The Hidden

“If you’ll notice, Terry, my chair was skewered—twice,” Scarlet said impatiently.

“If I’ll notice?” Terry protested. “I’ll tell you what I noticed. According to the ghost, you know everything.”

“And I’ll tell you again, I don’t know anything,” Scarlet insisted.

They heard the front door burst open, and Brett came running in, his Glock in his hand.

“Oh, my God, he’s going to shoot us!” Gwen shrieked.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Gigi snapped at her. “He’s law enforcement.”

“Who on earth trusts law enforcement?” Gwen asked her.

“What the hell?” Brett demanded, shaking his head. “I saw the candles go out, so I had Lara set the alarm and lock up after me. I ran over, and then I heard screaming. Lieutenant Gray and his men are coming, too. Diego, what’s going on in here?”

“Someone rigged the moose, turned it into some kind of crossbow,” Diego said, rising. “Brett, give me a hand with this thing, will you? I’d like to get it out of the way, just to be safe. It was set on a spring system—Linda’s tap on the wall set it off. We need to get some engineering techs on this to figure out just how it was rigged.”

“Gotcha,” Brett said.

“So we’re safe now?” Clark demanded, rising and running his fingers through his short gray hair. “Gigi, get up. We’re going to our room right now, and then we’re out of here in the morning.”

“No one is out of here until they’ve been questioned,” Diego said, his voice ringing with authority.

“What? You can’t believe that Gigi or I had anything to do with this,” Clark said angrily. “We’re—we’re retirees!”

“Sir, you were here all day and you come here every year. I’m afraid you’ll have to answer questions just like everyone else,” Diego informed him.

“That’s preposterous,” Clark said, drawing himself up. “In fact, it’s criminal of you to even keep us here.”

“No, murder is criminal,” Adam said in a tone that brooked no argument.

“Did anyone call an ambulance?” Terry asked, his voice pathetic.

“Terry, you don’t need an ambulance,” Gwen said. “I’ve had worse mosquito bites.”

“You weren’t hit,” Terry protested. “They weren’t after you, they were after me.”

“Medical help is on its way,” Brett said, heading over to Diego and the offending moose head. “All of you, give us some space.”

“Everyone into the parlor, please. Follow me,” Adam said, quietly but firmly taking charge.

Clark put an arm around Gigi’s shoulders and turned to stare at Ben. “You! You’re responsible for all of this. You found those bodies because you put them there! What was this? Your attempt to create a haunted house and compete with The Stanley? You’re a psycho. We’re out of here tonight.” He spun on Diego. “Arrest us if you want, but we won’t stay in this house a minute longer than you’re pointless questioning takes!”

Trisha stepped forward. “You’re right. You will get out of my house. My husband is not a psycho, much less a murderer, and you’re a complete ingrate. We’ve given you discounts, free nights. You outeat every guest every morning, and this is how you repay us? I can’t wait for you to go.”

“Trisha,” Ben said, “just let them go. We should have closed down as soon as we found the Parkers.”

“Everyone, please,” Adam said. “Let’s all be civil and head to the parlor. Now.”

Scarlet noted the strength in his voice and the ice in his eyes.

Adam was normally mild, calm and the complete opposite of pushy. But right now, when he spoke in that tone, no one was willing to argue with him.

Clark, his arm still fiercely around his wife’s shoulders, headed for the parlor. Terry, holding his arm and looking ready to collapse, left next, followed by Gwen and Charles. Ben looked at Adam and then said, “Trisha, my love, that means us, too.”