Chapter 27

By the time we made it back to the center of OldOlmeda, the afternoon was tilting towards early evening and my feet were starting to kill me, as were my arms from carrying Fluffy half the way. I didn’t even want to know the state of my green makeup, but judging from the shouts and comments thrown our way, it must either be picture-perfect, or a true Halloween nightmare.

TheThreeSisters weren’t too far from BoltonSquare, which made our progress slow as the streets filled with locals and tourists. More than a few groups of kids with accompanying adults were going house to house through the quieter residential areas, and the sight warmed my heart.

Asdid the jolt of recognition when I spied a certain adult with three kids in tow. Sonia. Dressed in some sort of pirate costume, hat included. I hid behind a tree and took a picture for posterity and absolutely not future blackmailing purposes. She walked with purpose with the help of her cane as the three kids shoved each other and laughed loudly.

SoniaAguilar, possibly being friends or more with Brimstone and Destruction and out trick-or-treating during Halloween. Would the wonders never end?

Myphone began ringing, and I answered absentmindedly, my attention focused on Sonia and the kids as they turned a corner out of sight.

“Yes?”

“Hutton is about to blow a gasket,” Dru said.

“He’s still there?” I asked in surprise.

“He wants to talk to you.”

“He can call.”

“That’s what I told him. He said he wants to strangle you in person.”

“Aww. He cares.”

Drusnorted. “The customers love him. I think word has gotten out that he’s here and we keep getting paranormals coming in and asking him for orders.” Her voice got deeper and hushed, as if she was covering the phone with a hand. “Keith came in earlier and took photos of him.”

Iwinced. “How bad was the damage?”

“The organic candies bowl did not survive, but Keith laughed it off, and people thought it was some sort of joke.”

“Tell him to go home.”

“Not unless you’re here to take up the slack.”

“I need to check on something else first.”

“Hope…”

“It’s about Crane. I found the fifth pentagram. I’m onto something here.”

“Fine. I’ll keep Hutton around, then.”

Itwas on the tip of my tongue to ask how she was going to do that, but perhaps some secrets were better left undiscovered. “Maybe ask Mark to come?” I couldn’t believe I was suggesting this, but I also didn’t want Hutton to destroy my tea shop.

“He’s busy at the Crawler.”

Andby now Key and the strays would be at the cemetery getting ready for the tours. Ah, well. “I’ll try to hurry up or find someone.”

“Triple pay.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Iended the call and directed Fluffy toward the ThreeSisters, taking care to avoid Sonia’s whereabouts.

Whenwe got there, I was quite impressed. Jim had outdone himself with the haunted house. The last of the three Victorians glowed in shades of violets, with black garlands decorating the facade of the four-story building. A skeleton with a huge spider crawling out of one eye socket stood by the gate, and a few leaning gravestones littered the small front yard. Funereal music blasted from somewhere, interrupted every once in a while by loud cackling followed by obviously fake screams.

Alreadya line had formed on the flagstone path leading up to the front door, and a few groups lingered on the street holding ticket numbers in their hands, waiting for their turns. A young woman with a name tag kept guard by the skeleton, dutifully answering questions and letting people into the queue.

Iapproached with purposeful steps.

“Ticket?” the woman asked, holding out a hand.

Asusual, my pursuit of paranormal justice was going to end with an empty wallet. CouldI bill Sonia and the PBOA? This was also an investigation into the pentagrams on top of Crane’s murder.

“I don’t have one,” I said. “Where do I buy them?”

“Sorry, we’re full right now. You’re going to have to wait until we open up again in about an hour.”

Anhour! I studied the big mansion, unease nibbling at my insides. What if the witch was inside transferring Bagley into some unsuspecting tourist right at this moment?

“CanI sneak in to take a look at one room?” I asked, hopeful but also doubtful.

Thewoman eyed me like I was one loony dog lady. “Sorry, no.”

Lookat that, I was a psychic.

Whichgave me an idea.

Smiling, I retreated behind a waiting group and called Veva.

Shepicked up fast. “Hello?”

“Hi, Veva, sorry to interrupt your day, but I need help with something.”

