Page 116 of Castings & Curses

Concentrate!

A gust of wind followed her through the glass door, making the garland hanging from a neon blue welcome sign sway.

“We close at five.” The gum-chewing woman at the ticket counter pointedly eyed the clock. Her over-the-top holiday sweater sported old-fashioned blinking Christmas lights.

“I’m just looking for someone. I won’t be long.”

Two boisterous dark-haired boys ran across the tile floor. A weary young woman followed, pushing a sleeping toddler in a stroller.

“Do you work here every day?” It was a long shot, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask an employee if a little girl had temporarily been lost and then found on the same day as Levi.

“Just Tuesdays and Fridays.”

Levi’s group had come on a Thursday.

“Two dollars.” The ticket attendant snapped her gum.

Priya handed over the cash. “Which way to the dinosaur exhibit?” She smiled remembering how Levi got sidetracked talking about his favorite exhibit, insisting she tell every detail to his parents.

“Follow the yellow line.” Another hard stare at the clock. “Remember five o’clock. Happy Holidays.”

“Happy Holidays.” Priya found the yellow line, which headed in the opposite direction of the rowdy boys.

The walls of the dinosaur room were painted to resemble a jungle. She wondered if it was an accurate representation of the period, then scolded herself to focus.

The minutes ticked by alarmingly fast as she searched for Levi’s friend in a high-ceiling room filled with fossils, partial skeletons, and replicas of dinosaurs. If time were on her side, she would call on her magic to make contact with the little girl. Though it wouldn’t work if the ghost wasn’t attached to this building. What was her anchor? Her mortal remains? Priya shivered, disturbed by the thought they might be hidden somewhere close by. If that was the case, why had she been able to follow Levi? He had been vague on details once they left the Science Center. He couldn’t remember his death, for which Priya was grateful.

Could the ghost be attached to the fake Santa? Had he killed her as well?

Priya found the exit door tucked behind a large saltwater aquarium, just as Levi described. Someone had taped a hand-printed sign on it, “NOT An Exit.” A sticker above the panic bar claimed an alarm would sound if opened. It hadn’t sounded on the day of Levi’s abduction. She reached out to touch the panic bar, then hesitated. She could envision the chaotic scene if the alarm sounded. But what if it didn’t? Taking a deep breath, Priya pressed her fingers against the bar, scrunched up her eyes, then pushed.

No blaring alarm.

The door cracked open, letting in an icy swirl of air.

Who knew that the alarm didn’t work? An employee? Or someone who discovered the fact by accident? Did the police know about the non-functioning alarm? Of course, they did. She didn’t doubt they knew every inch of the building now.

Priya stepped back, letting the door shut. It closed with a soft snick. She scanned the corners of the room for cameras and found none. She could just imagine Detective Bauer’s reaction to the lack of security.

Where was her ghost? A glance at her watch confirmed she had run out of time.

With more questions than answers racing through her head, she flinched, startled when a tenor voice called out, “You can’t go out that way.”

Feeling as if she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, she whirled around. A dishwater blonde-haired man stood next to a replica of a duck-billed dinosaur, smiling at her. Snowmen and reindeer were cross-stitched across his bulky green sweater.

“I, uh, saw it’s five and thought I’d leave through the side door here.”

He sighed. “I told the Director the sign wouldn’t work with regulars. We’ve let them go out that way too long. There’s a hold-up on the parts our maintenance guy ordered. He hoped to get the alarms and cameras installed before the holidays.” He scratched his chin. “Don’t think that’s going to happen though.”

So the unalarmed emergency exit door was common knowledge. That answered one of her questions. Hoping to get a little more information from the employee, she asked, “They’re adding the security because of the Teasdon abduction?”

“Yeah.” Casting his eyes down, he shook his head. “I don’t know what this world is coming to.”

“Were you working that day?”

“No. I was in Florida, vacationing with my family. Come on.” He nodded at the door. “You don’t want to go out that way anyhow. It’s pretty icy in the alley today. Best to go out the front.”

Priya followed him to the main entrance, nodded at the scowling ticket lady, and then tugged her stocking cap down over her ears as she walked out. Foot traffic had lightened and she easily made her way to the end of the block. At the corner, she turned left, determined to check out the alley. Even though every parking space was filled on both sides of the streets, Priya was surprised to find she had the entire stretch of sidewalk to herself. Across the street, small shops attracted a modest flow of people. A sandwich shop seemed quite popular, as did a store called Scribblers.

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