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Amy could see fear spreading like wildfire through the rest of the crew. One by one, they murmured excuses and backed away toward the stairs.

“Wait,” Sully said sharply. “You’re seriously leaving because of this? It was a draft, or the storm messing with your head!”

But his words fell on deaf ears. Within minutes, over half the crew had packed up and left, muttering about bad vibes and curses as they disappeared into the storm.

As the last of the workers filed out, Sully turned to Amy. His fists were clenched at his side so tightly his knuckles were white. She knew her expression mimicked his. What had just happened?

They both looked over to find Mason Stark looking positively delighted on the stairs. “Now that,” he said, his grin practically splitting his face, “is exactly what I was hoping for.”

Chapter 6

Amy wandered the mansion’s empty halls, her footsteps echoing faintly against the hardwood floors. The storm had passed, leaving behind only dampness and a heavy stillness that made the air oppressive. She felt raw, frayed at the edges.

Garrett’s screams still echoed in her ears.

The scout’s excitement haunted her, as did Sully’s sharp, judgmental gaze. She hadn’t expected Mason Stark to show up like that, or for Garrett to have such a terrifying experience in the basement.

But she had reached out to Dead Reckoning. It had been her choice. Her decision.

And now she felt she had to face Sully, at the very least.

She found him in the dining room leaned over the workbench with the plans for the renovation spread out before him, the edges curling slightly from the humidity. His hands were braced on the table’s edge, and his head was bowed as though the weight of the day had finally gotten to him, too.

For a moment, Amy hesitated in the doorway. She hated this feeling, like a child about to be scolded. It was her house, her project. She didn’t owe Sully an explanation. But for some reason, his disapproval mattered. It sank under her skin in a way she couldn’t brush off. Likely it was her own uncertainty being reflected back at her, and Sully was just the unwitting vehicle.

She cleared her throat. “Sully.”

He didn’t move, didn’t even look up. Only the slight tightening of his shoulders told her he’d heard her.

She stepped into the room, the jingle of her bracelets faint in the quiet. “I just wanted to see if you… if Garrett was okay. And… to talk about what happened.”

Still, he didn’t turn. “Garrett?” he asked flatly.

Amy stopped a few feet away, unsure if she should come any closer. “Yeah, he seemed pretty upset.”

Sully finally straightened and turned to face her. His expression was hard, his jaw tight. “He’s gone. Along with half my crew.”

Amy’s stomach twisted. She figured as much. “Will they come back?” she asked, trying to make her voice sound soothing.

Sully let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “I’m not sure. I’ve known most of those guys my whole life, and I’ve never seen them so spooked.”

“You’re sure it wasn’t just a prank?”

“My crew were all accounted for.” He gave her a sideways glance, which she ignored. “Timing was perfect for Mason Stark’s ghost ghouls though.”

Amy flinched. “I didn’t know they were coming today,” she said quickly. “Honestly, they hadn’t contacted me at all.”

“But you contacted them,” Sully said, his voice sharpening. “You brought this circus act into the middle of my job site.”

Amy felt her cheeks flush but chose again not to take the bait.

“Well, now we’re screwed,” Sully continued. “Half a crew, and a whole lot of work left to meet your timeline for opening.”

Amy shifted her weight, crossing her arms over her chest. “So, then what? How do we convince the guys to come back?”

He hesitated, his expression softening slightly as he considered his answer. “I’ll give it a few days and then reach out to them. They all need the work. But if you bring that ghost hunting crew in here, it’s gonna make it a hell of a lot harder.”

“Like I said, I wasn’t expecting him. He’ll probably be back, but I’ll have to see what the network’s proposal is first, of course. The terms would have to be favorable.”