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She points at the door, and it’s very clear this is not negotiable.
We’re escorted out of Ravenswood Manor like criminals being removed from a crime scene, which is honestly not that far off given Georgie’s performance.
Other guests are staring at us, some filming on their phones, and Georgie is still talking about the ghost manhandling her and how it was the most spiritual experience of her life.
“Best haunted tour ever,” Georgie announces, adjusting her wig.
“We’re permanently banned from Ravenswood Manor,” Mom says.
“And it was worth it,” Georgie says with a dreamy grin.
I’m processing everything Miss Kitty told me about Ghoulia Grimm. The stolen show, the ruined career, the backstage confrontation, the poison expertise. It all makes sense. It all points to Ghoulia.
Miss Kitty practically gift-wrapped Ghoulia Grimm for me.
Which either means Ghoulia is guilty.
Or Miss Kitty is very, very good at misdirection.
Time to find out which.
CHAPTER 13
No sooner did we get back to Spider Cove from Ravenswood Manor than my mother announced she was late to her book club at the inn, of all places.
A book club at my inn—which I own and yet apparently know nothing about. Although, in my defense, I have been busy with a sweet little girl who doesn’t believe in sleep for the last solid year. So it’s completely understandable that I haven’t the slightest clue that literary aspirations have been taking place right under my nose. For all I know, aliens could be using the rooftop to land the mothership. Honestly, if they’re paying the going rate, I hope they enjoy their stay.
A lack of sleep really does turn the blinders on when it comes to life outside the nursery moving on without you.
Nevertheless, every month, according to my mother, this book club goes off like clockwork. And apparently my sister Buffy runs it. This time the selection is a very steamy paranormal romance, and I was informed I would not want to miss this meetup.
I dropped Mom and Georgie at the entrance, swung by Gwyneth’s to pick up Ella, and since Jasper was working late at the station and there were promises of hot cider and desserts from the Country Cottage Café, I figured why not crash my sister’s reading group?
But then I do own the building. Technically, everyone else is doing the crashing.
I grabbed Ella, and her diaper bag, and hightailed it to the grand room where the meeting is being held.
The event room is already set up when we arrive, and I spot Emmie right away with Elliot in her arms, which makes me unreasonably happy because navigating Buffy’s literary gathering while juggling a murder investigation is significantly easier when your best friend is there too. It doesn’t hurt that her cute puppies are here too.
Technically, Mom is an actual member of the book club, which means she has legitimate reasons to be here. The rest of us—me, Emmie, Georgie, Macy, and Mackenzie—are just tagging along because Mom mentioned there would be hot cider and desserts in a group text, and also because Georgie cannot stop talking about the ghost who kissed her and needs an audience.
My sister Buffy is running the meeting, and she looks like she’s already regretting every decision that led her to this moment.
Buffy Butterwick is just a couple of years older than me, has dark hair, blue eyes, and runs Sea Beans and Books, the bookstore on Main Street. She takes book club very seriously, which is why she’s currently staring at Georgie like the woman just confessed to dog-earing a first edition.
“Georgie,” Buffy says, her voice very calm and very patient, “we’ll get to paranormal experiences after we discuss Chapter 12.”
“But I WAS Chapter 12,” Georgie says, pulling out her phone. “I lived it. I have video evidence!”
Sadly, I can attest to it too.
The grand room is set up as cozy as can be with fall leaf garland outlining the walls and bookshelves, along with orange twinkle lights woven through them to give the room that spooky charm this time of year demands.
Chairs are arranged in a circle—there’s a hot cider station against one wall with at least four different flavors in addition to steaming hot cocoa, and a dessert table brimming with fall-themed treats. We’re talking pumpkin cheesecake bites, apple cider donuts, chocolate bourbon pecan pie, snickerdoodles, and some kind of caramel apple sweet treat that I’m definitely going to investigate later. A few glowing cocktails have migrated into the room as well.
There’s a playpen in the corner where Ella and Elliot are currently engaged in what I can only describe as a toy-tossing competition. Ella throws a stuffed pumpkin at Elliot, and Elliot throws it back. They both dissolve into giggles and do it all over again.
The pets are here too, because as soon as I heard there would be desserts, I couldn’t deny them. Duchess said she was interested in the literary aspect as well, and I believe her.
