“I’m deeply, deeply disappointed,” he said.
“I’m sure you won’t be by the end of the night,” I said suggestively and hurried out the door.
22
PRESLEY
“Do you think this place is haunted?” I asked Daphne after dessert was served. “Ink and I were talking, and he thinks it’s a marketing ploy.”
Daphne glanced at Dice as she swallowed the food in her mouth. “I don’t know, but Dice does,” she laughed. “He swears the walls have eyes.”
Dice leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “You can think whatever you want, but Iknowthe astronaut was looking at the moon when we got here, and now he’s looking in the opposite direction. Same thing with the alien flying the spaceship.”
“Buck’s curtains keep blowing without wind!” Walter announced.
“Walter thought a ghost stole half of his socks!” Buck shouted.
“No, I thoughtyoustole my socks.”
“You also thought the A/C was blowing my curtains, but I closed the damn vent.”
“Eugene and I heard something tapping on the turret windows,” Mom added. “But there’s nothing anywhere near the windows to tap the glass.”
“I heard footsteps during the night a few times,” Ariel said quietly.
“What?” I gasped. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I thought it was Pop going to the bathroom.”
“What about you, Nora?” Mom asked. “Have you had any strange experiences?”
“No, I don’t think so. Unless you think London laughing at nothing and Diablo chasing invisible shadows are strange.”
“This is getting spooky,” Mom said excitedly. “And right before the séance!”
“What séance?” several people asked.
“For our last evening here, Eugene and I are hosting a séance in the lower level of the library. Anyone who wants to attend is welcome.”
“No thank you,” Pop said. “I’ll stay with Nora and London in case you conjure up the devil.”
“Do you want to go to the séance?” I quietly asked Ariel.
“I don’t know. What’s supposed to happen at a séance?”
“You’re supposed to communicate with the dead,” Ink said. “But I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“Neither do I, because I’m going to stay with Pop and Nora.”
“Do you want me to stay?” I asked seriously.
“No, not unless you want to,” she said. “I’m not scared, but I want it to stay that way. Plus, that’s where Diablo will be, and dogs are great at detecting paranormal activity.”
“If you’re sure,” I said.
“I am,” she assured me. “Have fun.”
“Come on, sweetheart,” Pop said to Ariel. “I need to get my motion detectors from my room so I can keep you safe while these thrill-seekers make poor decisions.”
