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“Okay, you got it. Also, just a thought, but maybe we should figure out some hand signals or something. This whole being dead and trying to talk to you but not talking to you sucks.”

Grant was inclined to agree.

Which spoke of a larger issue he knew he was avoiding—what did the future hold for him and Huck? Yes, Grant would be here for the three months it was going to take to film the show, but he didn’t know what would happen after that. He had assumed he’d leave with the rest of the crew, and he didn’t think a long distance relationship was possible with a ghost.

Shit.

One problem at a time.

He had weeks to sort out what to do about his blossoming romance with Huck. He didn’t think he had that much time to deal with Janice and the Thing in the Stairs.

Grant found Finn and Cary with Bachata, Aurora, and Janice in the office, and he hovered by the doorway, not yet stepping inside. Just seeing Janice made him more nervous, and that eerie sensation of dread was stronger than ever.

Janice was discussing specific areas for them to investigate that night, explaining they needed to focus on the morgue because the creep factor alone would get more viewers to tune in. Finn was nodding along, but Cary and Bachata both appeared annoyed. Aurora seemed to be asleep where she sat, her head was dropping to her shoulder and her eyes were closed.

Cary glanced up when he saw Grant, speaking over Janice to say, “Hey! You need us? Please tell me you need us.”

Grant started to open his mouth, but a death glare from Janice silenced him.

“Ahem.” Janice scowled. “Cary, please. We need to finish this.” She cut her eyes at Grant. “You can go. This meeting is only for thecast, not people whose names just appear in the end credits everyone skips.”

“Janice,” Finn warned.

“I’m so sorry.” Janice did not sound the slightest bit sorry. “What I mean is that we don’t need anyhistoriansfor this meeting—”

“Does that mean I can go?” Aurora asked, apparently now wide awake.

“I didn’t mean you.” Janice scowled. “I meant that we only need theessentialcast—”

“Whoops, looks like that means I gotta go!” Cary was already walking out of the office.

“What?” Janice scoffed.

“We’re not just acast, Janice. The PP crew is a team. If Grant isn’t essential, then neither am I.” Cary smiled cheekily. “Bye!”

Grant ducked his head, trying not to laugh as Cary swung his big arm around his shoulders and led him away.

“I like him,” Huck said with a grin, falling into step behind them.

Grant nodded subtly, and he smirked up at Cary. “The PP crew? Really?”

“Okay, so maybe I didn’t think that through before I said it.” Cary grinned. “We should totally get T-shirts.”

“So, uh, where are we going?”

“I didn’t think about that either. As far away from her as possible. Oh, and somewhere with food.”

“Kitchen?”

“Kitchen.”

To the kitchen they went, and Cary strolled over to the counter to help himself to some leftover toast. “So. What’s up? Bad weather or something?” He grabbed some butter packets. “You were pretty freaked out this morning.”

“Yeah, well, you’re probably gonna freak out when I tell you this.” Grant crossed his arms, and he was grateful for Huck’s hands on his shoulders to urge him on. “Aurora told you about the cult, yeah? All that horrible stuff that went down before the hotel officially reopened?”

“Uh-huh. Order of the Rising somethin’ or another. Finn got a copy of that Alton guy’s book. Weird shit.” Cary smeared the butter over his toast, but he paused before taking a bite. “This has something to do with our staircase situation, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, and then some.” Grant took a deep breath. “Myrna? The owner of the hotel,thatMyrna, was a member of the cult.”

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