what happened to Tad’s ghost and the Ghost Bikers, maybe Kell’s ghosts have a reason to be agitated,” Teag said. “How about this? I’m overdue to go see Mrs. Teller. I’ll ask her for some Hoodoo charms to help Kell’s ghosts, and then I’ll plan on going with you on the ghost tour and to the haunted house.” He managed a grin. “After what happened at the cemetery, I vote for strength in numbers.”
“Works for me. I just need to swing by the house to take Baxter for a walk and make sure he gets his dinner.” Until we knew what we were fighting, I was not taking Baxter beyond my own little walled garden.
“When are we supposed to meet up with Valerie?” Teag asked.
“Six. At the carriage stable. So we should be done in plenty of time to meet up with Kell and his SPOOK folks at the old house.”
“I’ll see you there,” Teag said. “Sounds like fun.”
After the shop closed, I went home and grabbed leftovers for dinner while Baxter ate. After what happened the last time we took a walk, tonight we played in my garden to burn off some of Bax’s energy. He loves to chase a Frisbee, and so I threw and he chased until his tongue was hanging out. It was good exercise for both of us. Back in college, I had actually won a few Frisbee golf tournaments. Nice to see that my aim was still good.
We came back inside, and I selected a few items from the drawer where I keep most of my magical protections. Not all supernatural threats react to the same charms or defenses. Just in the time I’d taken over Trifles and Folly, we’d faced enough ghouls, demons, and otherworldly bad guys for me to have amassed a growing collection of tools to help keep them at bay and keep me relatively safe.
I gulped a couple of ibuprofen tablets and made sure to take some of the odd ‘tea’ Niella had dropped off earlier in the day for me and Maggie. I don’t know what Mrs. Teller put into her mixture, but I credited it with making both of us feel much more recovered from our injuries.
I wasn’t going to take any chances tonight, walking around with Valerie. From what she had already seen, the ghosts weren’t in a good mood, as the incidents with the Ghost Bikers confirmed. Kell’s experiences made it even more likely that frightened ghosts could cause trouble. And then there was Daniel Hunter, the wild card. Despite his help at the cemetery, the guy seemed like trouble and I didn’t put it past him to shadow me. Not to mention wraiths and homicidal underwear models.
I pulled several defensive amulets out of the drawer and put them in my oversized purse, then picked up the antique walking stick Sorren had given me. It had belonged to his maker, Alard, and my touch magic activated Alard’s memories and the residue of his power. And of course, I had my spoon-athame and Bo’s collar.
After dinner, I took Baxter out again and sat on the steps while he explored the garden, giving myself a chance to decompress and just enjoy the beautiful day. Which meant that I was doubly annoyed when I spotted a figure near my gate and Baxter began to growl.
Daniel Hunter was lurking outside my house. “I need to talk to you,” he said over top of my gate.
I backed away from him, and Baxter started to go ballistic. “You need to see me at my store during business hours,” I said. “Thanks for your help yesterday. I did deliver your message to Sorren. But don’t stalk me at my house.”
“Maybe I was just in the neighborhood.” His smirk let me know he was baiting me.
“You want to talk to Sorren, talk to Sorren,” I replied, wondering whether the wardings on my house would keep Daniel at bay.
“I can’t find him. That’s why I need you to help me connect.”
“Did it ever occur to you that Sorren will let you find him when he’s damn good and ready?” I snapped. “I’m not his appointment-keeper. I already told you: I delivered your message. You want more? Give me a business card. Or a cell phone number. I’ll make sure he gets it. ”
Daniel tried to open my gate. There was a shimmer of light and a spark of electricity as the wards flared, then a deep, warning growl and Bo’s ghost stood between the gate