“Couldn’t find the barn,” Mia said.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Dupree?”
“It all started with a Dick pic.”
If Ted hadn’t seen the whole thing on the security cameras out front, he might have taken a swing at Mike. But, as usual, his wife and Mike had fallen into a state of adolescence that seemed to incite the two to nearly blackening each other’s eyes at times. “Team A’s first run has been nothing but a tour of the hotel. You two are up next. I suggest you guys go and change before Burt sees you.”
“Wait, we caught an intruder, and we have an idea of what may be happening at this hotel,” Mia said. “That’s got to count for something?”
“Not on Burt’s shooting schedule. Now scoot.”
“Geeze, Partner Number Three is a pain in the…”
“Mia!” Ted scolded.
Mia trotted off towards the new wing. Mike looked at Ted. “You know, if I didn’t so admire you, I’d feel sorry for you. She is wonderful and trouble in equal measures. When you blow yourself up, I want her. Can you put it in your will or something?”
“Are you really going to continue to pursue this? Mia’s not around to protect you, Dupree.”
“Why don’t you like me, Martin?”
“I’ve seen you in action. I don’t want that for Mia, or any woman for that matter. If I have to marry them all to keep them from you, I’ll make the sacrifice.”
Mike laughed. “Dude, Mia wants you all to herself. Good luck with that.”
Mike left, and Ted stood there a moment and wondered why Mike Dupree always caused him to say the most stupid things.
Mia pulled on her ghost-hunting clothes. She brushed most of the grass out of her hair before braiding it. She loaded her pockets with ghost irritants. She pulled on the extra shirt and let it hang open, minimizing her bust. Ever since the live broadcast went viral, she had made a point to wear loose fitting or conservative clothing when being filmed. It was time to regain some of her dignity.
She walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth. She heard the room door slam. She assumed it was Ted, but when she looked out, there wasn’t anyone. The door looked like she’d left it, locked with the Do not Disturb sign out. She heard a door slam again. She didn’t see anything, but she heard it. She pulled on her scabbard and loaded it with sword and shield before calling in.
“Ted, I’m hearing slamming doors in the new wing, over.”
“Mia, I’ve alerted Murphy. Please stay in your room, over.”
“K,” she said. She wanted to venture out, but now wasn’t the time to disobey Ted. She pulled the chair over and looked out the peephole. Nothing. She got down, walked over to the window, and opened the drapes. Nothing.
She opened the window, eased herself out onto the ledge, and shimmied her way to the next room, and looked in the window. Nothing. She did the same in the other direction. Nothing.
She returned to her room to find Murphy looking for her.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
He lifted his hands.
“Do you think it’s a hoax?”
He lifted his hands again, but then he looked back at her and nodded.
“I knew I was by myself here, and… I was scared. Not anymore,” she said and made a motion to remove the scabbard.
“No. Keep them. Something feels bad here,” he said, touching his stomach. “Like a nest of maggots.”
The sound of doors slamming was thunderous. It seemed to be coming from right outside the bar area. Burt, Audrey and Cid stopped, confused by the lack of any doors in the area but the bar’s, and it was standing open. Burt looked in the bar and waved Mike over. Ted, who was waiting for the group, ran over to see what the holdup was. Cid heard a movement of gears. He instinctually grabbed Audrey as the floor gave way, and the PEEPs team fell into the darkness.
The sounds of doors slamming increased. Mia and Murphy ventured out but could find no movement of any doors on the first floor.
“Ted, there is no activity on the first floor. Murphy and I are heading to the second floor, over.”
Silence
“Ted, do you read me? over.”
Nothing.
Mia picked up her cell phone and mass texted everyone.
No answer.
“Murphy, no one is answering.” She called the security team and got an answering machine. “Damn, they’re taking Cyryl Nowicki down to the police station.” Mia left a message and asked for them to return immediately. “Maybe it’s just a… Who am I kidding? Let’s go and find out what’s going on.”
Mia ran through the new wing and into the lobby. It was empty. She accessed the computer. “Jake, where’s Ted?” she asked. “Or anyone?”
Jake had all the security cameras cycling, searching for the members of PEEPs. Nothing.
“Jake, search security footage at seven o’clock,” Mia asked, knowing she was being chastised by Ted at that time.
Mia watched the outdoor camera, and sure enough, she entered the building. Mike and Ted talked for some time, but the two of them entered the lobby. Ted came into the lobby and sat down. Mike walked towards the bar. She watched as Ted picked up her call, and he stepped out to alert Murphy. About the time she was climbing back in the window, Ted had simply disappeared.
“Jake, show me all team members at seven o’clock.”
Jake displayed Burt walking, conversing with Audrey while Cid lagged behind, taking stills. They moved out of one camera’s range but then didn’t show up on the following security camera.
“Show me the bar feed, starting when Mike walked in.”
Mia watched Mike remove an expensive scotch from the glass shelf and pour himself a drink. He penned a note of some kind. Mia assumed it was an IOU. He walked out of the security camera’s range.
“Show me PEEPs footage.”
The camera that was still aimed at the corner table picked