“Sure. How can I help?”

Noneed to bribe or utilize blackmail. Ah, I could cry with joy. “I need to get into Jim’s haunted house to check on something related to the pentagrams, but there’s an hour wait. It’s urgent. Can you ask him to let me in?”

“I don’t know him that well. He asked me to get into the seance but that’s about it.”

“Could you try anyway?”

“Sure. Give me a few minutes.”

Iended the call and posed with Fluffy for the group I’d been hiding behind. They were college students from out of town having a great time with Olmeda’s open container policy.

Vevadidn’t take long to call back.

“Were you able to contact him?” I held my breath.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“He doesn’t want you stealing ideas for your Halloween tour next year.”

“We run a cemetery tour, not a haunted house,” I exclaimed.

Vevalaughed. “That’s what I told him. He mentioned something about you taking one of his best performers.”

Ithought of Rachel. “Only because he didn’t give her the dead wife’s role. That’s on him, not us.” I peeked at the side of the building, almost flush with the next sister. Maybe there was an open window somewhere on the first floor I could use to sneak in?

“In any case, he agreed to let you in, as long as you’re fast about it.”

Istraightened abruptly. “He did?”

“I know how to get my way,” Veva said like it wasn’t a big deal, and I got the impression she might be buffing her nails on her shirt.

“Thank you so much, Veva. You’re a lifesaver.” Possibly literally, if I was right about my theories. It wasn’t like Bagley was going to take over a body and let the original owner’s soul stick around.

“Do not mention it,” Veva said. “Go to the main entrance and wait there.”

Ithanked her again and ended the call. Back at the gate, I told the woman Jim was letting me in, and while she didn’t look like she believed me, she did look like she’d rather someone else deal with the problem. I skipped the waiting line inside the yard, earning myself some choice compliments, then stood in front of the man guarding the front door.

“Hi, Jim said I could go…inside.” No question mark, I reminded myself just in time—I was here on a mission, not asking for permission.

Theman arched both brows. “He did?”

“Yes.”

“Have any proof?”

Iwas considering calling Veva again and have her work her magic on him when the door opened and Jim appeared. His disapproving glare fell on Fluffy.

“Veva didn’t say you had a dog.”

“She’s very well behaved.”

Fluffyyipped softly and wagged her fluffy puff of a tail.

“See?”

“Aw, what a cutie,” the front door man said, crouching to pet her. Fluffy lapped at his hand and stared adoringly into his eyes.

“We have a no pets policy,” Jim insisted, scowling so deep I didn’t know how he could see.

“I need to check something quick and then we’ll be right out. It’ll take no time.”

Jimhuffed but allowed me inside. “If you give me a bad review, I’ll make sure you never do another tour again.”

Igathered Fluffy in my arms and stepped into the house before he changed his mind. They had made the most of the dark wallpaper in the entrance, giving only enough light to make it appear decrepit and old and like blond girls were about to get a very bad ending.

MaybeI should’ve worn a wig.

“No bad reviews,” I assured him.

“And if you steal an idea, I’ll?—”

“No stealing.”

Withanother huff, he turned and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor leading out of the entrance.

“Go that way,” Jim’s employee said, pointing toward a cordoned path. “The last tour just started. You’ll catch up fast.”

Suddenscreams followed by nervous laughter erupted from deeper inside the house.

“See?” he said with a grin.

“Thanks.” I followed the path. It led into a small parlor full to the rafters with odd knickknacks and paintings right out of the Cabinet of Curiosities, all barely illuminated to invite your imagination to run wild. One specific photograph of a man in full Victorian suit stared at me in a way that made shivers run down my spine.

Notall ghosts were as nice as my tiny kraken.

Ihurried through the room and entered what must’ve been a visitors’ dining room. A long table occupied the center, three life-sized dolls or mannequins occupying chairs and slumped over the surface, blood running out of their mouths and pooling under their heads. Plates with half eaten food littered the table—chunks of roasts and meats in different hues of green crawling with maggots. A head biting its own blackened tongue was served on a platter in the middle of the feast.

Veryinspiring.

