Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

B rakes squealed outside as Paige desperately tried to free herself from the ropes that bound her to the chair. "Oh, come on!"

"Not going to happen, Paige. Face it. We're done."

"We can't be done. No. I don't accept that. We've fought our way out of worse spots," Paige said as she wriggled under the rope.

"Paige…we're goners. We're– "

Voices outside the house floated to them, followed by the sound of a key sliding into a lock.

"Quick, try to take your ring off again!" Paige hissed.

"I'm trying, I'm trying, but that may be worse. We don't want them coming inside to see a dragon flying around," Dewey answered.

A second later, the door swung open, and two blondes plowed into the room.

The doll raced toward them. "Ri. Intruder. Capture."

The older of the two furrowed her brow as she stared at the doll.

"Another intruder?" the younger blonde asked .

"Library. Tie up."

"Wow, they talk to her like she's real," Dewey whispered.

The women's gazes shifted from the doll to Paige and Dewey, tied to the knocked-over chairs. Their eyes went wide.

"I'm calling Wyatt," the younger one said.

"Hi there," Paige answered with a grin. "I'm Paige. Uh, no need to call to anyone. We were just…accidentally inside your house."

The older woman crossed her arms. "There is no treasure here, anymore. We gave it all away."

"Uh, yeah, we're not…we're not treasure hunters, per se. We're, ummm, we need your help. We've come from…a land far, far away."

"Paige, try to not sound crazy."

"Shut up, I'm doing my best here."

The older woman shuffled a few steps closer, her eyes narrowing. "You need our help?"

"Mom, don't encourage them," the younger one said as she pressed her phone to her ear.

"Please don't call the police," Paige said as she wriggled under the ropes. "We won't hurt you. We do need help. Please. My mom's really sick. And I'm trying to save her life."

"By breaking into our house?" the younger woman asked.

"Yes. You…there's supposed to be a key here that opens a lock that has a serum that will save her life. Look, it's a long story, and it probably sounds crazy, but I'm just trying to help my mom." Paige let her head thunk to the floor below as she frowned.

"Hey, Wyatt, it's Cassie…Yeah, we have another problem…If you wouldn't mind, thanks." She ended the call as Paige's heart sank. "He said he'll be over in five."

A few minutes later, the shrill wail of a police siren cut through the tense silence .

"Great," Paige lamented.

"Well, you wouldn't listen. You had to blab everything, and now we'll probably get the book thrown at us."

Cassie pulled the door open and a man in a sheriff's uniform stepped inside, his eyes falling on them.

"Wow," he said, his nose wrinkling. "How'd you manage to get them tied up?" He flicked his gaze to Lily. "Did you use your bat?"

"No, this is one time I didn't use my trusty bat. Ri did it."

The man frowned. "Oh, uh…right. I didn't realize the perps were still on the scene. I'll call for backup, and we'll have them out of your hair in no time. Of course, you'll have to file a report, but…"

"Actually, they mentioned needing help. I'd like to hear them out," Lily answered. "I just…didn't want to do that without someone here with a gun." She glanced at Paige and Dewey still on the floor. "He has a gun, you see? Don't do anything stupid."

"We promise," Paige answered. "Thank you for the chance."

"What about your buddy here?" Lily asked with her arms crossed.

"Dewey. That's my friend, Dewey. And he promises, too. Right, Dewey?"

He didn't answer, and Paige shimmied around in her chair. "Right, Dewey?" she growled between clenched teeth.

"Yeah, yeah, totally. I'd never do anything stupid."

"Okay, untie them."

"Mom!" Cassie said with a huff. "We can't untie them."

"Wyatt's here…with a gun."

"What if they have a gun?"

"I do not have a gun. I promise," Paige said with a shake of her head. "I don't even know how to use a gun. "

"Like I'm going to believe you," Cassie said with an incredulous glance.

"Look, okay, don't untie me. I already told you. I'm looking for a piece of a key. I need it to open a safe that contains a serum that will save my mother's life."

"Yeah, I heard your story the first time," Cassie answered. "But that makes no sense. Why would we have a piece of this key? And what kind of magical serum is hidden in a locked safe?"

"Look, lady, we don't make the rules," Dewey said, "we're just playing by them trying to save Paige's mom."

"Yes," Paige said with a nod. "I don't know why it's here, but there are four pieces. The clue for the first piece led here."

"Where are the others?" Lily asked.

"A place called Salem Falls–"

The two women exchanged a glance.

"Do you know it?"

"We've heard of it, yes," Lily answered. "Keep talking. Where else?"

"Uhh, Pearl Pond Estate."

Lily arched an eyebrow as she stared at her daughter. "And the last one?"

"Midnight Hollow."

Lily scoffed. "Really? Do you expect us to believe this?"

Paige swallowed hard, butterflies filling her stomach as she wondered if she'd soon be carted off to jail. "Yes? I mean…it's true. I–I didn't make the names of the towns."

"It's just that…" Lily settled her arms across her chest.

"Yeah?" Paige asked.

"We know all of these places."

