Page 20 of Trick or Stalk

She begins running in circles.

I shake my head.

Lord, help me with this one.

Ten minutes later, Penny is buckled into her little dog seat on the passenger side while I drive toward town. The trees lining the road blaze orange and red beneath a bright blue sky, yesterday’s uneasiness fading with every mile.

I was being ridiculous. That’s all.

The horror movies and huge house in the dark woods got to me.

It could also be too much grief.

Or not enough sleep.

Either way, those things are the perfect recipe for imagining a psychopath standing outside my house.

My phone rings through the car speakers.

I glance at the screen. Unknown number.

I hesitate. “Probably someone trying to sell me an extended car warranty.”

Penny looks at me.

“Or tell me I’ve won a cruise.”

I debate not answering. But what if something happened to Stella and someone from the university is calling to tell me?

I tap the button on the steering wheel. “Hello?”

“Hi, is this Presley?”

“Speaking.”

“Hi, Presley. This is Margaret from The Crooked Spine.”

I straighten behind the wheel. “Hi, Margaret.”

“I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”

“No. Not at all.”

“I wanted to see if you’re still interested in the position you applied for.”

My mouth drops open.

Penny glances at me.

“I—yes. Absolutely.”

Margaret laughs softly. “Good. One of our employees just gave notice this morning. She’s moving out of state sooner than expected, and your application was still on my desk.”

My heart gives a strange little jump.

The Crooked Spine.

I’d applied at the quaint bookstore weeks ago. Before Grandma got worse. Before everything became hospital visits and medication schedules and learning how to pretend I wasn’t terrified every time she slept longer than usual.