Page 27 of The Roommate Lie

“Supernaturally cute or ‘hiding a dark psychological secret’ cute?”

“Maybe both. Possibly neither.”

Our dad was stationed in a lot of places over the years while he was in the Air Force, but we usually wound up living in the nearest big city. I’m a watch-your-back girl, a subways-and-skyscrapers aficionado. I’m not used to all thisquaint, to trusting people or places that seem too good to be true. And Ponderosa Falls fits that description to a tee.

Maybe I’m jaded. Or maybe this town is a front, a twisted facade, and I’m the one plucky out-of-towner who can save the world.

I hope not.

Crossing my fingers, I pray that isn’t true, that saving the world from Ponderosa Falls isn’t my destiny.I can’t even finish a novel anymore. Alice Kilpatrick can’t save herself, let alone the world.

Outside, a thin voice wavers on the other side of the door. A female voice. “Alice, are you there? I know you’re the only one home.”

My blood runs cold.How does she know that?

“I ran into Lydia this morning, and she said everyone had to work.”

Oh.

Goose bumps travel down my arms anyway, and I say nothing. Sure, her explanation is good, but maybe it’stoo good.

“This is Muriel,” she says. “From book club? I own the haunted bed-and-breakfast next door.”

My brother’s eyes widen, his voice breathless. “A haunted bed-and-breakfast?”

He makes it sound like his dreams are coming true, but this is my nightmare. Marcus’s brow scrunches, and I can practically see him flipping through his mental database of Stephen King plots. Trying to figure out which book this is.

“I hate to bother you,” Muriel continues. “But I think the ghost squirrel might be back, and I could really use your help.”

The what?

My brother shouldn’t look this thrilled. He’s the same guy who was freaked out when I was riding in Charlie’s car. Now he’s excited about haunted houses and undead rodents? That boy really needs to work on his consistency.

Instead, he sighs happily and utters an unfortunate book title. “Pet Cemetery.”

“Oh, I hope not,” Muriel says on the other side of the door.She can hear us?“Today is busy enough. Finding a mysterious burial ground to go along with my ghost squirrel is the last thing I need.”

Marcus chuckles softly. “I love her,” he whispers. “Let her in. I beg of you.”

Do I have to? The last thing my day needs is an inciting incident. A moment I can look back on years later and goyep, that’s when all the trouble started.

I’m not even sure who Muriel is; there were at least twenty women at book club, and I’m horrible with names. I peer through the window to get a better look. It’s the older lady with salt-and-pepper hair who warned Charlie about me. The woman who knows a little too much about poison.Fantastic.

“Hello, dear,” she says brightly when she spots me. “This will only take a few minutes. He’s a very nice ghost squirrel—most of the time.”

“Let her in…let her in…” my brother chants quietly. I think he might be in love with Muriel.

Heaven help me.

I unlock the door, and I probably also unlock an ancient curse at the same time. That’s just the kind of week I’m having.

“I really appreciate this,” she says, even though I haven’t agreed to anything. “My husband’s at work, and I’d really hate to confront a phantom squirrel on my own.”

Wouldn’t we all?

Hunting demon rodents isn’t really my cup of tea. It’s my anti-tea. And although we’ve got that squirrel outnumbered, it doesn’t feel like enough. An entire army wouldn’t be enough.

I want to say no.

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