A knock pulled me away from my dream of oceans and mermaids and sirens seated on rocks, singing to the sailors of a big ship.

“Good morning, child,” Mrs. Finnygood said, coming inside my suite.

I sat up, pulling the comforter up to my chin. My pajamas weren’t scanty, but something about having her seeing me in them didn’t sit well with me.

“Mrs. Finnygood? M-morning.”

She placed a brass tray with lots of food and cups on the nightstand. “I thought you would be hungry, so I brought you some breakfast. Coffee from Urban Grind. Loran asked me to tell you he made you a cafe latte just the way you like, and here are some pastries from Ida’s Bakery. She also sent you a slice of caramel pecan pie, saying it was your favorite.” She turned warm eyes to me. “I don’t usually bring breakfast in bed, so be sure to not tell the other guests.”

“I … I won’t.”

“Did you sleep well?” She patted the soft mattress. “Guests always comment on how wonderful our beds are. Goodness gracious, I couldn’t sleep on one of these. Bad on my back, you know? I need something sturdier. Are you feeling better this morning? I sure hope so.”

I opened my mouth, then I closed it. Was I feeling better? I still didn’t know. I had just woken up and my mind still hadn’t caught up with everything from the previous day.

Mrs. Finnygood paddled to the other side of the room, where my duffel bag was open in an armchair. She pulled out one of my shirts. “Downstairs you’ll find games in the sitting room in the front, and I also have some board games in storage.” She grabbed a hanger and put my shirt on it, then hung it in the closet. She picked up a sweater next. “Just let me know which ones you like and I’ll see if I have it. We also have a small music room in the back with a piano, guitars, violins, and flutes.” She paused her movements and glanced at me. “Do you play any instruments?”

I shook my head. “N-no.”

Mrs. Finnygood tsked. “Shame.” She continued pulling my clothes out of my bag and putting them away in the closet. “I always liked listening to classical music. Maybe I’ll ask my friend Victoria to come over later today. She could play some for us. Would you like that?” Smiling at me, she approached the bed and started pulling at the covers and sheets—with me still in bed. “Oh, I plan on serving lunch at twelve sharp. Please meet me in the kitchen then.” She leaned closer. “Again, I don’t do that for all my guests, child, so shh.” She placed a finger over her lips. Then, she straightened. “Now, I need to get back downstairs for some chores. See you later, child.”

Just like that, she walked out of my bedroom and closed the door behind her. Mouth hanging open, I stared at the door, trying to get my thoughts in order.

What the hell was that? Mrs. Finnygood might be small, but she was one hell of a whirlwind.

My head still spinning, I got up from the bed and sipped from the to-go cup on the tray on the nightstand. I sighed in delight. Yes, it was a cafe latte exactly the way I liked it. I brought the tray to the small table in the corner of the room, sat down on the high chair beside it, and ate in peace.

Mrs. Finnygood acted as if I was going to stay inside all day. That wasn’t my plan. I knew I shouldn’t get too near people, especially males, but I could take a walk around the square without the risk of bumping into anyone, couldn’t I?

My heart sank when I remembered that Nathan had left last night, but another hunter had come to stay in his place. What did that mean? That I couldn’t go anywhere alone now?

Holding my breath, I went to the window and looked out. The car from last night was gone, replaced by a white Jeep Wrangler. A girl was leaned against it, looking out to the street.

Was she waiting for someone at the inn, or was she a hunter too? I didn’t know why, but when Nathan had mentioned he was a hunter, I hadn’t imagined women in his group.

A hysterical laughter bubbled past my lips.

Oh my gosh, it was like my mind had already accepted it all. I was thinking about sirens and hunters and nagas and supernaturals as if they were normal. As if I had known about them all my life.

This was crazy.

Appetite lost, I got dressed in jeans, a thick sweater, and boots. I grabbed my leather jacket and went downstairs.

Mrs. Finnygood stopped writing in her thick leather book and looked up at me from behind the desk. “There you are, child. Did you enjoy your breakfast? Of course you did. Now, what do you want to do? I could bring out some of the board games, like I said, and—”

“No, it’s okay,” I interrupted her. She tilted her head at me. I gestured toward the sitting room. “I’m just gonna sit here and read.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Read? I don’t see any books in your hands.”

I raised my arm and showed her my phone. “I read here.”

Mrs. Finnygood humphed. “This generation, I’m gonna tell you. Destroying the world with all the technology.” She mumbled some more under her breath, and I smiled, unsure if it was cute or alarming.

I took a seat beside the raging fireplace, enjoying the warmth coming from it, and started fussing with my phone. Mrs. Finnygood would kill me next time she saw me, but I planned on slipping out as soon as she was distracted. My best bet was when she went to the back and wasn’t watching the front door. She was bound to leave the foyer at some point this morning.

Just then, the door blew open and Nathan ran inside.

“Young man!” Mrs. Finnygood barked. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“No time to explain, Mrs. Finnygood. I need Brooke right now.”

Brows turned down, I stood. “I’m here.”

Nathan pivoted and faced me. There was panic stamped into his dark eyes. “Brooke.” He took three long steps and halted right in front of me. He took my hand in his. “We have to leave. Right now.” He tugged me to follow him.

“Wait, what?”

“Mrs. Finnygood, we’ll use the back door.”

She just stared at him, outrage exploding from her features.

“Wait, Nathan,” I called, but he didn’t stop.

The door flew open again and a man in a polished police uniform walked in. His narrowed eyes landed on me and he pressed his lips tight.

Nathan froze and his hand tightened around me.

“Officer Morris,” Mrs. Finnygood said. “What brings you here?”

“Mornin’ Mrs. Finnygood,” he said, his southern accent thick. “I’m here to talk to your guest.” He turned his warm, brown eyes to me. “Are you Brooke Ellis?”

My heart raced. “Y-yes.”

“I need you to come with me, darlin’.”

I took a step back, halfway behind Nathan. “Excuse me?”

“I’m Officer Morris, and I need you to come with me to the police station. The chief has some questions for you.”

“She didn’t do it,” Nathan said.

“I appreciate your input, Mr. Knight, but this isn’t your concern.” His tone became hard. “Please, stay out of it.”

“Wait. What’s going on?” I asked. “Why do I need to go to the police station?”

The man hooked his thumbs through two belt loops and raised his chin at me. His voice softened again as he said, “We have reasons to believe you’re involved in a case. And I gotta say, darlin’, it isn’t looking good for you.”

My stomach spun. “What case?”

“The murder of Robbie Doyle.”