Page 42 of Ghostridden
Ricky’s smile dawned. “Well, he was a writer. It was probably professional outrage. He hated sloppy prose.”
I blinked. “Wait. You believe me? You don’t think I’m… imagining things?”
Ricky bumped my shoulder with his own. “My family celebrates Dia de los Muertos. In fact, the whole town does. The town is literally called Ghost. What makes you think I’d be skeptical about a sighting?”
I was a little miffed, if I was honest with myself. I’d expected the reveal to create a bigger reaction, something more than Ricky’s unruffled acceptance. Where was the drama? The amazement? The horror?
“Well,I’mskeptical, so I think my apprehension is understandable. For all I knew, you’d run off and warn the whole town that I was a con man. Or else contact the authorities and have me hauled away for a mandatory 72-hour psych eval.”
“Maz.” He rose and looked down at me, his expression serious but somehow still open. “I promise I’m not dismissing your concerns, and if you’d still rather not trust Gil in the house alone, Tia Sofia will be happy to take care of him. But I’d like to help, if you’ll let me.” He held out his hand with a tentative smile. “So will you invite me inside?”
I gazed at his hand for a moment, probably a little too long because he started to withdraw it, his smile fading. So I grabbed it and stood up, nearly overbalancing him until I caught his other arm to steady him. “Okay. It’s possible nothing will happen, though.”
“Hey, this is Ghost.” He grinned. “I’m game either way.”
I fit the key in the lock, and for a wonder, it turned easily. I shot a glance over my shoulder. “At least the keyholes aren’t jammed with sawdust again. My request must have worked.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “Request?”
“When I left, I called out a plea not to stuff sawdust in the keyholes again. You know, just in case Avi was responsible.”
“To tell you the truth, ghost interference makes more sense than super speedy mason bees.”
I glared at him, my hand on the doorknob. “Are you taking the piss?” Greg certainly wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity.
“No, I’m serious. Nothing natural could have filled up the locks that fast. While it might have been kids messing around, the kids in town don’t come over here uninvited. Professor DeHaven freaks them out.” He leaned closer and whispered, “They’re sure she’s a witch.”
“It’s a distinct possibility. Ready?” At his nod, I took a breath and opened the door—
And stumbled back into Ricky. Because Avi was standing in the middle of the vestibule, wringing his hands, his eyes wide.
“Man, good thing I wasn’t holding the cake,” Ricky said. “Did you trip?”
“No,” I husked. “He’s here. There.”
“Who? Avi?” Ricky peered over my shoulder. “I don’t see anything.”
“He’s standing just beyond the door.” I brushed my hands down my shirt, my palms damp. “Avi? What’s the matter?”
“Someone was here!” Even though his voice still sounded as though it were filtered by distance, I could hear the edge of panic.
“Where?”
He stamped his foot, which, I was interested to note, made zero impression on the hall runner. “In thehouse.”
“I realize that,” I said with some asperity. “I meant where in the house?”
“I don’t know,” Avi mumbled.
I propped my hands on my hips. “Well, that’s just great. How do you know somebody was here? Did you feel a disturbance in the Force or something?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t patronize me, Maz.”
“Sorry.”
“Did he say somebody was in the house?” Ricky whispered.
I nodded. “Yep. Although I’m not sure where or why he thinks so.”
