“Ahhhhh—!” Trixi and Derek screamed in unison.
“What are you doing?!” I threw my hands up in disbelief. “You can’t just out yourself to regular people like that, Uncle Silas.”
“Why, it’s perfectly alright, dear girl. Derek called ahead—made arrangements,if you will.”
“What?” My brows drew so tight, a headache decided it was the perfect time to arrive.
Derek set Trixi to his side and cleared his throat. “You know how we had to shove all the computer stuff into Silas’s cubby when Hunter moved in?”
“Yeah?”
“Well… the last time I was here, I may have shown him how to contact me, answer a call—send a text.”
“Yes. And the poor lad just wanted to have a little fun.” Uncle Silas floated on an invisible chair, legs crossed and completely relaxed.
“Fun?” I blinked at him. “Trixi, you okay?”
“More than okay!” She grabbed Derek’s face and kissed him hard as she leapt up. “This was amazing! What a rush! Where’s the bathroom? I need to get this mustard out before it stains.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I replied, “Across from the stairs, next to the coat closet.”
I watched her disappear down the hall and waited to hear the bathroom door latch.
“What is the matter with you? Bringing her here to get her ghostly jolliesoff.”
“It’s not like that at all, Mags—I just wanted to spook her.” Derek got up, set the now crumpled mustard bottle on the butcher block, and grabbed some paper towels. “Besides, it’s not like she wants to give him a ghostly happy ending or anything like that. She just likes being spooked.”
“If I must say, I wouldn’t mind a round with both your new dame and Kathryn. They’re quite rousing to fantasize about.” Uncle Silas spun in the air and passed through the ceiling, his smoky essence whirling around us.
My nostrils flared in disgust.
“Can we focus?” I asked. “You’re supposed to be protecting me. Isn’t that why you came over?”
“Protecting you from what?” Trixi returned, her shirt completely removed and dangling damp in her hand.
“Oh my…” Uncle Silas poked his head through the ceiling and ogled her red crochet bralette.
I sighed. “Welcome to the horror hotel, Trixi.”
“My friends call me Trix,” she stated.
“Well, Trix, welcome. Someone’s either dead—” I gestured to Uncle Silas. “Running from it—” I thumbed at my chest. “Or investigating it—” I flicked my eyebrows to Derek.
He raised a finger in admonition. “Don’t forget trying to fuck it… it’s not just those in this room that have a thing for death.”
“I don’t have a thing for death. I’mtryingto avoid it at all costs. Big difference.”
Trixi’s face went serious, and she put her hand on my forearm. “Maggie, if someone is out to get you, we’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“Thanks,” I said with a small smile. My eye dropped to the little heart-shaped gem dangling in her navel. “Cute piercing.”
“Thanks,” she said, adjusting her belt.
I then faced Derek straight on. “I really don’t think it’s a good idea to bring someone new into our crazy right now.”
“Oh, I’m fine with crazy. I thrive on it, in fact.”
“Yeah, Mags. She’ll fit right in. Just ask Katie.” Derek pulled her in, slipping his hand into the torn hole in her fishnets on her thigh.
