops."

Sam gave me a frown I don't believe I deserved. "Any time there's a sudden, unexpected death, it's a good idea to get medical opinion. Dr. Benjamin is the one who suggested we call the uniforms."

"Really?" Still kneeling, although my knees were beginning to object, I turned to Doc Benjamin. "Why's that, Doc?"

He didn't answer me for quite a few seconds, and his lips pursed in and pooched out, as if he were determine whether or not to answer my question. I held my breath and slowly got to my feet, making sure Betsy Powell was firmly attached to her chair and wouldn't fall out of it.

At last, the doctor looked at me and said, "From the signs, it looks to me as if Mrs. Franbold has taken or been given some kind of poison."

As luck would have it, Betsy Powell opened her eyes in time to hear Dr. Benjamin's words. She let out a screech that could probably have been heard in Illinois. Fortunately, she fainted again instantly.

Unsettled Spirts.

by Alice Duncan.

To purchase.

Unsettled Spirits.

from your favorite eBook Retailer, visit Alice Duncan's eBook Discovery Author Page www.ebookdiscovery.com/AliceDuncan.

Discover more with.

eBookDiscovery.com.

Alice Duncan expressed her creative side by dancing and singing in an effort to avoid what she knew she should be doing with her life (writing sounded so hard). She belonged to two professional international folk-dance groups and participated in a Balkan women's choir where she sang the tenor drone. In her next life, she'd like to come back as a soprano.

Alice finally gave into writing in October of 1992 and sold her first title in January of 1994. That book, One Bright Morning, was published by HarperCollins in January of 1995 and won the HOLT Medallion for best first book.

In September of 1996, Alice and her herd of wild dachshunds moved from Pasadena, CA, to Roswell, NM, where her mother's family settled fifty years before the aliens crashed.

Alice's favorite part about writing is that she can portray the world the way it should be instead of the way it is. She hopes she can continue to write forever!

You can visit Alice at www.aliceduncan.net.

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