Page 33 of Eldritch

Fear crawled up her spine. A white flash lit up the surrounding sky. Thunder roared. Staying out here any longer could prove stupid. She charged around the east side of the house on her way to the front door, but didn’t see anyone.

She reached the front door, and as she came through, she almost ran into Pauline.

Pauline made an exasperated noise. “Wow! Where’s the fire?”

Sybil hesitated. After all, if she kept seeing things...well, that wouldn’t work out very well, would it? The past had proven that fact.

“I saw you running in the backyard. What the hell’s going on?” Pauline asked.

She explained what had happened, and that Doug had also viewed the strange man when he was here.

“No, he didn’t,” Pauline said.

Sybil blinked. “What?”

Pauline shook her head. “I mean...maybe he was humoring you. After all, you’re the client. He’d say anything to get your business.”

She’d had enough of Pauline as irritation rose within her. “I don’t think he’s dishonest like that.”

“Maybe he’s more like you. Says what you need to say to appease people.”

Sybil felt the burn rise and her breathing quickened a little. She took a single step toward Pauline and tried to employ her famous composure. The reputation she had for never losing her cool. It didn’t matter that conflict stressed her out, she could mask it until hell froze over.

Sybil drew in a steadying breath. "I’m not his client. Clarice is. She’ll hire him or she won’t.”

Pauline planted her hands on her jean-clad hips. Her hair was wild, as if she’d run her fingers through it or a strong wind had taken control of it. “He’s hot, isn’t he?”

Unspoken words hung between them. All the things Sybil should’ve said a long, long time ago to Pauline. She needed to speak to Letisha about letting Pauline go after this job was finished. She hoped Letisha would agree with her, although her friend always gave people way more chances than Sybil would.

Now was not the time to let the stress of this conversation lock up her brain. Before she let loose with heinous words and told Pauline to go screw herself with a rusty knife, Sybil employed the one thing that had driven some people out of her immediate sphere. She stared Pauline right in the eyes.

Held. Held.

Pauline stared back, but only for a moment. She looked away, and Sybil enjoyed a rush of satisfaction.

When the woman walked away, Sybil decided she’d head into the office and see if the man with the 1890s clothing would reappear.

When she walked into the office, her mind filled with all the things that had already happened today.

You need to talk to Pauline about the attitude. Stop avoiding conflict.

She would. Soon.

Sure you will, Sybil. Sure.

Her mother’s doubt rang in her head.

“Shut up,” she said.

She shrugged off the internal conversation and irritation.

After she’d completed more work, she headed to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. She stopped at the doorway and stared.

“What the actual hell?” she asked.

Chapter Seven

She didn’t even try to enter the room, too dumbfounded.

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