“Hold on there. We know what you were doing.”
“Really?” I said, banking on the fact that he was completely wrong. I folded my arms and stuck out one hip. “Tell me. What was I doing?”
“You were spying on us.”
Spying yes, but not on them.
“Why would I be doing that?” This was it. My way out of this mess. “Were you doing something wrong? Something illegal? Is that what was going on?”
Their expressions darkened.
Oh, I was on to something now. Courage fueled me. “Should I be going to the ghost police and telling them about this little joint?”
As if that really existed.
The biggest guy smacked the first one’s arm. When the big guy spoke, his voice was high-pitched, completely different than what I expected.
“Boss, do you think she will? Boy, if we get found out, it’s curtains for us.”
Hate to tell you, Brainiac, but it’s already been curtains for you.
“Shut it, Tiny,” Boss said.
So big guy’s name was Tiny. Of course it was.
Boss continued. “This dame don’t know what she’s talking about. She’s snooping around here trying to get our intel. Probably works for a rival boss and wants to rat out our situation.”
I pulled my arm from his hand and backed up. “Trust me, fellas. I don’t work for another boss. I know nothing about whatever honest ghost enterprise you have going on here, and to be honest, I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me if you’ve got a ring that haunts certain houses on certain days, feeding a demon the fear you harness.”
Wait. That didn’t sound right.
“Okay, maybe I do have a problem if that’s your game, but that’s not why I’m here. Look, I’m leaving, and trust me, I won’t be back. You can count on it.”
An open gap sat squarely to my left. I darted for it. Tiny pitched sideways, effectively blocking me.
I backed up until I felt something cold and tingly wrap around my arms. Ghostly mist filled my face as the spirit whispered in my ear.
“We’re not going to let you get away that easily.” Boss’s voice rang in my ear. “We’re all for fun and games, but you saw the sign. You know that no living are allowed.”
“I’m not a spy,” I growled. “If you don’t release me right now, I will call down the light and force the three of you into it.”
Boss chuckled in my ear. “You think I’m afraid of a little light?”
“Um, Boss,” Tiny whined, “I think I might be afraid.”
“Shut up,” said the second tough guy. “You’d be afraid of a mouse if it licked you.”
“Ew.” Tiny shivered. “Now I’m gonna have bad dreams.”
“You and me both.” I tried to wrestle free, but the boss’s grip was iron. “Okay, what do y’all want? I’m willing to concede and find a way for us to settle this difference.”
Boss pushed me forward. I stumbled straight into Tiny, who twirled me back around.
“You know what our favorite thing to do is?” Boss sneered. Glee filled his eyes.
I shoved away a shudder that rumbled in my belly and threatened to invade my entire body. “What’s that, tough guy?”
Delight flared in his eyes. “We like to scare folks to death.”
