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“I can smell it!” She closed her eyes and soaked in the sensation. “Thank you, Lorelei. This brings back so many wonderful memories.”
Hope flared in Ray’s eyes. “Did you get the nuts?”
I released my hold on Nana Pratt. Then I produced a small bag from the larger one and shook it at him. “Don’t worry, big guy. I wouldn’t leave you out.”
“They don’t have much of a smell,” he said.
“We’re not going to enjoy the smell.” I tore open the bag and popped a handful into my mouth. As I chewed, I formed a connection with Ray. I focused on the taste of each item—the almond, the walnut, the peanut, and the chocolate chip.
Ray smacked his lips. “Just the way I remember it. Delicious.”
Nana Pratt looked at me in awe. “How do you do that?”
“One of my gifts that I’ve now shared with you.” They deserved it after all that work in the dining room.
“I didn’t realize a medium could share their experiences with ghosts,” Ray commented.
“I’m not a medium,” I said.
“No, I guess not with those shoulders,” Nana Pratt remarked.
I unpacked the rest of the groceries, mulling over what I’d heard in the coffeeshop about the strange weather and the uptick in crime. There was a supernatural feel to them, but I wasn’t sure how—or if—they were related.
After a decadent lunch of PB and J washed down by a glass of water, I helped the ghosts clean up the mess in the dining room. The wall already looked a hundred times better. It was amazing what one small change could achieve.
I spent the rest of the afternoon drafting a list of projects in order of priority, as well as the materials required. If I didn’t already own them, I’d start in order of cheapest to most expensive. The latter was Nana Pratt’s suggestion. Shealso looked at my numbers and said I’d need a job by February if I expected to pay my bills. It wasn’t the news I wanted to hear.
I needed a distraction, so I picked up the phone and called West. “Any news on Chutney?”
“Not yet.”
“I went looking for a dog last night, but I only found a hungry fae.” I told him about Sage’s thieves.
“People get desperate this time of year.”
“That’s what I said.” I shared Chief Garcia’s crime report.
“I’ll send wolves out to patrol tonight,” West said. “They can do a sweep through the neighborhoods.”
“I stopped by the crossroads last night, too,” I said. “The guards weren’t the same ones on duty when Chutney died.”
“So?”
“I was wondering if you’d spoken to them.”
“Not in relation to Chutney.”
His answer surprised me. “You didn’t think it was worth speaking to them about any creatures emerging from the crossroads?”
“If there’d been anything strange, they would’ve reported it. Bert only thinks he saw a dog. Hardly a monster from another realm.” He paused. “Still, I take your point. They’re asleep now because they’re on duty again tonight. I’ll speak to them then.”
I didn’t wait for an invitation. “I’ll join you.”
“This is a pack problem, Clay. No need to insert yourself.”
“It ceased to be a pack problem when you came to me for help.”
“I only came to you because I thought there was a chance you could speak to Chutney’s ghost. Beyond that, we don’t need you.”
