time to see Dolly bringing us our drinks.
“Oh, this young man is with you?” She set a martini in front of me and a whiskey on the rocks in front of Dee. “You should have told me.”
“Just so you know, we’re paying regular price.” I winked, getting a laugh out of her.
“I wouldn’t dream of charging you any more than regular price.” She winked as she started to walk away. “You haven’t been here in a while, but you can order with the tablets on the table and they’ll bring your food right out.”
“Thanks, Doll.”
“Anytime, love.”
“Thirty-five dollars?” Dee whisper-shouted. “She must be making a killing this week.”
“You’re not kidding.” I looked around the bar. “I don’t think I see one familiar face. Has it been like this every year?”
“Not really,” Martín said, setting his drink down. “I’ve been here for the last three and this is the most crowded I’ve seen it.”
“Wow.” I sipped on my martini.
“I usually leave for Carnival,” Dee said, “I mean, I haven’t lived here for what, four years now? But even then, when I come back home I make sure not to come this week.”
“I can’t imagine being from here and not reveling in this,” Martín said.
“That’s because you’re not from here,” Dee and I said at the same time, then laughed.
“Oh, come on, it can’t be that bad.” He shot the two of us a look. “Besides, I already told you, I enjoy haunts.”
“So does Penny and you won’t catch her on this island unless it’s an emergency.” Dee chuckled, then jutted her chin out to me as she sipped her drink. “Did you tell him about your photography blog?”
“No.” I shot her a look. “I don’t make it a point to tell strangers about my work.”
“What photography blog?”
“The Haunt,” Dee provided.
“The blog? No fucking way.” Martín’s jaw dropped momentarily. “You run that? I thought you didn’t like haunts.”
“I lied. Sue me.” I rolled my eyes and focused on my drink.
“Not to be a fanboy or anything, but I’m on there every single day. Do you ever look at the message boards? I’m FableKing66.”
“Nope.” It was another lie. FableKing66 was one of my biggest contributors as far as theories about the haunted houses went.
“She’s lying. She just hates attention,” Dee said. “I bet she can tell you the last time you posted.”
“Maybe a year ago, but not anymore.” I laughed.
“Right, I forgot, you passed the million followers threshold.” She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
“Do you know Goddess19?”
“Of course. She starts most of the topics.”
“She’s sitting right beside you.” I nodded at Dee, who was now blushing furiously.
“You’re kidding.” Martín looked at her, mouth agape. “Dude!”
“Oh my God, Penny.” Dee was still blushing and still trying to hide behind her drink. “It’s like your own little fan club meetup right here on Pan Island.”
I laughed loudly. Martín was still shell-shocked, apparently, because he was looking between Dee and me and not saying much, which was odd for him as far as I knew.
“Are you going to the party at Caliban Manor?” he asked Dee finally.
“Are you asking me to accompany you? Because I wouldn’t be opposed.”
“Sure, why not?” Martín smiled, then looked over at me. “Do you have any jobs while you’re here?”
“Actually, I do.” I smiled. “They sent me an address.” I pulled out my phone and looked at the email from Exclusive Real Estate again. “Actually, they sent me a pin location.”
“What would you need a pin for if you have an address?” Martín frowned.
“Sometimes the GPS doesn’t have the location of these old houses since they’re so far off the road. Pin drops work best.”
“Especially here. I pin drop and I’m from here.” Dee laughed. “I mean, really. I only pin drop with Ubers.”
“When are you going to take the pictures?” Martín asked. “Can we come with?”
“Sure. If you don’t mind leaving now.” I finished off my martini and looked outside at the gloomy skies. “This is as light as it’s going to get today.”
Martín and Dee both finished off their drinks. We set money on the table for Dolly and walked out of the bar.
“Should we walk?” Martín asked. “I don’t have a ride.”
“You can ride with me,” Dee said, then shook her head. “You know what? It’s better we walk. I only had one drink, but last time I drove here after one drink I spent the night in jail.”
“And on the paper the following morning.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “My grandmother sent me a picture