Paige's heart skipped a beat as her eyes went wide. "Really? You do? Do you think you could help us find all of the key pieces? I don't want to have to keep breaking into people's houses."

"No," Cassie answered. "Why would we help you with what sounds like a completely bogus, made-up quest?"

"Because we need help, and it's not made up. I swear," Paige said, her features pinched. "I know it sounds…weird, but I swear it's legit."

Lily sucked in a breath, shooting a glance at her daughter.

Cassie's features pinched as she shot her mother a questioning glance. "If you want to help them…I guess it's another mystery."

"Yes, yes, a mystery. And you love mysteries. Right? You are quite the pair of amateur sleuths."

"Stop trying to butter us up," Cassie answered, shooting her an unimpressed glance.

"Well, I mean…you've solved a case with a pirate treasure. Look how smart you are."

"She said stop pandering, Paige. Look, Lily, can you get us untied here? We've been through enough at the hands of your crazy ghost."

"No!" Ri shouted.

"She's not crazy," Lily answered as she patted the doll on the shoulder. "She's a very nice ghost. She helps us a lot."

"Yeah, she may be able to help us find the key," Cassie added. "She knows a lot."

"We'll take all the help we can get. Now, if you'll untie us…I have a sketch of the key in my pocket."

"Okay, untie ‘em, Cass." Lily tilted her head toward them.

"Why do I have to do it? If they're up to no good, I'll be the one who gets it."

"We're not up to no good," Paige insisted. "Please, please. Let me prove it."

"Ri, can you untie them?" Cassie asked.

"Yes," the ghost answered .

Cassie backed away as the doll waved her hands in the air, and the ropes magically fell away.

With a wince, Paige climbed to her feet along with Dewey. "Thanks."

Lily lifted her chin, her arms crossed. "Show us this key."

Paige dug into her pocket and pulled out the folded sketch. "Here, see?"

She held it forward with a shaky hand.

Cassie reached forward and snatched it, studying the drawing before she showed it to her mother and Wyatt. "Have either of you ever seen anything like this?"

"No, I haven't. Ri?" Lily asked

"Key. Hidden. Panel."

Paige's heart skipped a beat as the ghost spoke. "What panel? Where?"

Lily held up a hand, waving at her to stop. "Just a minute. This will take a little bit. She's not good at communicating."

"She's pretty good at tying people up," Dewey snapped.

"Yes, she is. But speaking is hard for her. So, you have seen this?" Lily asked.

"Secret. Key. Keep. Protect. Panel."

"There are hidden panels all over this house," Cassie answered. "Some of which we may not even know about. We're going to need Ri's help to find it."

Paige puffed out her cheeks as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Oh, man. Can we do anything to make her talk more? Like a seance or something?"

"No, sorry. Sometimes, though, she'll have a little breakthrough if we feed her," Lily answered.

"She eats?"

"Oh, yeah," Wyatt answered. "She eats. And eats. And eats. Although, I wouldn't mind eating."

"Tacos," the ghost answered.

"She eats tacos? "

"Who doesn't eat tacos? Everyone loves tacos," Lily answered.

"I could go for tacos," Dewey said with a shrug.

"Okay, that's…fine. But…we had a friend…he's outside. Can we get him?"

"Sure. The more the merrier." Lily shrugged. "So, that's seven orders of tacos?"

"Better get two extra-large pitchers of margaritas. We're going to need it," Wyatt added. "And don't forget the churros."

"Aren't you on duty?" Paige asked.

His forehead crinkled as he glanced at her. "So what?"

"So…you're…never mind. No problem at all. I'll just get Damien."

She skirted around the others as Cassie pressed her cell phone to her ear and pulled the front door open. She glanced outside, searching the area for Damien.

"Damien? Damien!" she called, but he did not respond. "Damien, you can come out. It's okay. They're going to help us."

A figure emerged from behind a pine tree. "You got caught?"

"Yeah, by the ghost. But it's okay. They're going to help us find this key and all the others."

Damien's eyes went wide as he crossed toward her. "Really? Oh, that'll be a help."

"Yeah, and we're getting tacos," Paige answered. "Come on."

He climbed the stairs and ducked into the foyer, eyeing the others warily.

"Lily, Cassie, this is our friend, Damien."

He waved as he offered them a tight-lipped grin. "Thanks for helping. This will make things so much easier."

"Apparently, the first key is somewhere in this house. Where, we don't know, but maybe with some tacos, Ri will power up and show us," Cassie answered.

"Why don't we head into the kitchen and sit down?" Lily suggested. "The food should be here in twenty minutes."

"Great. Wow," Damien said as his eyes raised upward. "This house is really nice. And right by the sea."

"We love it," Cassie said with a smile.

"I live by the sea, too. Right on the coast of Maine."

"Oh, that's a beautiful state," Lily answered as she led them back to the kitchen.

They settled around the table, and Paige drummed her fingers against it, nervous energy filling her. They passed out the tacos and started into their meal.

As Damien shifted in his chair, a book toppled to the floor from one of his pockets.

