Page 10 of Real Fake Hauntings

“Why didn’t you tell the truth?”

Her mouth drooped. “Shane and Alex would’ve wanted to come with me.”

Ah yes. A teenager’s eternal problem when faced with two slightly older friends who liked her a lot, lot. I wondered if their protectiveness was a shifter thing or natural instinct. Shifters were known to be somewhat…let’s say Neanderthal about things.

“Good point.” Looking back at Rufus, I pointed sternly toward the pentagram. “Rufus. Track.”

Rufus gave me the canine equivalent of an eye roll, but this time bothered himself to sniff around the wall, then around the ground. Then he sat and lolled his tongue.

“Glamour potion,” I guessed aloud. Disappointing, but not totally unexpected. Glamour magic could do more than simply obscure physical features, they could also nullify scent.

As we went back to the main street, Key said quietly, “Thank you for texting me.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

Key beamed.

FOUR

Our next stop was Janet’s Garden, a flower shop owned by a paranormal. It was several blocks away according to my phone, so I used the walk there to send Brimstone and Destruction a text.

Any new witches in town?

His answer was swift.

Don’t worry. Not changing suppliers.

Loyal customers, enough to make one choke up.

“Are you okay?” Key asked.

Fluffy whined by my side.

I waved their worries away. “Yes, yes, just got a little sentimental.”

Thank you, I texted Brimstone. If you learn of anyone new in town, please let me know.

By the time we arrived at Janet’s Garden, it was midmorning. A tall woman in her late thirties dressed in jeans and a fleece jacket was waiting impatiently by the front of the shop, a tiny dog with bulging eyes in her arms. I recognized her from some of the PBOA meetings. From what I remembered she had a penchant for charming, polite young men. Hopefully, she liked charming, polite young women too.

“Hello, Janet,” I said warmly.

The tiny dog began barking like some sort of possessed demon alien pet, fighting against Janet’s hold to jump at me and latch onto my face.

I took an involuntary step back, unwilling to host alien eggs. By my side, Fluffy jumped half a foot in the air, then barked in confusion. Rufus let out a low growl of warning, and the tiny dog bared its teeth at him. Points for pluck.

“Silent, Angel,” Janet ordered.

Angel growled and made biting motions.

Fluffy moved forward and barked again, ready to defend me.

“Fluffy, no.” I gathered her in my arms, and the demon dog’s growls immediately lessened now that Fluffy was at the same level.

Yeah, thought so.

“Sonia sent us,” I said. “About the pentagram.”

“About time,” Janet grumbled. “Give me a second.”

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