Climbing out of her car, she grabbed Horse’s lead and walked into the hotel. Heading up to their rooms, she stilled as she saw the door open and cleaners inside.
“Hey there,” one woman said to her cheerfully. “Everything all right?”
“Um, I was looking for the man staying in this room. Eli?” she asked.
“Oh, handsome guy. He checked out, I’m afraid.”
“Did he go to another room?” she asked.
“Don’t think so. Heard him say something about going home when I saw him in the hall. Are you all right? Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll just . . . leave now. Thanks for all your help.”
She rushed out of the hotel with Horse by her side and back into her car.
She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel.
Boy, had she just made an idiot of herself.
And now what was she going to do? They’d left town. Did she call them or message and say sorry?
Urgh.
Or just let it go?
She really had no idea.
All she knew was that it felt like she was too late and that she’d never see them again.
And that hurt more than she’d expected it to.
19
Arabella woke to the sound of Horse snarling and barking.
What was going on?
Getting up, she slid her feet into slippers and grabbed her robe, hurrying out of the room. A light shone into the kitchen window and she let out a cry, hiding around the corner in the hallway.
Was someone out there?
What was happening?
There was a strange noise. Almost like someone crying or screeching.
A ghost?
Oh God.
What did she do? Were these the noises that Abe had been talking about? The ones that the owner of the house had heard?
Another flash of light moved through the kitchen window. Were there people in the backyard or over the fence? But there were mostly trees back there.
There was another strange noise and Horse started to howl.
Shit.
Should she call the police?
