Page 77 of Shake Your Boo Thang

I run my fingers through the hair on his chest. “We’ll figure it out. For now, let’s enjoy the time we have and let the cards fall where they may. I’ve been at this a lot longer than you, sugar, and one thing I’ve learned is to trust in where the universe leads me. You just need to come along.”

He’s quiet for a moment, then says, “Believe me, I want to. That I can say for sure.”

“Darlin’, that is more than enough right now.”

And I snuggle him tight like there’s no tomorrow.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

RULE #175: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, BE POLITE

Sometimes, manners can go a long way in quelling the animosity of some spirits when other options fail. As in life, treating others politely can smooth the waters, so to speak.

Some spirits simply want someone to hear their tale of woe and nod along sympathetically. If you indulge them, they may be more inclined to tone down their behavior.

This is not a solution for evicting a spirit from haunted premises! However, it can buy you some time until you come up with another plan of action.

–ExorSquad Employee Safety Manual and Operational Guidelines (Revised Edition)

Callum

“Gloria Tate?”

A woman in her early sixties, with a shoulder-length bob of dark hair liberally streaked with gray, smiles at me from her front door’s threshold. “You must be Callum.”

Beau extends his right hand. “And I’m Beau Montgomery, ma’am.”

“Come inside. We can talk in the kitchen if that’s all right.”

We follow her into a small, cozy flat filled with all kinds of plants. The walls are covered with framed photos of family and friends, as well as Gloria’s travels over the years.

She seats us at a round kitchen table while she puts the kettle on for tea.

After our round of mind-blowing sex yesterday afternoon, we spent the rest of the evening searching for some of the people referenced in the arson investigation notes. We struck out with two who had already passed away, but we got lucky with Gloria, one of the people interviewed who’d managed to escape the building before it was too late.

Once the tea’s ready, she joins us, placing a steaming pot on the table followed by a plate of biscuits on two trivets. “How do you take it?”

“Milk, no sugar, please,” I say.

“Milk and plenty of sugar for me, please,” Beau says.

She fixes our cups and hands them to us, then prepares her own.

“Would you like a biscuit, luv?” she asks Beau, motioning to the plate.

His lips twitch and he takes the proffered biscuit. “Thank you kindly, ma’am.”

I smirk at him and he mouths back, Cookie.

There’s a cocky look of challenge in his eyes that I like entirely too much.

It makes me think about last night…

Don’t lose focus, Callum.

“We know it’s been a long time since the night of the fire at the Midnight Vault, but we’d appreciate you telling us anything you might remember,” I say.