Cloaked Campaign, page 25
“Just opening the bakery. And why, if there was such a thing as ghosts, would my aunt’s restless spirit want to break my coffee mug?”
“She’s trying to reach you, dear. Ghosts are very limited in what they can do. Move things, appear to you, maybe make noises. It’s not like on TV, where they can just walk up and talk to you and explain themselves in words. All she can do to reach you is to move things around.”
Erin nodded. “I see. Well, I don’t believe in ghosts, so I’m going to look for more earthly explanations. You can… believe what you like.”
“Oh, I do,” Melissa agreed. “I am going to talk to the others and we’ll see if we can sort this out. After all, we all knew Clementine. I knew her my whole life. We’ll figure out what it is that she wants to reach you for. Mary Lou’s sister-in-law, she’s very good with spirits. We’ll see if she can come here and make contact with your poor dead auntie.”
Erin glanced over at Piper, widening her eyes, sure she was being played. But Piper gave no sign that Melissa was joking. And Melissa continued to look earnest and excited about the whole ghost business.
“Isn’t contacting ghosts considered sorcery in Christian circles?” Erin suggested.
“No, no! Mary Lou’s sister-in-law won’t be using a Ouija board or any other devil’s tool. She just uses prayer. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Ah.” Erin nodded. She looked at her watch as obviously as possible. Time was trickling by and she had work to do. “Did you want to leave me a flyer about your fundraiser, Melissa?” At Melissa’s blank look, she indicated the woman’s clipboard. “That was why you came in here, wasn’t it?”
“Oh, yes!” Melissa pulled a fuchsia-colored page from her clipboard and handed it to Erin. “Of course, no one is required to donate or put time into it, but every little bit is appreciated! I’d better get on my way! If I stop to yap at every store, it’s going to take me all day! I’m already busier than a one-armed paper hanger.”
Erin nodded and gave a little wave, and Melissa went on her way. Erin sighed and looked at Officer Piper. He had a gorgeous smile, when he let it show.
“Miss Price, I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance. You feel free to call on me if you have any more troubles. Hopefully, your ghost won’t cause any more trouble.”
“Thanks,” Erin said dryly. “Just tell me… everyone in town doesn’t believe that, do they? In the existence of ghosts, I mean? And that they can just… be contacted?”
“Not everyone is quite as literal as Mrs. Lee, but… I do imagine most of them will agree that your shop might be haunted. They might not be willing to say that it is, but they won’t say that it isn’t…”
Erin shook her head. “I suppose it’s harmless, as long as they aren’t demanding to hold séances in here.”
Gluten-Free Murder, Book #1 of the Auntie Clem’s Bakery culinary cozy series by P.D. Workman can be purchased at pdworkman.com
ALSO BY P.D. WORKMAN
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MYSTERY/SUSPENSE:
Reg Rawlins, Psychic Detective
Paranormal Mystery & Adventure
What the Cat Knew
A Psychic with Catitude
A Catastrophic Theft
Night of Nine Tails
Telepathy of Gardens
Delusions of the Past
Fairy Blade Unmade
Web of Nightmares
A Whisker's Breadth
Skunk Man Swamp
Magic Ain't A Game
Without Foresight
Careful of Thy Wishes
Time to Your Elf
Undiscovered Tomb
Missing Powers
Thrice Spared (Coming Soon)
Cloaked Campaign (Coming Soon)
Auntie Clem’s Bakery
Culinary & Pet Cozy Mysteries
Gluten-Free Murder
Dairy-Free Death
Allergen-Free Assignation
Witch-Free Halloween (Halloween Short)
Dog-Free Dinner (Christmas Short)
Stirring Up Murder
Brewing Death
Coup de Glace
Sour Cherry Turnover
Apple-achian Treasure
Vegan Baked Alaska
Muffins Masks Murder
Tai Chi and Chai Tea
Santa Shortbread
Cold as Ice Cream
Changing Fortune Cookies
Hot on the Trail Mix
Fateful Plateful
