8. Eight #2
The Whistler was quiet when I unlocked the door.
The faint sound of a television could be heard down by the kitchenette.
That was where I would find Viola. Rather than head straight to her, I went to my office and checked emails and messages.
Finding nothing that needed immediate attention, I went to the kitchenette.
Viola was in her usual spot, sitting in a chair and watching some sort of reality program.
“I don’t understand why anyone would date this guy.” She gestured toward an attractive man with dark hair on the screen. “Sure, he’s hot, but he’s a total sociopath.”
“I don’t know who he is,” I replied.
“Tom Sandoval. He likes to cheat on his girlfriends and play victim when he gets caught.” Viola flicked her eyes to me. “He’s the opposite of your handsome husband … although they do kind of look alike.”
I frowned at the guy on the screen. “I don’t think he looks anything like Landon. He has a pornstache.”
“He didn’t used to. You know how some women cut their hair or go on a crash diet after a breakup? He grew a mustache.”
I really didn’t care about her reality show. “We need to talk.” I sat at the table with her, waiting until she fixed her full attention on me. “I need to know if you’ve seen any weird creatures running around town.”
“There’s a clown doll.”
“Other than the doll.”
“Margaret has been acting weird. Are you counting her as an evil creature?”
“I didn’t say the creatures were evil … and no. Although, have you seen Mrs. Little today? How is she acting?”
“I saw her. She seems back to normal.” Viola almost looked disappointed. “I preferred it when she was losing her mind. At least she was entertaining then. She’s right back to her old self.”
“How so?”
Viola shrugged. “She’s plotting against Tillie. She’s making plans to build her empire. It’s as if some switch was flipped inside of her. Like a reset button or something.”
Normally, that might not be good news. Given the fact the Feds were in town and I was looking for a distraction for Aunt Tillie, it wasn’t the worst thing I’d ever heard.
“What about giant spiders?” I prodded the ghost. “Has anyone seen any of those around town?”
Viola’s mouth dropped open in horror. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I am not.” I was grim. “I killed two earlier today.”
“Well … that’s just gross. Did you stomp them or use Raid?”
“They’re a bit big to stomp. I didn’t have access to Raid. I used magic.”
“I have heard weird things in the woods,” Viola acknowledged. “Like a chittering. I thought there were still more of the clown dolls out there.”
“There’d better not be.” Aunt Tillie was in big trouble if there were. “How many times have you heard the sound?”
“A few. Three times. All within the last week.”
“Can you take a look for me?”
She nodded. “After my show. What do you want me to do if I find any?”
“Find me and tell me where they are. I don’t think they’re the biggest threat on the menu at present.”
“Okay. I can find the spiders. I’m creeped out, but now I kind of want to see them.”
That wasn’t hard to understand. “What about Aunt Tillie? Have you seen her? My mom said she took off in a huff because she thinks we’re all accusing her of something she didn’t do.”
“Did she do it?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s about right.” Viola shrugged. “I saw her this morning, right around eight o’clock.”
Eight o’clock? That wasn’t right. “She was at the inn for breakfast at eight o’clock.”
“I guess it could’ve been earlier. It was at least three hours ago.”
“How can you be certain?”
“Because that’s how many episodes of Vanderpump Rules I’ve watched.”
Of course she would mark her time with television episodes. “What was she doing?”
“She didn’t seem to be doing anything. She walked up and down the street, stopped in front of a few of the stores and stared as if she didn’t recognize them, and then she kept going.”
“Did she have Peg with her? What about Crusty?”
“I don’t know who Crusty is. She didn’t have the pig.”
“Crusty is the lone clown doll we let her keep.”
Viola shook her head, then shuddered. “That’s a sick thing. I don’t like to judge—I once sat through an entire porn movie where a guy dressed like an elephant and did really freaky things with his fake trunk—but only a crazy person would hang around a talking clown doll.”
I wasn’t up for judging Viola’s level of crazy against that of Aunt Tillie. “Did you talk to her?”
“No. I called out ‘hello’ but she gave me the finger.”
That sounded about right. Aunt Tillie and Viola hadn’t gotten along in life. Things had only worsened in death. Aunt Tillie shared my gift for being able to see and talk to ghosts, but she wasn’t a necromancer. She could tune out the ghosts if the need arose.
“Keep an eye out for her too,” I said. “She doesn’t know about the arachnids. I don’t want her finding trouble. The FBI is in town.”
“Yeah, you’re married to him.”
“Not that FBI agent. Others. They’re interested in all the paranormal stuff that goes on here.”
Viola pursed her lips. “That’s interesting. Do you think they might want to talk to me? I’m paranormal … and very knowledgeable.”
“You’re … something,” I agreed. “They can’t see you to talk to you. I’m keeping the fact that I can see and talk to you guys under wraps.”
“Oh, smart.” Viola tapped the side of her ghostly head. “If they can’t see me, they won’t believe you and will lock you up. You’re not as dumb as I always assumed.”
I wasn’t certain how to take that, so I just nodded as I got to my feet. “I’ll be at Hypnotic for a bit. Look for me there if you find the arachnids.”
“I’m on it.” Viola went back to staring at the television. “Just as soon as this episode is over.” She threw her hands into the air. “You’re not a catch, you gross beast. The women don’t want you. Get over it.”
I left her to yell at the television and headed out. She would do as I asked. She always did. Now it was time to catch Clove and Thistle up.
I wasn’t looking forward to that. Not even a little bit.