Page 92 of It'll Always Be Her

“Oh, I’ve seen activity there several times over the years when I’ve been casting ocean spells.” Destiny peered at the map. “Usually in the fall.”

Bee looked up. “In October?”

“I can’t remember the exact dates, but possibly. I did just see it again a couple of weeks ago during the full moon. I was collecting ingredients for moon water, and after borrowing shells and saltwater from the earth, I walked to the boardwalk to absorb lunar energy when I saw her.”

“Her?” Bee’s eyes lit with excitement. “You know it was a woman?”

“She had a very feminine energy.” Destiny nodded, flicking a lock of black hair over her shoulder. “I ran into Lincoln at Java Works the next morning, which is why I told him about it.”

“Has anyone else seen her?” Bee asked.

“Not that I know of, but of course it’s likely.”

“What did she look like?”

Destiny pursed her lips in thought. “It was difficult to determine, but she appeared to be wearing a long dress, and she was walking back and forth. Almost pacing, I suppose, right at the end of the boardwalk.”

Adam’s jaw tightened. He supposed it was possible that two light waves had intersected twice at the exact same place—once two weeks ago when Destiny had been walking past, and again yesterday when he’d been looking through the telescope in the cupola—and produced the exact same optical effect for two totally different people, but the theoretical probability of such a—

“Interesting, isn’t it?” Bee was looking at him, barely suppressing a smile.

Christ, she was pretty. All bright-eyed, glossy-haired energy in that costume that molded to her hips and breasts and showed off her long legs…

He suddenly wished he’d met her in some other circumstance—like at a bar or a grocery store. Not through a fake ghost-hunter show that reminded him every day of how he’d been forced to walk away from his true calling. The one thing he did well.

“Why is this of such great importance?” Destiny glanced from Bee to Adam, her eyes narrowing. “And what doeshehave to do with it?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll let you know when I find out.” Bee gave her friend a quick hug.

“If you’re going to let him get all up in your frequencies, then at least wear the black tourmaline,” Destiny muttered, still eyeing Adam suspiciously. “No stone, no bone.”

He scowled, glaring at her like they were animals about to lock horns. She arched an eyebrow and huffed.

“Thanks, Destiny.” With a grin, Bee took his arm. “Adam, come on.”

She led him toward her car parked at the curb.

“Where are we going now?” he asked.

“We need to get over to the Gardenia House. I think we have a better chance there than actually at the boardwalk, and it’s still light enough outside. The farther away we are, the less disturbance there will be.”

Though he sensed where this was heading, Adam told himself it was still explainable. Coincidence. Diffraction of light. Microscopic particles. A freaking cloud of dust motes.

He got into the passenger seat of Bee’s car as she started the engine. She drove quickly to the library. The parking lot was scattered with cars, and the doors were open, but only two people were heading up the steps to enter the haunted house.

Bee grabbed Adam’s hand, hurrying him into the darkened library, where a teenage girl dressed as a ladybug was staffing a ticket table. She looked up, her eyes brightening as they walked into the foyer. Then she caught sight of Bee, and her expression fell.

“Oh, it’s you,” she muttered.

“Well, thanks for the warm welcome.” Bee approached the girl and picked up the roll of tickets resting on the table. “What’s wrong?”

“We’ve had, like, two people come through so far.” The girl groaned and dropped her head back. “We’re never going to make enough money for the costumes for the musical at this rate. Brian was right…we should’ve set up the haunted house in the school gym. At least we’d be closer to downtown.”

“It’s only six thirty. The festival goes on until nine.” Though Bee’s voice was reassuring, worry glinted in her eyes. She put down the roll of tickets. “I’ll take some flyers to pass out. Are all the coffins and stuff still working properly?”

“Yeah, we’re just bored.” The girl studied her fingernails.

“I’ll try to drum up some business downtown,” Bee assured her. “We’re going back soon. I just have to check on something.”