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“Sure as hell do. Do you have any idea how tiring it is to keep repeating myself and saying that? Polly’s signed up for two weeks, and I’m gonna ensure she learns that my career isn’t a joke!

” Sunny rubbed my arm. “Hey, calm down. I know you’ve been feeling shitty about how they treat you, but you are a professional. ”

“Yeah, well, my sister is about to discover that.”

“Good for you. Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Did you see me talking to any women last night?”

“What on earth?” I exclaimed.

“It’s weird. I never get that drunk that I don’t remember what happened. But last night is gone. I vaguely recall Celt breaking out the moonshine and nothing after that.”

“You don’t remember anything?” I murmured as hurt washed over me.

Sunny had given me an evening to cherish, one that would keep me warm when I was old.

And basically, I was so forgettable Sunny couldn’t even remember bedding me.

Wow! What I thought was wonderful, Sunny thought was subpar because he had no memory of the experience.

“Callie? What’s wrong?” Sunny asked, peering at my face with concern.

“Nothing.” I forced a smile. “No, I didn’t see you with anyone last night.”

“Thanks, Callie.”

“No probs. I am heading back to the hotel. As you know, I only came this weekend because Maylene begged me to try and resolve things. And that was because I was in Spearfish investigating Ravenberry Manor. That place is amazing, and Lavender has agreed to let me have more time investigating it. But my schedule is kicking in, so I’m going to have to return only when we get a chance.

However, I came for the meeting, got insulted, and am now taking a non-believer on two investigations. ”

“Callie, did I say something wrong?” Sunny asked with a frown.

“No. Why?”

“You seem standoffish.” “Probably left over from this afternoon. See you around, and stay away from the moonshine.” On that note, I fled.

I was barely controlling the blush that was rising.

How embarrassing! I’d been daydreaming of last night, and Sunny hadn’t even a clue it had happened.

It was a knock for anyone’s ego, but my fragile one was crushed.

I leapt into the car and drove off like the hounds of hell were after me.

Life sucked.

Sunny

Callie was running from him, and he’d no idea why.

Sunny wouldn’t say they were best friends, but they were close.

The two outcasts in the club, him and her, had graduated towards each other and become confidants, if not mates.

He hated how everyone took Callie’s job as a joke, taking their cues from her siblings.

It seemed only Sunny alone noticed how much effort went into her investigations.

Polly was going to get the shock of her structured, comfortable life. Sunny knew Callie worked damn hard and very long hours. A grin crossed his face, and he quickly wiped it. It’s about time the three sisters learned exactly who Callie was.

He liked Callie. Her confidence had grown in the last couple of years.

She remained quiet and unassuming but wouldn’t back down and had a stubborn streak.

Polly was confident, overly so, but Callie had a sweetness about her that Polly was lacking.

Clio shared the same trait, while Thalia shared Polly’s brashness at times.

Sunny guessed it was the difference between being adopted or having a family and not. Rain also had a confidence about him that Clio and Callie had once lacked. Rain seemed to be the easy-going one, initially stunned by having family but quite happy to have four sisters.

Sunny stared after where Callie had fled.

She’d definitely run from him, but why?

Callie

“Okay. Polly, you’re with Phil. He always goes in a day before the rest of us and sets the cameras up. He is in charge, not you. Phil is fully aware of health and safety and also knows what he’s doing. Please don’t disrespect that and listen to what he has to say,” I said, addressing Polly.

I was amused. She didn’t seem to know how to act, and her public persona was severely lacking right now.

“And Phil does…?”

“Cameras—and he monitors them. He’ll tell you everything you need to know about them,” I informed her.

Polly nodded.

“Also, get some comfortable clothes. We may end up pulling some twenty-four-hour shifts.”

“Seriously?” Polly sounded doubtful.

“What do you think happens during an investigation? Don’t bother answering that. Whatever you believed, throw it out of the window. Go on, you need to help him set up,” I said.

I walked back towards the car and hid a smirk. Polly was going to get an education.

