“She appears faint at first,” Calliope continues, warming up now. “Like a shimmer in the hallway. But sometimes, she’s clearer.”
“Does she do anything?”
“Oh, she weeps occasionally.”
My eyebrows lift. “A weeping ghost? Classic.”
“Yes. Guests have reported hearing soft crying and moaning in the hallways late at night. Especially on the fifth floor of the main inn.”
“That’s a little unsettling.”
“But she’s not mean,” Calliope says quickly. “In fact, she’s a little … naughty.”
Now I laugh. “Naughty how?”
Calliope leans closer again. “She likes to tickle people’s toes.”
I stare at her. “I’m sorry … what?”
“Sleeping guests,” she clarifies. “They wake up, feeling someone touching their feet,” she says solemnly. “But when they look down … no one’s there.”
“Ghost tickles. Not frightening at all.”
“Exactly,” she agrees.
I press my lips together, trying not to giggle.
“And at times,” she adds dramatically, “she’ll move things around in guest rooms while they’re out at dinner. Again, that mostly occurs on the fifth floor.”
“Like what?”
“Oh … jewelry boxes. Suitcases. One woman said her shoes were rearranged in the closet.”
“Honestly, that sounds like housekeeping messing with people,” I say.
Calliope gasps, like I insulted her. “Absolutely not.”
I grin. “Okay, okay. Ghost mischief.”
“The stories of The Lady in Red are legendary around here,” she says proudly. “Local authors even write about her. And the guests love her too,” she adds. Calliope taps the elevator railing with her glittery fingernails. “Sometimes, they’ll tell me their stories while I’m taking them up to their rooms.”
“Interesting,” I say.
“Oh, honey, it’s the best part of the job.” She lowers her voice. “And now and then … if they’re curious enough … I’ll even take them looking for her.”
My eyes light up. “Like a ghost hunt?”
She winks. “Exactly. But it has to be on the down-low.”
“Why? That sounds amazing. I’d love for you to take me hunting for her.” I’m practically bouncing with excitement now.
I grew up hearing ghost stories about old barns and abandoned cabins on ranch lands. But a haunted luxury hotel?
That’s next level.
“It is, but it’s frowned upon by management.” Calliope’s smile fades slightly. “We’d have to be careful.”
“Why?”