Cut Out Cookie
On the Slab Pie
Wedding Cake Crush (Coming Soon)
A Waffle Death (Coming Soon)
Recipes from Auntie Clem's Bakery
Zachary Goldman Mysteries
Private Investigator
She Wore Mourning
His Hands Were Quiet
She Was Dying Anyway
He Was Walking Alone
They Thought He was Safe
He Was Not There
Her Work Was Everything
She Told a Lie
He Never Forgot
She Was At Risk
He Drowned in Memory
Their Walls Were Empty
They Came for Him
Kenzie Kirsch Medical Thrillers
Unlawful Harvest
Doctored Death
Dosed to Death
Gentle Angel
Rushin' Death (Coming Soon)
Posed for Death (Coming Soon)
Death of a Corpse (Coming Soon)
Parks Pat Mysteries
Police Procedural Set in Canada
Out with the Sunset
Long Climb to the Top
Dark Water Under the Bridge
Immersed in the View
Skimming Over the Lake
Hazard of the Hills
Knows the Hills (Coming Soon)
Spanning the Creek (Coming Soon)
Sanctuary in the Stream (Coming Soon)
High-Tech Crime Solvers Series
Virtually Harmless
Cowritten with D. D. VanDyke
California Corwin P. I. Mystery Series
The Girl in the Morgue
Stand Alone Suspense Novels
Looking Over Your Shoulder
Lion Within
Pursued by the Past
In the Tick of Time
Loose the Dogs
YOUNG ADULT FICTION:
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YA Suspense
Mito
EDS
Proxy
Toxo
Pain
Fail
Between the Cracks:
Gritty Contemporary YA Family Saga
Ruby
June and Justin
Michelle
Chloe
Ronnie
June, Into the Light
Tamara’s Teardrops:
Gritty Contemporary YA
Tattooed Teardrops
Two Teardrops
Tortured Teardrops
Vanishing Teardrops
Breaking the Pattern:
Gritty Contemporary YA
Henry
Sandy
Bobby
Stand Alone Young Adult:
Stand Alone
Don’t Forget Steven
Those Who Believe
Cynthia has a Secret
Questing for a Dream
Darkness before the Dream (prequel story)
Once Brothers
Intersexion
Making Her Mark
Endless Change
Gem, Himself, Alone
AND MORE AT PDWORKMAN.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
P.D. Workman is a USA Today Bestselling author, winner of several awards from Library Services for Youth in Custody and the InD’tale Magazine’s Crowned Heart award, and has published over 90 mystery/suspense/thriller and young adult books, including stand alones and these series: Auntie Clem's Bakery cozy mysteries, Reg Rawlins Psychic Investigator paranormal mysteries, Zachary Goldman Mysteries (PI), Kenzie Kirsch Medical Thrillers, Parks Pat Mysteries (police procedural), and YA series: Tamara's Teardrops, Between the Cracks, and Breaking the Pattern.
Workman loves writing about the underdog, who the reader may love or hate. She has been praised for her realistic details, deep characterization, and sensitive handling of the serious social issues that appear in all of her stories, from light cozy mysteries through to darker, grittier young adult and mystery/suspense books.
P. D. Workman, does not shy from probing the deep psychological scars of childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Also characteristic of this author, these extremely sensitive issues are explored with extensive empathy, described with incredible clarity, and portrayed with profound insight.
—KIM, GOODREADS REVIEWER
Some of Workman's titles have been translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, and Italian.
Workman began writing at an early age and is a prolific reader as well as writer. She is also passionate about teaching and learning, expresses her creativity through art and cooking, and loves exploring the Calgary parks and green spaces where the Parks Pat Mysteries are set. She was a legal assistant for many years and has done extensive charitable work.
Workman was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, and is married with one adult son.
Please visit P.D. Workman at pdworkman.com to see what else she is working on, to join her mailing list, and to link to her social networks.
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P.D. Workman, Cloaked Campaign
