Page 30 of Real Fake Hauntings

Since I’d just introduced myself, I didn’t dignify this with a response. “If we could check, we might see anyone who might’ve also stopped by my friend’s place and?—”

“Even if we had cameras, I wouldn’t show them to the first person who asks.”

“Of course.” I nodded in understanding. “Have to protect your visitors’ privacy.”

“Exactly.”

“Is she your usual ticket seller?” I inclined my head toward the young woman.

“Sarah’s here most evenings.”

“Can we talk to her?”

“We’re pretty busy.”

“It won’t take a minute.”

“Fine.” He turned on his heel and stalked back into the darkened corridor.

I waited for a giggling couple to purchase their tickets and approached the woman.

“Hi, Sarah. Laurence said we could ask you a couple of questions.”

She answered with a shrug. “Okay.”

“Have you noticed anyone suspicious lately?”

“Not really.”

“Anyone who gave you the creeps?”

“Everything here gives me the creeps.”

I glanced at the Handkerchief embroidered with the hair of H.H. Holme’s victims framed on the wall behind her. Fair. “You’ve seen the pentagram outside?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have any idea who might’ve drawn it?”

“Some kid?”

Dru edged closer to the thick glass partition. “You have any exes in town? Anyone you broke up with recently?”

Sarah blinked at Dru. “I hooked up with someone last weekend, but they were in town only for a few days.”

“Could they have stuck around, mad it was only a hookup?”

“I don’t think so.”

Dru tsked and returned the field to me.

“If you think of anyone, will you give me a call?” I produced a card with the shop’s logo on the front and our contact information on the back.

She took it and the edge of a smile curved her mouth. “The Tea Cauldron? Cool.”

“Best teas in town. I’m thinking of expanding to hot chocolate too.” She seemed like the cozy cocoa type.

“With marshmallows?”

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