Page 47 of Eldritch

Maria smiled. “I just came out of the kitchen.” She held up a mug. “I’m freezing my ass off and made some hot tea.”

Sybil moved toward the younger woman and sat down on the couch that faced the terrace.

Uncertainty came over Maria’s expression. “What happened to the lights a bit ago?”

“A power surge, I guess. I imagine that happens occasionally out here in the middle of nowhere.”

Maria shrugged. “Look, I know I said there are no such things as ghosts. But...this place is strange. I saw that person when we first got here. The one I went after. I saw them in the backyard that time and they literally disappeared. It’s freaking me out thinking about it.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in creepy things and ghosts.”

“Well, I don’t. Not really. But whatever is going on…it’s got me thinking.”

“I could see how that’s disturbing,” Sybil said. But then she remembered something. “I didn’t hear you tell Deputy Annapolis what the figure looked like.”

“It was an old guy. Well, at least in his seventies. I didn’t see his face, but he had this grayish hair, and it was messy. He wore a dark gray suit that was sort of...Victorian.” Maria’s gaze snapped to Sybil’s, and the younger woman’s expression held suspicion. As if she expected to be mocked. “And just like that, he vanished.”

Sybil took this in, but her silence appeared to strike Maria the wrong way.

“I knew it. You think I’m nuts,” Maria said.

Sybil held up one hand. “No, no. That’s not it. In fact, I think I can make you feel more at ease about it.”

Sybil explained she had seen such a man and so had Doug.

Maria’s expression lost a bit of apprehension. “Really? Who do you think it is?”

“Perhaps the ghost of someone who lived here or visited here?”

Maria rubbed her arms and made a snorting sound. “Pauline said you’re prone to seeing things.”

Sybil’s suspicion rose, and so did her anger. “Did she?”

Maria pulled a slight smile. “I told her I didn’t want to hear gossip.”

Sybil lowered her temperature on the subject. “Thanks.”

“I didn’t even want to tell you what she said.” Maria shrugged. “Because if she finds out I ratted on her...” She shrugged again. “I don’t need complications in my life. I just want to do my job. And I don’t want Pauline losing her job.”

“Well, it’s true what Pauline said,” Sybil said. “I am sensitive to energies. To knowing what some people are feeling. Whether they have motivations they’re trying to hide. That sort of thing. I don’t advertise it. As far as Pauline is concerned, don’t let what she says worry you.”

Sybil waited for Maria to react. To perhaps pepper her with more questions.

“Look,” Sybil finally said. “If she tries to drag you into drama, you could try telling her you’re not interested in hearing it.”

Maria nodded, her eyes still doubtful. “Okay.”

“Great. Well, I’m starving. How about you?”

Chapter Nine

Letisha shifted in the van passenger seat as Sybil drove the vehicle eastward, through the forest and toward Estes Park.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Sybil said. “I won’t ask you if you’re feeling okay because I realize you’re not but...”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be fine as soon as I get my hands on those pills,” Letisha said.

When Letisha went silent again, Sybil considered clamming up, too. For maybe a second.

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