“I’m sorry to have to tell you, but Wally said we’re expecting more snow this evening,” I said. “I think we’re stuck here for a little while longer. Do you need to get home tomorrow?”
Mavis turned to look at me as if she just noticed I was standing there.
“No, not really,” she said. “I just feel antsy all cooped up like this. I don’t mind telling you that seeing a ghost isn’t helping me to feel comfortable. And your aunt just keeps asking more questions and speculating about what the ghost wants.”
“Don’t let Vi scare you,” I said. “She’s making half of it up anyway.”
“Even without a ghost, we’re trapped here with a murderer!” Mavis said. “I don’t like it one bit. Plus, Vi is talking about trying a séance.”
I glanced at Mac. He just sighed and stole a glance at his watch.
“If it bothers you, you don’t have to go to the séance,” I said.
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it,” Mavis said. “It doesn’t mean I like the idea. . . .”
Thankfully, Isabel poked her head out of the dining room and asked Mavis to help her organize the workshop room.
Mavis nodded to Isabel and patted Mac’s arm before hurrying toward the library.
30
The rest of the dining room cleared out quickly as the knitters went to their rooms to prepare for the séance.
Vi and Mom dragged Wally and Kirk into the lounge to rearrange furniture. They thwarted Dad’s attempt at escape out the back door and roped him into the preparations as well. Mac said he needed to spend some time in Jessica’s office so he could consult with the police by phone. But I suspected he just wanted to distance himself from the séance and its arrangements.
Seth and I trekked out to the cottage to feed and walk the dogs. He had packed enough dog food for a couple of days in the duffel bags, but we would run out soon if we couldn’t dig ourselves out. It was fully dark and windy with large flakes falling again. The beauty was beginning to wear thin as we watched the snow piling up. Baxter had no trouble bounding over the snowdrifts, but Tuffy, as usual, stayed close to Seth and shivered. Seth had to coax him to do his business after shoveling a small area so that Tuffy wouldn’t sink into a snowbank.
“Good boy, Tuffy!” Seth said. The little dog looked up at him with adoring eyes and wagged his tail.
Baxter leaped through the drifts to get back to us as we turned toward the cottage. Inside, we grabbed the pile of towels we’d left by the door and began brushing the snow off the dogs. Tuffy shivered and allowed Seth to tend to him. Baxter shook vigorously and sprayed the entire entryway with snow and drool. I grabbed a fresh towel for myself.
“Holly is not going to be happy about this,” I said to Seth as we dumped four sopping towels into the tub.
Seth shrugged and ducked his head, unconcerned about the laundry. He placed their food bowls on the floor and both dogs attacked them as if they hadn’t been fed in weeks.
“Okay, guys,” Seth said, “you be good. I’ll be back later.”
Baxter had just run into the room with his tug toy. His ears drooped at this news.
Tuffy cast a guilt-inducing pathetic stare at us as we put on our coats again to head back out into the snow. A huge gust hit us as we closed the door and I shut my eyes against the pelting ice crystals. I thought of the scene in Little House on the Prairie where Pa has to tie a rope to himself in order to walk to the barn. I was grateful for the lights blazing from the hotel to guide us back and resolved to give Dad a hug the minute I saw him.
An excited buzz of voices greeted us when we opened the door. It sounded like Vi had managed to get several staff members and most of the guests to attend her séance. I had been to a lot of séances in my life and knew that a huge, noisy crowd was not the best arrangement. If I were a spirit, I’d want things to be a little quieter.
They had pushed all the couches to the edges of the room and had managed to put together several tables from the dining room. Chairs were arranged around the new, large table. Candles cast a warm but jumpy glow around the room. Someone had placed a basket of bread and a glass of wine on the table. The food and dim lighting are thought to attract spirits.
Vi clapped her hands three times to get everyone’s attention. No one even flinched. I saw her tug on Mac’s sleeve and gesture to the crowd. His shoulders slumped but he put his fingers to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. There was immediate silence. Vi nodded at him and Mac took a step back, separating himself from the proceedings.
I was glad to see him. Even though he complained about the psychic intervention, I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist observing everyone.
“Everyone, take a seat around the table,” Vi said.