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I tilted my head. “Do you like the picture?”

This ping was shy and bashful.

I squealed. “Popty! I’ll ask Ryan everything about him. His name, his age, his job, his terror level around ghostly entities. Just leave it to me!”

PING!

My excitement was tempered when I spotted the clock. “But first, we have to check on our guests. We skipped breakfast in all the commotion so hopefully they aren’t feeling too angry. Maybe Bronwyn can whip up some Welsh cakes to make it up to them.”

We made it to the upper floor and I spotted two familiar spectral shapes in the middle of the hallway.

“Harri! Larri! Quickly, get back to your rooms. Our guests could be out any second!”

“They were out at four in the morning,” Harri said. “You didn’t notice?”

My stomach sank. “What?”

“They dragged their suitcases out of here half-packed after getting spooked one too many times. That thing gave everyone nightmares,” Larri said.

“We tried to get them to stay!” Harri assured me.

“But that just seemed to make it worse.”

I closed my eyes in acceptance before opening them and smiling. They’d done their best. And hey, one night was better than none.

“It’s okay, guys. Thank you for trying. Next time will be better, right?” They nodded enthusiastically and I smiled, rallying myself. “Next time,” I muttered with determination.

I heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to find Ryan standing in the doorway. His hair was damp and curling around his ears and he was in casual clothes again. Gone were his ExorSquad overalls. I greeted those light-wash jeans like they were my best friends.

“Afternoon,” he said, smiling at everyone but his eyes lingered on me and I had to look away.

“Well, well, well,” Harri said.

“If it isn’t lover boy,” Larri added.

“Quite the performance, that was,” Harri said.

“Riveting.” Larri nodded. “We owe Barth.”

“Owe Barth for what?” Ryan asked, and I shrugged, having no clue what they were talking about.

“He invited us to be guest judges,” Harri said.

“We joined the panel of esteemed critics to assess your…performance earlier today,” Larri said. His words finally registered in my brain and I balked.

“Earlier…”

“You were already asleep,” Ryan told me. “I got a seven.”

I perked up. “Oh, nice. Congrats!”

“Couldn’t have done it without you, love.” He winked at me before turning back to Harri and Larri. “But how are you involved now?”

“Barth’s been watching Strictly Come Dancing lately,” Harri said. “He rather liked the idea of guest judges.”

“Said they bring a fresh perspective,” Larri finished.

“Can’t get fresher than us two.” Harri looked smug. “Last ones to die of this lot here. ’Part from Andrew.”