McCann's Manor by Charlotte Holley Page B

someplace where he is sure it will never be found. After a while, he claims McCann's property, saying McCann took off with a lot of money that didn't belong to him and he will take the property for what McCann stole from him."
    Kim smiled, “You think there was ever any gold involved?"
    Liz shrugged. “I don't know. Sure makes a hell of a story, though, doesn't it?"
    Kim laughed aloud then. “John may be right—you should write it all out and sell it!"
    "Don't make light of this, Kim. If even half of this is true, it is some heavy stuff, for sure."
    "I know. It's just hard to believe people are like that, though. I mean, suppose there had been a fortune in gold? Where would McCann have hidden it so no one could have found it all these years?"
    "Who says no one ever found it? Maybe the Indians hauled it off and put it in a cave somewhere."
    Kim pursed her lips, “Not likely, given that they already thought the place was full of evil spirits before there were murders here."
    Liz laughed. “Good point, Sherlock. So, you want to accompany me to the library and see if we can locate this hidden passage? You can explore books while I scrutinize the bookshelves."
    Kim shook her head, “No, I have to be in Austin all afternoon to help make plans for the Haunted House thing. Are you sure you won't change your mind and go with me? I'm not sure I feel good about leaving you alone with all the revelations you're having here."
    Liz shrugged her shoulders, “Don't be silly. Spooky and Ghost will be here with me. Besides, I need some time to ponder all this information that is flooding in. What could happen?"
    "Heaven only knows, Liz. You might get lost in a secret passage and we might never see you again."
    "You know better than that; I'm not that easy to get rid of!"
    Kim laughed, “Seriously, though, what are your plans?"
    Liz stretched and walked to the end of the kitchen. “I could use a few hours of shut-eye. Then I thought I might explore the house a bit more for the ideal place to set up my beadwork studio—you know—unpack some beads; maybe start a project—or at least plan one out."
    " That sounds sensible."
    "Yeah, I'm the sensible type, you know. And McCann must have kept some kind of journal himself. Maybe I will poke around some and see if I can find it."
    "Oh, good idea, Liz! That will be a nice, safe thing to do while I'm gone."
    Liz shook her head, hands on hips, “There you go being sarcastic again. Of course it will be safe—I'm on McCann's side."
    "Right. Well, I have some computer work to do before I take off for town, so I'll be in my room if you need me."
    "Okay. Aren't you meeting Wade for lunch today?"
    Kim stiffened and looked at the ceiling. “Yes, I am. He's leaving to go back to California tomorrow and I promised I would have lunch with him. And thank you so much for reminding me."
    Liz stifled a chuckle, left the kitchen. “Right! See you later, cutie."

Chapter 7
    Liz waved from the end of the walkway as Kim drove away. Liz forgot all about the nap she had mentioned earlier, abandoning the thought for the giddy sensation of anticipation that fluttered in her stomach as she walked toward the house. The beads would wait a while longer. Right now she was interested in finding tome of those secret passages. All her life she had dreamed of being in a house filled with mysterious noises, ghosts and secret passages. She never believed she would get the chance to visit one, much less be given the privilege of living there.
    Kim would be gone until late evening at best, Liz knew. Lunch with Wade would take a couple of hours and then she was meeting with the Austin Parapsychology Group to help them make plans for the Halloween Haunted House. The event was the biggest fund raiser of the year for the APG and since it was mid-September, time was growing short for all the plans to be finalized. The problem was, the APG wasn't noted for agreeing on anything and trying to exchange ideas with their illustrious