Page 55 of While You Were Trending

“Did Dean know about this room?”

“Nearly positive that he did not.” Mabel tilts her head toward the wooden statue. “If he did, he would’ve replaced the statue of his grandfather with one of himself.”

“Why are you showing us this now?”

“Because certain short people around here who like to explore buildings when no one’s watching will be tall enough to reach the sconce before long.”

Cricket winces.

“I need better light,” Shade says to me.

“We’ll wait,” Mabel replies.

Flow pads along with me as I head to the desk and lean over the ledger, pulling up my phone to turn on the flashlight so I can see it better. The dog settles at my feet.

The last entry is dated forty years ago.

I glance up, having a clear view of Shade leaving, and ask a question that I probably shouldn’t. “Ginny know about this room?”

“Everyone will know before the day’s over,” she replies. She glances at Cricket. “Except Lav. Talk to Heath and let me know if you’d like cameras or a security alarm put on the door.”

“How much are these worth?” Dori asks. She’s still in the loft area.

“Depends on if we can make the winery a true success,” Mabel replies.

“Are we selling them?” Cricket asks.

“Not unless we have to.”

I swallow hard against the urge to say that Ginny should be here.

Samantha and Olivia too. Heath.

But Ginny first.

No one’s mentioned how she’s doing.

Or where her mother is now.

“You gonna show Freida too?” I ask Mabel.

“Freida has decided to take a spa week in Sedona to recover from this morning’s trauma.”

I squeeze my eyes shut briefly.

Flow whines up at me.

“Have you met Freida before?” Cricket asks me.

“Few times.”

“Isn’t she the best?”

“No.”

The answer flies out of my mouth before I can stop it, and Flow climbs to her feet, whimper-whines, and noses my hand.

Cricket, meanwhile, grins at me. “Just checking.”