◆◆◆

Nine hours later, Polly joined us for dinner with Phil. I looked up at the smug look on Phil’s face and the exhausted expression on Polly’s.

“All okay?” I asked.

“Yes. Everything is ready, and the cameras are recording,” Phil replied.

“Nice. Polly?” I inquired, turning to her.

“I didn’t realise you used so many cameras and miles of cable,” Polly said.

“The Erutte Mansion is notorious for its haunting. They have around ten different ghosts reported, all haunting their own areas. In instances like that, we prefer to cover all the rooms they haunt.”

“Those cameras must be worth a fortune,” Polly replied as she settled in her chair.

“Yup. That’s the reason we have the van. Can’t haul twenty-odd cameras in an SUV. Did you set up the infrared ones, too?” I asked Phil.

He nodded. “Yeah, especially in the cellar where reports of cold spots are.”

“Good. Okay, let’s eat and then get some rest. We’ve a long day tomorrow. We’ll be meeting at seven for breakfast before driving out to the mansion,” I informed them.

“Seven in the morning?” Polly exclaimed.

“Aren’t you usually up at that time?” I inquired.

“Yes, but why are you guys getting up so early?”

“You’ll find out,” I said with a grin and picked up my menu.

◆◆◆

“We’re doing what?” Polly asked.

“This is called an EMF reader. It takes readings of fluctuations in the electromagnet field. If it picks up a reading, we need to investigate to ensure it’s not a man-made source such as wiring or something.

This other piece of equipment measures temperatures.

If we get an EMF reading, then we check this to see if they match.

A haunting often causes the temperature to drop rapidly,” I explained.

Polly seemed dubious but nodded. “You can hold the EMF reader. Freddie will film us, and Harry is going to look for man-made sources. Jack has the infrared. And Phil has the SLS camera, which picks up any figures in our vicinity.”

Polly looked at me. “Do you usually all go together?”

“Nope. But this way, you know nobody is hiding away and playing tricks. Whatever happens is genuine. You can’t accuse us of bullshiting you.”

Polly’s mouth opened and then closed. “Fair enough.”

We wandered around, taking base readings and checking for cold spots. There were several worthy of note, and they corresponded with the reports of the hauntings. Three hours later, Polly seemed overwhelmed, but she couldn’t explain the cold spots or EMF readings. Such a shame… not!

“Okay. Let’s log these down. Then, Polly, you’re with Harry for the afternoon while we do research. Dinner is at four. We meet back here at ten tonight,” I said.

“What?” Polly gasped.

“We’re investigating once we’ve eaten dinner, we get our heads down for a few hours before starting our evening shift,” I stated.

Polly looked horrified. “Until what time?”

“Depends on the activity. If there is none, then we’ll finish about two. Should we pick up anything, it will be around four,” I replied.

“You’re kidding me?” Polly exclaimed.

“Welcome to Ghost Seekers. We work hard here.”

Polly sent me a long look, and I smiled sweetly at her. “You do this on every investigation?” she challenged.

“No, and yes. It depends on the time we have. We never do less than a minimum three-day investigation. And we’ve done up to two weeks.

Usually, on shorter jobs, we do not stick together, we each do our own thing.

But because of your scepticism, we’re sticking together, so you can’t accuse us of fooling anyone or faking footage.

It limits us but doesn’t stop us,” I replied.

“Callie, I—”

“Please don’t, Polly. Since I’ve started this, you’ve ridiculed my beliefs and ethics. At the end of these two weeks, you will either believe ghosts exist, or you’ll respect the fact we work hard. You’ll understand that even if you don’t believe, we don’t fake anything,” I said confidently.

Polly held my gaze. “So be it.”

“Indeed. So, when I say rest, get your head down. Or you’re going to be sleep-deprived very quickly. And nobody slacks off on an investigation.”

Polly nodded. There was a flicker of respect in her eyes. Yeah, she was starting to realise just how seriously we took this. It was about time.