Chapter 23

Twenty-Three

D ahlia

I’m wrapped in a blanket at the police station, trying to convince anyone who will listen to me that Blake is in trouble, when the man himself bursts in the door.

“Oh my god, Blake!” I immediately begin to sob. Ugly, full body sobs.

“D! You’re all right. Thank fuck. I drove to the house and you weren’t there. I had no idea where you went…”

He’s trembling now, almost as badly as I was earlier this morning. I pull the blanket around both of us while reassuring him that I’m fine and not the least bit hurt.

We give our statements to the police, both of us still in shock over what happened tonight. I’m still processing the idea that I had to subdue Amanda Hall, a pillar of the community, and that Mayor Pete is wanted for questioning.

As things wrap up, we learn that John Milton had, over a period of years, stashed away over a quarter of a million dollars in the unused ventilation shafts in the basement of the Milton House.

I let out a shiver and Blake circles his big arms around me. “You’re safe, D. I’ve got you.”

I look at him. “But that still doesn’t explain the feeling of dread and the coldness. And how did the ventilation shaft just fall open? Do you think maybe Esther’s husband was trying to get our attention? Maybe in the afterlife he wanted to make something right?”

Blake kisses me on the forehead. “I may not be convinced of all that afterlife stuff, but I also can’t explain some of the things that happened. So I guess…you win the Halloween bet. You’ve got me at your beck and call, Fall Festival director. For forever.” He pecks me on the nose.

“So you actually believe in ghosts?”

“No, I don’t. I just want to spend as much time as possible with you.”