Once the house was empty, our small circle met in the living room.
“We need to split up and search,” I said.
“What if she isn’t here, Blissful?” Alice said.
“Oh, she’s here,” Axel said. “If she’s not here yet, she’s on her way.” His gaze flickered to me. “If Fannie is the person who stole the canister.”
“It’s her.” Ruth spoke with authority. “The way she stared at that tube you would’ve thought she was Indiana Jones and it was the Holy Grail.”
“I’m glad neither of those things are true,” Roan said. All our gazes flickered to him. “Because it would be strange,” he explained. “To find the grail here, you know. Very strange.”
“Everyone have a flashlight?” I said.
“I don’t understand why we don’t just turn on the lights,” Alice whimpered. “So that some of us can see better.”
“If she isn’t here yet, it’ll help us set up places to ambush her,” I explained. “It will be fine. Roan and I will take the basement.”
“Axel and I will take the main floor,” Pepper said.
“That leaves the upstairs to us.” Ruth pointed toward the stairs.
“Why do we get stuck up there?” Panic sparked in Alice’s voice.
I wrapped her in a hug. “You are least likely to run into Fannie being upstairs. She’ll have to go through Axel and Pepper to get to you. Don’t worry. It’s the best place to go. You have the smallest chance of being in the line of fire.”
Alice peeked at me with eyes full of doubt. “Are you sure?”
Ruth clapped her shoulder. “Okay, come on, you big scaredy-cat. Get your flashlight and let’s get up there. Blissful got rid of most of the ghosts, remember? You’ll be fine.”
“Yeah,” I said encouragingly. “You love ghosts, Alice. I don’t understand what you’re afraid of.”
“I don’t like ghosts who threaten people. That’s my problem. And this place”—she shivered—“it gives me the willies.”
“Let’s go, you big baby,” Ruth grumbled. “I’ll protect you.”
As they walked off toward the staircase, Alice said hopefully, “You will?”
“Sure. Right after I run away from any big ghosts.”
Alice scoffed.
“Yell if you see anything,” I said.
“Will do,” Ruth said.
That left the four of us. “If we find Fannie,” Roan started, “we’ll bring her up here. Hopefully with theSpiritus.”
Axel nodded. “Pepper and I will be on the lookout. If she winds up with us, we’ll get word to you.”
I quirked a brow. “How?”
Axel smiled. “We just will. Be on guard.”
“Be safe, y’all,” Pepper said.
We split up. I led Roan to the basement. If I thought the house was creepy with the lights on, it was downright haunted-house scary with only a flashlight for guidance.
Shadows jumped and crawled across the walls, just beyond the reach of my beam. The air had that clotted, stuffy feeling to it again.
