“Wouldn’t that be great if it was?” Celia peeked at her phone. “I’ve gotta get ready for my tour. Let’s grab the bill.”
Knox waved her away. “I’ll take care of it. In return for all your help.”
“Thanks,” Celia said. “Let me check my schedule to see when I’m available to visit your storage room. As soon as I’m free, I’ll pop over.” She and Glen took off, leaving Charlie alone with Knox.
After Knox paid the bill, he turned to Charlie with a devious smile. “Hear me out for a sec. I know you’re done with work for the day, but I’m curious about that storage area. Do you want to go over to the hotel and check it out?”
Was he serious? In the three years she’d known him, he’d never suggested anything spontaneous. Nor did he spend time at the hotel after hours. “Shouldn’t we wait for Celia? She’s the ghost whisperer.”
“We can visit it again when she’s free. But I’m too intrigued to wait. I’ve never been in that room before.”
What did it matter that this wasn’t a romantic proposition? Or that the idea of checking out a roomwhere people had diedmight put them at risk? Charlie wasn’t passing up an opportunity to extend their time together.
Her heartbeat quickened. “Okay, but we’ll have to go in the back way. I’d rather not have anyone at the front desk see me. Otherwise, I might get stuck there.”
“You got it, partner.”
Partner.She liked the sound of that.
Seven
After hearing Celia’s story,Knox was brimming with curiosity. Usually, he avoided going into the Duchess on his days off. It was yet another way of maintaining the boundaries between his professional and personal life. But tonight? He’d never been so fired up to get back to the hotel.
Since the sun didn’t set until eight, it was still light out when he and Charlie walked over to the Duchess. She led him past the loading dock and in through the service entrance. Once they reached her office, she ducked into it and returned with an old brass key, which looked like a relic from the Victorian era. She handed it to him. “Check it out.”
He smoothed his hand over the worn metal. “I didn’t think you meant anactualkey.”
“I know, right? When the hotel was upgraded in the 1980s, all the rooms switched to key cards except this one. We’ve only got a few copies.”
As they took the elevator to the third floor, Knox felt a surge of adrenaline. Sneaking into the hotel after hours brought back a memory from his teenage years, when he and his older brother had ventured out after curfew and taken their dad’s car on a joyride. They’d covered their tracks so badly their parents had found out and grounded them. But that hadn’t diminished the excitement he’d felt at breaking the rules for once.
The storage room was located at the end of the hall, marked by a door that contrasted sharply with those of the guest rooms. Old and weathered, it was a solid slab of wood, outfitted with a brass doorknob decorated in an intricate design. Charlie inserted the key but struggled to turn it. With a grunt, she twisted harder until it produced an audible click. The door swung open to reveal a large, darkened room.
Once they were inside, she flicked on a light switch, then closed the door behind them and pocketed the key. “It might be a bit dusty. It’s been ages since anyone came in here.”
Knox scanned the room, taking in all the cardboard boxes, old trunks, and ancient furniture. White cloths covered some of the pieces, while others were left to gather dust. Atop a chest of drawers was an old-fashioned phonograph and a stack of vinyl records. “This reminds me of the attic in my grandmother’s house. I wonder if any of this stuff is worth something.”
“It might be, but I think most of it is junk. From what I heard, this room was used to house things like worn-out linens or furniture that needed mending.” Charlie pulled up the shades, allowing the natural light to filter in. Dozens of tiny dust motes danced about in the air.
Knox peeked at a stack of books and brushed off the top one. “The Savoy Cocktail Book. This publication is from 1930. I tried to buy a copy on eBay, but I was outbid.”
“Take it if you want. Anything here is up for grabs since no one’s done a proper inventory in decades.” Charlie let out a tiny sneeze, then wiped her nose. “I’m going to see if I can detect any ghostly vibes. Can you let me know if you sense anything unusual?”
Despite all the horror novels he’d read, Knox’s worldview skewed toward skepticism. He didn’t believe in ghosts, let alone expect to encounter one. For that reason, he wasn’t worried, just curious. But Charlie might be more apprehensive. “You’re okay with this, right?”
She clasped her hands together. “I wouldn’t attempt this on my own, but having you here makes me less nervous.”
“Good. I honestly don’t think anything bad’s going to happen. Let’s give it a go.”
Closing his eyes, he tried to focus.
What do you feel?
Dust, tickling his nose.
Stifling air, making his forehead bead with sweat.
Otherwise? Not a damn thing.
