Page 24 of Real Fake Hauntings

“I’m going to have to start charging you for all these ‘check your contacts’ I keep doing for you,” he said with mock severity.

“What did you have in mind?” I wriggled my eyebrows.

“Let me sleep on it.”

Laughing, I latched onto his arm and squeezed it close. “You do that, big guy. Oh, that reminds me—Key’s uncle might pop in to help with the tour at some point.”

“I see.”

I still wasn’t sure how much Ian knew about Brimstone and Destruction’s involvement in the dark side of Olmeda’s paranormal world, or if he’d connected him as one of my dark magic clients.

“I think he’ll do great as a guide.”

“Sure, why not? The more the merrier.”

That brought me up short. “Really?”

“No.”

I left Ian to finish the perimeter check on his own—the cemetery occupied a big block—and skipped lunch to rush back to the Tea Cauldron.

Before going in, I made sure no pentagrams had been drawn on the facade of my shop, the seasonal restaurant currently closed to the side, or the still-renovating Corner Rose on the other. Then I rounded the corner and checked the alleyway, relief flooding me when I didn’t find anything.

I came in through the back door and hurried to enter the alarm code before it started its outraged beeping. Dru liked to keep the back door alarmed when she was alone in the shop because she didn’t like surprises.

Considering the last time we’d gotten robbed the fiend had come through the front door, I wasn’t sure it was as useful as Dru thought, but who was I to take away her security blanket?

I left my jacket in the kitchen and entered the cozy atmosphere of the shop. I had gotten a nice heater on sale, but with all the crowds, we hadn’t needed to use it at full blast yet.

Both tables were in use and three people sat at the counter, I saw with approval. A couple stood by the muffins display, waiting for a to-go order, and Hannah and a woman in full goth attire stood by the bookshelf. As I parted the bead curtain to step in, another person entered the shop, looking around eagerly.

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the wonderful aroma of success.

“You’re back,” Dru snapped with a fake smile worthy of horror movies.

I hurried behind the counter before she committed murder in front of so many witnesses. “Sorry I was away for so long. Let me give you a hand.”

From the look on her face, she might use one of the butter knifes and take both hands once the rush was over.

For a few minutes, I concentrated on helping Dru with the orders, feeling my heart soar with contentment. What a day! First, I’m asked for official help by Sonia, and now my shop was full of satisfied customers.

I hoped they left good reviews.

Hannah used a phone to take some pictures of the woman, then gave it back and returned to the last seat on the counter. She was one of my regulars and had dropped by every day this week. Honestly, I would also hang around every day if our roles were reversed.

“Nice hat,” she said with a smile.

I winked and set a tea mug in front of her. “Thanks.” I nodded toward the woman who was now putting on a coat by the door. “A client?”

Hannah had taken photos of me and the shop for my website, so I kept some fliers for her photography business on my counter. You never knew when a tourist might decide how awesome it’d be to have a few professional photos taken while on vacation.

“Not yet,” she said. “But I think she’ll call me. Turns out she has a great costume ready for Halloween.”

“It’d be a shame not to have it professionally immortalized,” I agreed. “Did you know the store next door is being turned into an art gallery?”

Hannah shook her head, a gleam of interest entering her eyes. “I had no idea.”

“I don’t think it’s public information yet. But maybe you could talk with the owner? They might be willing to show your photographs in there.”

---