Swallowinghard, I hurried past the table.

Oneof the mannequins sprung straight and shrieked.

Iscreamed. Fluffy barked. The mannequin laughed viciously, then stopped abruptly and said, “Aww. Cute dog.”

Anactor. Not a corpse come back to eat me. I hugged Fluffy close to my wildly beating heart and gave the actor a weak thumbs up. “Great job.”

Hewinked. “Thanks, man.” Then slumped theatrically down on the table again.

GoodMotherEarth. AndI thought dealing with Vicky had been scary. Clearly, I still had much to learn.

Thedining room opened into another small parlor where a coat of arms bearing two swords was said to have killed the family heir when one of the swords dislodged and fell straight down.

Justbecause I was here to catch a murderer, it didn’t mean I couldn’t take five seconds to read a piece of interesting history.

Aheadof us, I saw the tail end of the tour. The guide was talking about the history of the house, and privately, I thought Key was a much better speaker.

Myphone began ringing as I spotted a second door in the small room with the murdering coat of arms. I hurried to answer, hoping nobody had noticed me. “Hello?”

“I saw your texts,” Ian said.

“Ian,” I whispered enthusiastically. He brought a dose of solid reality that was sorely needed right now. I put Fluffy down and approached the second door. It opened without so much as a squeak.

“Where are you?” he asked in a worried tone. Fluffy let out a soft whine and pawed my leg, as if aware of who was on the other side of the call.

“AtJim’s haunted house.” I came into a hallway illuminated by emergency lights low on the walls. I needed to find a way down into the basement, where the whole dark magic spell had supposedly happened.

Ifmy guess was correct, the tour would make a trip around the first floor, then take the main stairs to the second floor, where they’d encounter the dead wife in the wall. But a house this grand had to have a second set of stairs, one for servants.

“Why are you at the haunted house?” Ian asked.

“I think the dark witch will try to use a location with a lot of dark magic history to try to transfer Bagley off Crane’s body. This seemed like the best spot after my shop and the coven house.”

“They might be waiting for midnight.”

“I still want to check.” I heard steps coming my way, and I tried the first door available. It led into a tiny restroom. “I need to stay quiet so they don’t kick me out.”

“ShouldI meet you there?”

“No, it won’t take long.” Hopefully.

“All right. Call me when you’re done.”

“I will.”

Afterputting the phone on vibrate, I waited for the footsteps to pass by the door, then slipped back out.

“Let’s go, Fluffy,” I whispered, slinking along the corridor. It was as dark as the rest of the house and carried a dusty smell, but it wasn’t quite as creepy. There was a sad, aging atmosphere permeating the non-public zones that tugged at my heart.

Notthat I’d stay here a second longer than I needed to.

Aftera bend in the hallway, the dark wallpaper gave way to plain, painted brown walls—clearly the part of the house visitors never got to see. An open doorway into a set of stairs going down had been roped off, dangling StaffOnly sign included.

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here,” I murmured. GrabbingFluffy, I slipped under the red rope and made my way down the steps. This was definitely servants’ territory—cracked plaster on the walls, cracked old tiles on the floor, a distinct lack of decoration. Once we reached the bottom of the stairs, I let Fluffy down and studied our surroundings.

Thebasement might be as old as the house, but it had been renovated at some point. A couple of fluorescent lights hung from the ceiling, metal doors had been fitted to a couple of original open archways, and plywood ones to the rest of the rooms.

Itried the metal doors first and found them locked. ThenI tried my luck with the wooden ones. The first one opened into a storage room filled with shelves and props, the second was labeled as Office and was understandably locked. Four doors left. The next opened into a staff room with a couple of lockers, a big table, a kitchenette, and a poster of a snowcapped mountain range to act as a window.

Threemore doors before I had to look up on my phone how to break and enter without making too much noise.

Thenext room was another storage space, this one filled with boxes, then came a small bathroom.

Oneleft.

Fluffyyipped softly, and I reached to pet her and gain some much-needed courage.

“Almost there, Fluffy.”

Trepidationmade my hand shake as I grabbed the handle. With a strong tug, I threw the door open.