Page 46 of Ghostly

“Here you go.” Marge whipped a paper out of a cheerfully decorated folder. “Move quick if you want the rewards. Jason and Mark are on it, too, and last I saw, they were doing very well.”

“Not since you sabotaged Jason,” Ida murmured, and Gabriel suppressed a laugh.

As Marge left, Gabriel raised the paper with the first clue up for Ida to see, shaking off the last strands of thoughts about Wynona. He didn’t know what was stranger—that he hadn’t thought of her in a while, or that forgetting about her didn’t hurt as nearly as much as he’d expected.

“Is it just me, or does it look like poop?” Ida said.

“I think spending too much time inside a computer is starting to affect you.” Although the drawing did look suspiciously like a cute version of human excrement.

“True. A bit more and I might start speaking in emojis. I’m already feeling very Christmas tree.”

Gabriel titled his head. “It might be one of the candies in that stall.”

“Thumbs up, sunglasses, fire, fire.”

“You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

Ida laughed—a proper, happy, jingle bell laugh.

Ah, hell.The game was stupid, but she was clearly enjoying the whole experience. And when she laughed—well, he didn’t feel the same kind of warmth he had when fulfilling a condition, but it was similar. Maybe even better. More tangible, somehow. “Let’s go back to the candy stall and find the next clue.”

In the next half hour, Gabriel had a quarrel with a stall owner, insisting she was hiding a clue and sabotaging him, dug through a pile of discarded food boxes because Ida was “triple check mark, wrapped gift” certain one clue led there, and accidentally broke a branch on the tree as he searched for the right bauble.

But he also got stepped on twice in the crowd, inciting a perfect opportunity for an “I forgive you”, only to have it still not work. He also forgave a kid for accidentally hitting him with a snowball and the food vendor for running out of turkey slices with cranberry sauce just as Gabriel turned up.

Nothing.

On the other hand, Ida seemed very pleased with the visit to the fair, and Gabriel had to admit it wasn’t the worst thing. The parties his firm held—ones that were usually as much about socializing as making new deals—were exciting. This? It was louder, yet more relaxed; colder, yet warmer; the mulled wine cheaper, yet smelling better. And it somehow felt like a giant gingerbread cookie.

“Hold your horses and raise your white flag.” Jason approached as Gabriel was going through his second cup of coffee-flavored hot chocolate. “The treasure hunt is over, and the winner stands in front of you.”

Behind Jason, Mark raised a red Christmas stocking with silver snowflakes and a big note with the titleTHIS IS THE TREASUREattached to it.

“You sure that’s the right one?” Gabriel asked. “Seems a bit obvious.”

“Don’t you try your diversion tricks on me. We’ve already checked. It’s a potpourri making kit. Now, I know what you’re gonna say.” Jason put a hand to his heart. “You wanted it for yourself.”

“I’ll part with it with a heavy heart and revenge on my mind,” Gabriel said in a fake serious voice.

Jason laughed and punched his shoulder. “Merry Christmas. I’m glad we have you here.”

“Merry Christmas to you too, guys.”

“And from me, as well!” Ida said. “Tell them party popper, wrapped gift, Santa Claus.”

“Uh, a friend also wishes you the best.”

Jason and Mark shared a look.

“I told her about you. She called me while I was getting rid of the scarf and I explained the whole incident.”

“You’re such a smooth liar,” Ida said.

Yes, he was. But he had a feeling he wasn’t the only one.

“She must’ve hated that scarf,” Jason mused. “To be honest, you can do better. With scarves, I mean.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Too harsh?”

“No. I forgive you,” Gabriel said, and wasn’t too surprised when once again, nothing happened.