I nodded.
“We have a problem,” she said.
I squeezed Xavier’s arm. “I need to run to the little ladies’ room. Is that okay?”
“Sure. I’ll be here.”
I crept off to an old bathroom and shut the door. I didn’t know why I was hiding. Xavier knew about the team. He wasn’t supposed to know. We were clandestine. But nevertheless he did. I’m sure I had Anita to thank for that. She probably met him at some ghost convention, gushed about how perfect his hair was and then snuggled her fake boobs in his face and told him all about what she did. Then she slept with Xavier for good measure.
Wow. Sometimes the extent of how much I didn’t like Anita surprised even me.
“What’s the problem?” I said.
“The kitchen ghost is threatening to come out. She’s all mad about the fact that you’re here. She wants to steal all my thunder.”
“Any other ghosts?” I said, hope rising in my chest.
“No. No one else.”
I shrugged. “Let her come. The more, the merrier.”
Susan shook her head. “She’s such a drag. Just wait. She’s horrible.”
“What does she do?”
“She likes to drop food on people’s heads.”
I stifled a laugh. “Oh well. Let’s see how it goes.”
I exited the bathroom. Xavier had met back up with his team. “Anyone find anything?”
“Nothing,” Truck said.
“Nope,” Slick replied. The anger in his voice was so thick I’m surprised he didn’t choke on it.
Xavier flared out his hands. “Wait. The EMF reader is going crazy.” The electronic block in his hand beeped shrilly. “There’s something here.” Xavier glanced around the room. “If there’s someone around, let us know. Show us.”
A crash sounded to our left. The men jumped. Their headlamps flashed in the direction. Mist curled on the floor. It rose, tightening into a blob about the size of a person but shaped like a ball of dough. Two black eyes emerged.
This was definitely not Susan. It was the other ghost.
“Ladies and gentleman, a full-blown apparition is appearing before us. Slick, are you getting this?”
“Heck yeah, I am.”
The lines of dough hardened. The spirit was a squat, angry-looking woman with beady eyes and a sour expression.
“This is amazing,” Xavier said.
All in a day’s work, I nearly said.
The spirit’s mouth unhinged to her stomach, and she screamed so loud chandeliers rattled, the windows shook, and I’m pretty sure Xavier’s hair turned white.
The men nearly jumped from their skins. The spirit’s massive mouth looked like a black, endless tunnel. It was all smoke and mirrors, I could tell. She was probably a grumpy ghost but was really more ticked that they were here investigating Susan and ignoring her than anything else. I’d dealt with it before.
Her yelling suddenly stopped. The men took one beat, and then screams ripped from their throats. They barreled through the restaurant, dropping equipment and flashlights along the way.
Feet thundered across the floor until they reached the front door.
