Page 19 of Just One Little Bargain

“It’s alphabetically organized.”

“Jesus Christ.” He closes the notebook. “Evie. I’m going to ask you this once, and I need you to be honest with me. Is this some kind of prank?”

“No!”

“Are you sure? Because it’s a Friday night, you’re young, and people do stupid things—”

“I’m twenty-seven and I run a business. I don’t have time for pranks!”

“Everyone has time for pranks,” Lucas quips. “It’s all about priorities.”

Daniel doesn’t turn around. “Vaughan. Go check inside the cottage before I reassign you to school-zone duty for the next month.”

“Yes, sir, Chief sir,” Lucas salutes mockingly. “So grumpy tonight,” he whispers to me, right before going inside.

Daniel waits until the door closes behind Lucas to speak again. “Evie, level with me. Are you okay?”

The shift in his voice catches me off guard. He’s known me since I was small enough to sit on the counter at Mercer’s while my mom paid for groceries. His younger sister babysat Daisy and me three nights a week, and Daniel would swing by after work to check on her—which usually meant checking on all of us. He let us count the things on his belt while he asked about our homework. He taught me how to ride a bike in our driveway because no one else had gotten around to it. During festival weekends, when tourists flood the town, he checks in on me and the inn.

“I’m fine.”

“You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“That’s just my face.”

“It’s not.” He exhales, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Look, if something’s going on, if you need help with anything—”

“I don’t need help. I need you to believe me.”

“I believe something happened that scared you. I’m just not sure it was what you think it was.”

“Then why would I call you?”

“I don’t know. That’s the part I’m trying to figure out.” He watches me with the same careful attention he’d give someone standing too close to a cliff. “I’m going to file a report and leave a patrol car outside tonight. If anyone comes back, call immediately. But Evie?” His tone loses its edge. “Maybe consider talking to someone. Just to make sure everything’s okay.”

My stomach drops. “You think I’m crazy.”

“I think you’re tired, and stress affects people in different ways.”

The door swings open and Lucas leans out. “Chief? There’s a cat-sized Ouija board in here.”

Daniel turns to face me.

I shrug. “Some guests left it for Marmalade. I was going to throw it out.”

“Right.” He nods like this explains something. “Is there anyone who can stay with you tonight? Your sister, maybe?”

“Daisy has work tomorrow. She’s leading that tour group from Portland. Thirty people who apparently want to learn about Brindlewood’s haunted history.” The words register a second too late. “Which is ironic now.”

“What about Maddie?”

“She’s working late at The Rusty Nail.”

“So that’s a no on everyone,” Daniel says dryly.

“I’ll be fine on my own.”

He doesn’t argue but his mouth tightens as Lucas jingles his keys, heading toward his cruiser. “I’m parked right out front if you need anything tonight.”