Page 80 of Ghostly

Ida got thrown out, as if the device was too full of energy to sustain her. She wasn’t as light and free as she’d expected—she still wanted Gabriel to continue where they’d left off, so there was that—but she did feel better, like after a solid, heartfelt conversation.

Perry sat on the bed, bobbing his head as if listening to invisible music.

Ida knocked on the mantel a few times, and he looked up. “You did it? Is that the locket?” He walked to the fireplace and dangled the locket off his fingers. “You know, for a man with a good sense of fashion, Gabe sure is the worst at picking jewelry. I’ll pity his wife if he ever gets one.”

Judging by the sickly feeling in her stomach, Ida guessed one locket session didn’t mean she was over Gabriel.

“So what’s this one? Focus? Confidence?”

The door opened, revealing a stern-faced Gabriel. “There you are,” he said, eyes passing straight over Ida and stopping on Perry. “I’d like to go over your portfolio and job interview now, if you can.”

The last three words were redundant; Gabriel’s voice left no room for objection. Perry better tread lightly. Gabriel was in his full lawyer mode.

“Sure, man.” Perry pocketed the locket and, on the way out, tapped Gabriel on the shoulder.

Poor boy. He has no sense of self-preservation.

Trapped in her musings, Ida needed a few moments to realize what had just happened.

Perry took the locket.

Oh, no, no, no.

She phased through the wall; Gabriel and Perry were already on the stairs.

Quick, into his phone!

Where was that app that allowed her to text Perry? She always had trouble finding it—Perry’s phone was a mess.Ah,there—

“And turn that off,” Gabriel said. “I know you’ve got stuff to do, and I appreciate you being available all the time, but we’ll try to simulate a real job interview here. I don’t need to explain what your potential employers will think of you if your phone is buzzing all the time.”

No, no, no.

Ida frantically turned her thoughts into text.

Perry, take thelo—

She was ejected, and found herself staring at Perry and Gabriel’s backs, and then the kitchen’s door as it slammed into her face.

Ever since the perfume incident, Gabriel preferred the kitchen over the living room for work. Outside of warning Gabriel—and there was no chance she’d tell him about her love locket—she had no way to communicate with Perry.

Shucks.

***

“All right, Mr. Huxley.” Gabriel set an old alarm clock he’d picked up at the pawnshop on the counter and sat across Perry.

“Uh…” Perry glanced suspiciously at the alarm clock. “What’s that all about?”

“It’s tocreate artificial pressure, simulate the ambiance of a job interview. You’re hardly going to be as relaxed as you are now.”

“So… what’s gonna happen with it? The alarm clock?”

Gabriel smiled. “I’m not going to tell you.”

Perry gulped.

“Let’s get started then.” Gabriel tapped away on his laptop. “You’re interviewing for the position of an assistant artist. I looked at your portfolio and also asked a friend, a graphic designer, for additional feedback. I have some follow-up—”