Page 24 of Dragon Detective

“Just me. I let any contractor in myself, and when I bought the place, the first thing I did was change all the outside locks.”

“There has to be access.” But where? “Is there an attic?”

“Fourth floor. It’s full of old furniture and odds and ends. The estate left it all behind, and let me tell you, they left everything in the same spot they’d taken ages ago. I had to haul it all up to the attic myself. But I added a lock on the attic door on this side, so even if someone could somehow find access, they can’t get inside the main building from there.”

“Show me.”

I took him up to the third floor and down the hall to the end.

“See?” I said, tapping the padlock, grateful to find it still locked. “Completely secure.”

“I’ll look around tomorrow, then. When I went down into the basement, I didn’t find any easy access there. I noted the lock on the inside of the bulkhead. Wise.”

“That was one of the first things I did. I lock the door at the top of the stairs, of course, but I didn’t want to think anyone could get into my basement from the outside.” My yawn slipped out, though I covered my mouth. What a stressful day.A stressful week. No, a stressful few months since I bought this place, and odd things started happening. “Sorry.”

“It’s after midnight. We can look into this in the morning. I’m grateful no one appears to be eager to hurt you.”

“Everything seems to be simple pranks. If it was one or two random things, I’d dismiss them as kids, but I doubt they’d bother to continue, especially if Detective Carter started asking questions around town, something he told me he did.”

“I don’t think this is kids.”

I sighed. “Neither do I. It’s too . . . methodical. Organized, I guess you could say. With one goal: To drive me from this building.”

If they didn’t succeed, would they escalate to something deadly?

Chapter 14

Reylor

Iwoke in one of the guestrooms the next morning with the light scent of cinnamon teasing my senses, and rolled out of bed, padding into the adjacent bathroom.

Hannah had done an amazing job here already. The bedroom was cozy with new, though antique-appearing furniture, and the refinished floor gleamed in the morning sunlight. The bathroom was just as nice, a mix of a polished claw-footed tub, a pedestal sink, and a modern toilet. The shower had been freshly tiled, and the rain shower head would go over well with guests.

With the beach right outside, this would be the perfect vacation destination. Once this place was up and running, it would be full every single day of the year.

After brushing my teeth at the pristine sink, I stared at my image in the mirror. My scruff needed trimming, and I’d do so when I had my things. I kept a short beard because I liked it, but if it got too long, it was hot and it got itchy.

I took a shower, using the sample shampoo and soap, then donned the throw again. Having no clothing might prove to be a problem, but I’d bring things over and stay with her until thiscase was finished. There was no way I was leaving Hannah alone at night to handle whatever might come next.

When I reached the first level, I heard voices and followed them to the small dining room, pausing in the entry.

“There you are,” Hannah said with a smile. She waved to the elderly woman sitting at the table, buttering a muffin. “This is Sylvia Carrier. She lives a few doors down.”

Sylvia stood, her pale blue eyes widening behind her cat’s-eye glasses. About seventy, she wore her silver hair in a bun at her nape, and she’d dressed her slender frame in what looked like a wild west prairie dress straight from the 1800s. If I had my guess, she also wore authentic, 1800s button-up shoes.

“So nice to meet you,” Sylvia said in a quavery voice, her fingers twitching on the poke bonnet she’d tied around her neck. “Why aren’t you wearing clothing? Not that I’m complaining. You’re quite . . . fit.”

“Sylvia owns Phantom Finds, the antique shop here in town.”

“Exclusive collections,” Sylvia said pertly. “I live in the apartment above my shop. If you happen to have access to antiques you’d like to sell, I’m your gal. Want to buy? I’m also your gal. I do offer a commission, and I’m happy to part with money for the right thing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said. “I’m Reylor. A dragon shifter.”

“Oh, now isn’t that delightful?” she said.

Hannah grinned. “He forgot to bring his bag when he spent the night.” She coughed. “In one of my guestrooms.”

“Oh! Your first customer?” Sylvia clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Congratulations.”