Page 27 of Ghostlighted
I engaged my phone’s flashlight function and knelt down, sweeping the beam from one end of the sofa to the other. Nothing, not even a dust bunny,thank you, Avi. I’d think Gil was chasing air again—he’d been known to do that—or a random fly or moth, except air and insects didn’tchinkcoming down the stairs.
I made another sweep, and I saw it: a glint of gold half-hidden by the sofa foot, and my stomach swooped, because I recognized the curve of burnished metal.
Oren’s wedding band.
Dammit, Gil, this isnotsomething you can steal.Avi would forgive a lot of things, but losing Oren’s ring was high on the list ofnot ever, not nohow. How had he missed Gil’s attack?
Oh. He must be… elsewhere.
We needed some way for us to communicate when he was in that place, wherever it was. Maybe the ghost hunting site ran to multidimensional cell phones or phantasmagorical telegraphs. I’d have to check it out, although not until the present crisis was averted.
I reached under the sofa and snagged the ring with the tip of my forefinger, drawing it across the floor until I could grab it and fold my fist around it.
When I stood, I gave Gil a stern glare, which had about as much effect as you might expect. That is to say, none. He’d stopped doing his freaky owl impression and was lying, seemingly content, in Ricky’s arms, all four feet curled up to his furry belly.
I lowered my head until I was nose-to-nose with Gil. “Do I need to restrict your attic access?”
“He steal something he shouldn’t?”
“You could say that.” I stood and uncurled my fingers slightly so Ricky could glimpse what rested in my palm.
Ricky grimaced. “Dios.”
“Exactly.” I glared at Gil again. “We need to have a serious discussion about your addiction to shiny things. Maybe I should check online for gold lamé catnip mice.”
“If you can’t find one, I expect Tia could make one for you. She used to make toys for Princesa all the time.”
“I’ll have to?—”
“Maz!” Avi was suddenlyright there, occupying the space between Ricky and me. His transparent elbow must have collided with Gil and Ricky, because Gil’s belly fur stood on end and Ricky startled, uttering a soft curse.
“It’s all right, Avi.” I held my hand up and waggled my fist. “I caught him before?—”
“It’s Sofia.”
I took a step back. “What?”
Avi glitched, something he hadn’t done since my first days in the house, when he’d still been confused and angry. “Sofia. In her garden. I saw it from the attic window.” He disappeared.
“I feltsomething.” Ricky set Gil down and rubbed his arm. “Was that… was that Avi?”
“Yes, but he’s gone now. He said something about Sofia.”
Ricky’s jaw tightened. “I need to go.” He strode toward the front door—and right through Avi, who’d blinked into sight again.
Both of them shuddered.
“Not that way.” Avi wrung his hands. “The garden. Hurry! She collapsed.”
“Avi said she collapsed in the garden. The back door is quicker.”
Ricky didn’t hesitate. He barreled past me and charged through the kitchen before I could take a step. From the soundof it, he’d wrenched the back door open so hard it banged against the wall. I couldn’t blame him. If something was wrong with Sofia…
“We’ll check it out,” I assured Avi.
He ran his hands down his pants and I wondered briefly whether ghosts’ palms could sweat. “Update me as soon as you know something?”
“Absolutely.”
