Page 62 of All You Want
“He checked it in at the bar crawl,” Justin says. “Paul didn’t want anyone wearing masks inside, and since it was a plain old black sheet with holes in it, he had to take it off and leave it near the door.”
“Maybe it got lost in the shuffle,” I suggest. Or maybe they were too drunk to find it. “You want to borrow a costume from the community center?”
“No, I just want to go home,” Al says.
“You have anything to say for yourself?” I glare at Dillon who sits in the corner holding his head. “Or you need medical attention?”
“I’m good for a fight. Just defending my buds,” he slurs, and I notice a fat lip. “Sorry we got drunk.”
“We weren’t drunk,” Justin counters. “Never admit anything to the law. Officer Donnelly was just trumping up charges to prove he’s a somebody. Can’t you get us out of here in time for the fireworks?”
“Only if you pass a breathalyzer test.” I unlock the holding cell and administer the test, which they all pass—Dillon and Al marginally and Justin by a mile.
Once I’m alone, I brew coffee and unlock the storeroom where Sheriff Weaver kept the paper records. I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for, but in the back of my mind, I’ve always known he was covering up something for Tami’s father.
I just thought it was something George did, but maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe it’s Tami who has a secret that Evan found out about.
The boxes of unsolved crimes are listed by date. I move the latest ones aside until I get to my rookie year. I’d always admired Sheriff Weaver. He kept the town safe and booted troublemakers out of town.
Now, what could Tami have done?
* * *
~ Tami ~
It’s over.
My grand opening is a huge success.
I see my parents to their room and make my final tour through my hotel. Everyone’s talking about the grand orange and green fireworks extravaganza and complimenting me on the enjoyable evening they had.
Social media is buzzing, and the #HarrowingHaunts hashtag is trending. Evan’s ghost-hunting tour was a fabulous success, and visitors were treated to jumping meters, flashing lights, holographic videos, and voices greeting them from the great beyond.
So why do I feel like a loser?
Is it because everyone else had someone special to watch the fireworks with? My parents were up on the balcony, and Bonnie and Clifton saw it from the bay window. Molly and Evan hung around after the ghost-hunting tour and watched it from the attic window.
I looked for my HEX sisters, but they might have gone to the Sixty Miners to watch it from there.
Now that the festivities are over, I stop by Ma Belle’s Tearoom to see if they’re back. Rosalie opens the door when I knock, and Suzette is right behind her.
“Did you guys have fun?” I ask, walking into the gaily decorated room with its flowery wallpaper and pastel-colored paintings of teapots.
Delicate teacups and lace placemats are set on the rattan plantation style furniture, and beaded curtains separate the sleeping area from the kitchenette where guests can try out a well-stocked selection of tea and coffee as well as spike them from the minibar.
“We did, but we didn’t get lucky, not like Larissa did.” Suzette wiggles her finger cymbals and jiggles the bells on her belly dancer outfit. “That zombie man I snagged wimped out before the fireworks.”
“I almost bagged me a devil dude.” Rosalie tosses her horned Viking helmet onto her bed and shakes out her blond braids. “Guess my horns are bigger than his.”
“Who did Larissa hook up with?” I ask since she’s obviously missing.
“She went off with that huge furry creature,” Rosalie says, making a crude motion as if she’s cleaning a baseball bat.
“Oh, yeah, that creepy Sasquatch who was hanging around you.” Suzette does a twisting motion with both her hands. “I thought he was your hired bad boy.”
“Eh, he was a prop.” I keep my voice casual, although I’m wondering if Todd found his mask and went back for Larissa. “Big guys like that are usually disappointing under the hood, if you know what I mean.”
“Sour grapes, Tami.” Suzette flutters her glittery veil over my hat. “I felt the chemistry between the two of you. He was always looking for you, even when Larissa got her hooks into him.”
