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Otis chortled at her and waved his miniature dust bunny. The kid giggled. Her father pressed some cash into Lucy’s hand.

“Guess we’re headed for the gift shop,” he said.

“There are three sizes of dust bunnies,” Lucy said. “And I believe there are some pink ones.”

The man laughed and then nodded at Jared. “Good to have a Guild man along for the ride.”

“Accompanying Ms. Bell is the best assignment I’ve had yet, sir,” Jared said respectfully.

The last customer off the bus was a twentysomething woman. She shoved some cash at Lucy and then smiled at Jared. “I want my very own ghost hunter.”

Jared gave her one of his polite, professional smiles. “Always happy to be of service, ma’am.”

She giggled and headed for the gift shop.

Lucy waited until the woman was gone before she quickly counted the take. “This is my biggest day yet. Between you and Otis I could actually make enough to pay off some bills.”

Jared laughed. “Always happy to be of service, ma’am.”

Lucy chuckled. “You are good. Just what the Guilds need to clean up the brand.”

“I’m proud to be working for Mr. Jones,” Jared said, turning serious. “I’m lucky he selected me to join his start-up team here in Illusion Town.”

“He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t think you were the best,” Lucy said.

Jared flushed. “Thanks. What’s next? Another tour?”

“Nope. Lunch break. I ordered a pizza from Ollie’s House of Pizza. It should be delivered any minute now.”

Otis chortled.

“He gets very excited about pizza,” Lucy explained. “First stop is the parking lot. That’s where the pizza will be delivered. We can eat in the storage room behind the gift shop. There’s a table inside.”

“Sounds good.”

A gleaming SUV pulled into the parking lot just as they reached the pavement. The bold sign on the side read,roxby weather wizards. go into the underworld with the best.

Lucy sighed. “Not our pizza.”

The doors on either side of the vehicle snapped open. Jocelyn and Brock Roxby emerged. They were dressed for business in matching tailored uniforms done in the distinctive Weather Wizard colors—maroon with accents of amber yellow.

“Hi, Lucy,” Jocelyn said. Her smile was nothing short of vivacious. “This is great timing. We were hoping to catch you between tours.” She switched up the smile and looked at Jared. “You must be a friend of Lucy’s. I’m Jocelyn Roxby. This is my husband, Brock.”

Jared nodded to both Roxbys.

“Jared’s new in town,” Lucy said, slipping smoothly into the cover story they had invented to explain his presence in the Storm Zone. “He wanted to learn something about the Storm Zone, so I invited him to shadow me on the tours.”

“Mr. Jones wants everyone on his start-up team to get to know the territory aboveground as well as down in the tunnels,” Jared said.

“Excellent idea,” Brock said. He took a business card out of the inside of his jacket and handed it to Jared. “Lucy knows her way around the Storm Zone, but when you’re ready to go down into the Ghost City, be sure to call us. We’re running special discounted tours for all ghost hunters this month. Just our way of welcoming the Guild.”

“Thanks.” Jared glanced at the card and then slipped it inside his leather jacket.

Lucy looked at Jocelyn. “I’m assuming this isn’t a social visit?”

Jocelyn gave a sparkling laugh that sounded as real as fake amber. “In the middle of a parking lot in the Storm Zone? Of course not. We’re here because Brock and I would like to offer you a position on the Weather Wizards team.”

“Wow,” Lucy said. She rezzed up her own version of a dazzling smile. “That’s very kind of you, but I’m under contract at the moment.”