Page 91 of Real Fake Hauntings

“Fine. I’ll keep Hutton around, then.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask how she was going to do that, but perhaps some secrets were better left undiscovered. “Maybe ask Mark to come?” I couldn’t believe I was suggesting this, but I also didn’t want Hutton to destroy my tea shop.

“He’s busy at the Crawler.”

And by now Key and the strays would be at the cemetery getting ready for the tours. Ah, well. “I’ll try to hurry up or find someone.”

“Triple pay.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I ended the call and directed Fluffy toward the Three Sisters, taking care to avoid Sonia’s whereabouts.

When we got there, I was quite impressed. Jim had outdone himself with the haunted house. The last of the three Victorians glowed in shades of violets, with black garlands decorating the facade of the four-story building. A skeleton with a huge spider crawling out of one eye socket stood by the gate, and a few leaning gravestones littered the small front yard. Funereal music blasted from somewhere, interrupted every once in a while by loud cackling followed by obviously fake screams.

Already a line had formed on the flagstone path leading up to the front door, and a few groups lingered on the street holding ticket numbers in their hands, waiting for their turns. A young woman with a name tag kept guard by the skeleton, dutifully answering questions and letting people into the queue.

I approached with purposeful steps.

“Ticket?” the woman asked, holding out a hand.

As usual, my pursuit of paranormal justice was going to end with an empty wallet. Could I bill Sonia and the PBOA? This was also an investigation into the pentagrams on top of Crane’s murder.

“I don’t have one,” I said. “Where do I buy them?”

“Sorry, we’re full right now. You’re going to have to wait until we open up again in about an hour.”

An hour! I studied the big mansion, unease nibbling at my insides. What if the witch was inside transferring Bagley into some unsuspecting tourist right at this moment?

“Can I sneak in to take a look at one room?” I asked, hopeful but also doubtful.

The woman eyed me like I was one loony dog lady. “Sorry, no.”

Look at that, I was a psychic.

Which gave me an idea.

Smiling, I retreated behind a waiting group and called Veva.

She picked up fast. “Hello?”

“Hi, Veva, sorry to interrupt your day, but I need help with something.”

“Sure. How can I help?”

No need to bribe or utilize blackmail. Ah, I could cry with joy. “I need to get into Jim’s haunted house to check on something related to the pentagrams, but there’s an hour wait. It’s urgent. Can you ask him to let me in?”

“I don’t know him that well. He asked me to get into the seance but that’s about it.”

“Could you try anyway?”

“Sure. Give me a few minutes.”

I ended the call and posed with Fluffy for the group I’d been hiding behind. They were college students from out of town having a great time with Olmeda’s open container policy.

Veva didn’t take long to call back.

“Were you able to contact him?” I held my breath.

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