Page 6 of Secrets in the Shadow

Zayde turned Cody’s air-poking into a full-on performance. “It’s the latest workout craze,” he announced, thrusting a hip to the side while poking at imaginary bubbles. “Strengthens your core and your delts. Very exclusive.”

Marissa quirked her lips. “Exclusive, huh? And here I thought you just needed an exorcist.”

Cody tried not to laugh but failed. “You’re giving me a run for my money, Zayde.”

Zayde winked at him before heading down the hallway, arms still twirling dramatically and kicking out his legs like he was in a conga line.

“There as some dances I will never understand.” Marissa shook her head. “Just do us all a favor and don’t accidently poke someone’s eye out.” She squinted at him then wiggled her nose, letting him know she was only teasing him.

Cody glanced down the hallway where Zayde had disappeared, his lips twitching with amusement despite himself. “I owe him for that,” he muttered under his breath. Cover or not, Zayde had turned it into a full-blown production.

Marissa leaned her elbows on the reception desk, her green eyes narrowing. “So, what’s the real story, McGillis? You’re not usually this… spacey. Did you forget your morning coffee or something? Don’t tell me you’re already losing your mind—it’s only your third week here.”

Cody let out a forced laugh and shook his head. “It’s nothing. I was just…thinking about something weird that happened last night.” Which wasn’t a complete lie.

Marissa tilted her head. “Weird how? Coworker levels of weird?” She pointed her thumb toward the hallway where Zayde had gone. “Because I’d call that dancing felony-level weird.”

“Not that kind of strange.” Cody crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. He tried to appear nonchalant, but he could feel her curiosity burning into him. “Just… I got lost in the woods, stupid app on my phone, and things got a little creepy.”

Marissa leaned forward, her brows furrowed. “Creepy? Like, someone-following-you creepy?”

Not someone. Something. Cody’s neck prickled at the memory, like an itch he couldn’t quite scratch. The sensation from last night lingered even now, as if he wasn’t as alone as he thought. But that was insane. Wasn’t it?

“Nothing that bad,” he lied. “Probably just my imagination playing tricks on me.”

She didn’t seem convinced, but thankfully she didn’t press further. “Well, next time you wander into the woods alone, maybe carry pepper spray. Or a better phone.”

“Noted,” Cody said with a wry smile, pushing away from the counter. “I’ve got to finish checking the inventory list. You good here?”

“I’m fine, but I’m not the one poking ghosts,” she teased, turning her attention back to her computer.

He chuckled and headed away, shoving his hands into his pockets. His shoes squeaked faintly against the linoleum floor as he walked, and he focused on the mundane sound, hoping it would ground him.

It should have, but that itch was back, creeping up his spine and making him glance over his shoulder. The hallway was empty. Silent. But the air felt heavier somehow, like the moment before a thunderstorm when everything seemed charged with an invisible energy.

“Get a grip, buddy,” he muttered under his breath, yanking open the supply closet door. “You’re just paranoid after last night. Nothing’s here. It’s just your—”

His words faltered.

The hair on his arms stood on end, goosebumps prickling along his skin. Something was here. It wasn’t a sound or a movement. It was a presence, an undeniable awareness pressing against him like a hand hovering just shy of his shoulder.

“Hello?” Cody called out, his voice echoing in the small room.

No answer. Of course there wasn’t. Why would there be?

Still, his heart picked up speed, each beat thudding louder in his ears. He swallowed hard and stepped back, scanning the empty hallway again.

If it was real, whatever “it” was, it wasn’t human. He knew that much. But what the hell else could it be?

Cody peeked into the reception area, stealing a quick glance at Marissa to make sure she wasn’t watching him. Zayde was still MIA, probably off perfecting his conga line routine.

Good. He needed a minute to get his thoughts in order without anyone calling him out for acting weird. Again.

Leaning against the doorframe, he ran a hand through his messy red hair. God, he hated the color, like he needed more reasons to make him stick out.

With a sigh, Cody muttered, “I really am losing it.”

But no matter how many times he told himself that, the sensation of being watched wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t menacing, not exactly, but it was unnerving. Like something lingering just beyond his peripheral vision, always out of sight.

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