“But he’s still out there,” Tyler said, with a frightened look.
“Yeah, and he’s probably still looking for the treasure,” Dru pointed out. “So I don’t think we should be looking for it.”
Tyler nodded sadly.
“How did you know I was in your room?” he asked.
“The tear on your jacket the other day,” she said. “And I think you dropped Hailey’s phone number. But I didn’t put it all together until I saw The Haunting of Hemlock House in your bag. And heard the Ghost Getters on your TV. What were you thinking?”
Tyler’s face fell.
“I know it seems dumb, but that chat room is basically my life. It’s gotten me through some pretty dark times. The people in there know me better than my own family.”
“You must not be very close with your family,” Dru said.
“It’s true, I’m not,” he agreed miserably. “I’m so sorry for not being honest with you, and for taking your journal. Please don’t tell the people in the group what a jerk I am. And I hope you can forgive me for being such a weirdo, but I understand if you can’t.”
Dru opened her mouth and closed it again.
He seemed genuinely sorry. And she wasn’t really in the mood to be adding anymore enemies to her list. A week ago, she didn’t even have a list.
“Give me the book and I’ll call it even,” Dru said, indicating The Haunting of Hemlock House.
He had the audacity to look torn.
“Let me make a copy for you,” he hedged. “The original is priceless.”
“So was my peace of mind,” Dru told him flatly. “Besides, you got to read my grandmother’s journal, so it’s only fair.”
Tyler handed over the book, his head down in defeat.
“Thanks,” Dru said.
“Don’t mention it,” Tyler said to the floor.
Dru rushed out of the room before he could change his mind, or wonder why she wanted the book after she had just told him it wasn’t safe to hunt for treasure with Johnny Sullivan on the loose.
12
Dru had nearly reached the staircase when she heard the raised voices.
She paused on the landing to see the mayor and Officer Wagner facing off in the lobby.
“You know who did this,” the mayor said “You have witnesses. You can’t hold the rest of us without cause.”
“I’m not holding anyone,” Officer Wagner said. “The door is unlocked, go ahead and leave if you want.”
Mayor Tuck’s eyes widened.
“But,” Officer Wagner continued, “you should know that I’ve impounded the shuttle. So have fun walking down the mountain.”
“Why are you doing this?” Mayor Tuck asked, her voice cold with fury.
“I’m doing my sworn duty,” Wagner said. “I’m protecting the public.”
“By trapping us on top of a mountain with a murderer?” Mayor Tuck asked.
“Well, I didn’t say I was protecting you,” Officer Wagner said. “I don’t know which one of you is the murderer. But I do know that if I don’t let anyone go, I’m definitely not letting the murderer go.”
“But you know who the murderer is,” the mayor repeated in an exasperated tone. “Do you really think I had anything to do with it?”
“We have no evidence to back up your theory,” Officer Wagner said. “Just two shaken eye witnesses and a wet newspaper. For all I know this is a Murder on the Orient Express scenario.”
Someone cleared their throat directly behind Dru’s ears and she was so startled she nearly fell down the steps.
She turned to see Howie Pembroke standing right behind her.
He wore satin pajamas under a ridiculous smoking jacket, like a mini Hugh Hefner in training.
“I see there’s been a disagreement,” he said loudly, in a voice that sounded like a bad imitation of a black and white movie star. “Why don’t we discuss it like civilized people over a nightcap? Join me in the sitting room.”
Dru glanced at Viktor, whose blue eyes twinkled with mirth.
“No thank you,” Mayor Tuck said, turning on her heel and marching toward the stairs.
Dru jogged down to the lobby to get out of her way.
Behind the desk, Edgar Allan Crow screeched out a raspy greeting.
“I don’t drink on duty,” Wagner said, looking embarrassed. “Sorry to disturb you, sir.”
“Nonsense,” Howie said. He glanced up at the staircase and saw the mayor had disappeared. “Women, eh?”
“I’ve got to get some sleep,” Wagner said, scowling, and headed up the stairs as well.
Howie glanced over at the desk.
Dru belatedly realized she shouldn’t have been so obviously watching while he got humiliated by the hotel’s most prominent guests.
“Is that a pet?” Howie hissed at her, his eyes narrowed.
Dru felt Viktor’s fury rising up in her own chest.
“It’s an injured raven,” Dru said, quickly. “Not a pet.”
“Get it out of here,” Howie snapped.
She felt Viktor’s anger coil like a whip.
“I’ve taken it in,” he said lightly.
“We have a no pets policy,” Howie said.
“It’s not a pet,” Viktor said. “It already lives here.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“It lived in the abandoned wing of this decrepit hotel,” Viktor said. “Until your half-dead hemlock dropped on it.”
“That hemlock was in excellent health,” Howie growled. “A perfect specimen. And you can’t keep a wild bird in here. It’s a health hazard.”
Viktor’s face went still and Dru felt the air go out of the room.
Even Howie stepped back slightly.
“Are you really asking the one guest who is paying list price for half the rooms in this place to endanger a living part of the Pennsylvania wildlife?” Viktor asked, his blue eyes glittering dangerously.
For a moment, Howie met his gaze.
But there was something about Viktor now. Something wild and dangerous. Something glittering and formidable.
Howie stepped backward, dropping his face in shame.
It just wasn’t shaping up to be poor Howie’s night.
“Keep it away from the other guests,” he muttered as he headed back up the stairs.
He stopped when he reached the landing and turned back, as if gathering his courage.
“And don’t fraternize with my staff,” he cried.
Dru watched in awe as Howie turned on his heel and marched up the stairs, his silk smoking jacket flowing dramatically behind him.
13
A few hours later, Dru sat beside Viktor as they pored over The Haunting of Hemlock House.
Viktor’s arm had been around the back of her chair, and she could practically feel his protective instincts enveloping them both. She wasn’t sure whether to find it endearing or frustrating.
This alpha side of Viktor hadn’t been as evident before he fed on her blood. Now, she was almost afraid of what he might do if he perceived that she was in actual danger. It was a good thing for Tyler that Viktor hadn’t been around a few hours ago when he had cornered her in his room.