"Oops," Cassie said as she bent to pick it up. Her brow furrowed as she stared down at the image on the cover. "What is this?"

Lily peered over her shoulder. "Ghosts, Lore and a House by the Shore?"

"Why is there a picture of our house on it?"

"Uhhh," Paige began before shooting a worried glance at Dewey.

"Might as well tell them. It can't get much worse."

"Tell us what?" Cassie asked.

Paige shifted in her seat. "We've all recently discovered that…we're characters in a specific author's books. We aren't sure what that means but…it seems like…we're fictional."

"What?" Cassie cried.

Wyatt's forehead crinkled as his gaze floated around the room. "Mind blown."

"Right?" Damien said. "When I first heard it…I was stunned. I mean, I feel real."

Wyatt pinched himself. "Ouch. Me too. Although… "

"What?" Paige asked.

"It would explain a lot of things. Mayor Thompson, for example. Her behavior is…"

"Over-the-top. Like it's scripted," Lily answered.

Silence stretched amongst the group until a loud burp emerged from Ri.

The doll raised her hands in the air. "Sorry."

Paige furrowed her brows as she stared at the doll. "Did she seriously just– "

Cassie polished off the last of her taco. "She was a pirate. It comes with the territory. Anyway, I don't think we should dwell on this…wrinkle."

"I agree," Lily answered. "I feel real. I walk and talk and make decisions independently. Let's just… work to find all the pieces of this key you need."

Paige bobbed her head as she sipped the sour margarita, her lips puckering. "Yes, that's…a good idea. Stop thinking about how weird it is that we're not real– "

"We're real," Lily insisted. "I'm real. You seem real. Your friend is real."

"Yes, I am. Thank you, Lily," Dewey answered. "I like you."

Lily smiled at him. "Thanks. Now, let's eat our dessert, then search for this key."

Wyatt dunked his churro into the chocolate sauce before taking a bite.

"You're not about to double dip that, are you?" Dewey asked with narrowed eyes.

He froze mid-chew, his eyes sliding to Lily. "I mean…no."

Dewey poked a finger at him. "Right answer, Sheriff."

Wyatt frowned down at his plate for a minute until Lily spooned chocolate sauce onto it. "Double dip as much as you'd like, Wyatt."

"Thanks, Lil. So, do you ladies have any idea where this key could be? What if it was among the treasure you found? "

Cassie lifted her shoulders. "It could have been. Clif and Ri amassed quite a fortune along with several interesting objects used to open other treasure hoards."

"No," Ri answered. "Key here."

Paige's heart leapt at the words. "It's here? Are you sure?"

"Here."

Cassie raised her eyebrows. "If she says it's here, it's here. We just need to figure out where."

Lily wiped her fingers on her napkin before she rose. "Ri, any chance you can lead us to where it is?"

"Ri help." The doll rolled from the room.

The group hurried from their seats to follow her. She reached the stairs and stopped.

Paige waited for someone to carry her up, but the ghost lifted herself off the floor and floated up to the next level.

"Whoa," Dewey whispered, his voice filled with awe.

"Right? That's creepy."

"No!" Ri yelled from the top of the stairs.

"Don't say stuff like that. She really takes exception," Cassie whispered to her. "She likes to be treated like a real person."

"But…she's a doll."

"She's actually the spirit of a woman who used to live in this house, then became a pirate captain. She just inhabits the doll for a form."

"How do you live like this?" Paige asked as they ascended the stairs.

"How do you live in a world where you need four pieces of a strange key to open a safe that contains a serum that will save your mother's life?"

Paige wrinkled her nose as she stared at Cassie. "Okay, fair. There are a lot of other weird things, too, so I'll give you that. "

"I guess we each have our strange things in life. At least we can help each other out. I hope we find all your keys."

In front of them, the doll zipped around the banister and down the hall. They followed her into a bedroom.

"The key is in my room?" Cassie asked.

"Hidden. Floor."

Their gazes all fell to the floor.

"Where?" Cassie asked.

"Floor. Floor. Floor. Floor." The ghost raced back and forth chanting the word over and over.

"Are there any creaks you're aware of?" Lily asked. "Maybe there's a loose board we can pry up."

"Umm…" Cassie scratched her head. "Yeah. A few. One is here."

She stalked toward an ensuite bathroom and pressed against a creaky board.

The sheriff pulled a pocketknife from his belt and flicked it open. "Nothing."

Cassie crossed to another spot. "Here."

They tried again but weren't able to pull anything up.

Paige's heart sank as she wondered if this was a false lead.

Cassie moved to a new spot by her window seat and tromped on a board. "Here."

Wyatt followed her, sticking his knife into the groove between the boards. One of them popped up a second later. He grabbed it with his fingertips and tugged, wincing with effort. It shifted out of the way, revealing a cubby.

Cassie dropped to her knees, toggling on her cell phone flashlight.

"Is there anything in there?"

"Yes," Cassie answered as she reached into the hole.

Paige held her breath, waiting to see what emerged. Would they finally find the first part of the key?