“Right,” I answered, nodding absentmindedly. I took a deep breath and patted his leg. “Well, whoever this guy was, he must have left some footprints or something outside.” I glanced over my shoulder toward the window. “How do you think he got up here?”

  Like I’d mentioned, Finn’s bedroom was on the second story and there was no ladder leaning against the house or anything else that would have allowed someone easy access to his window—such was a big part of the reason why I’d figured the man had to have been a ghost. Otherwise, he would have had to scale the brick wall to reach the window.

  “How the hell should I know?” Finn fired back.

  “Language.”

  “Sorry,” he grumbled. “I’m just… frustrated.”

  “I know,” I said, and squeezed him a little harder.

  “I don’t… I just don’t understand how he got up here, Mom… especially when I know he wasn’t a ghost.”

  “I don’t either.”

  “Maybe he was wearing a jetpack.”

  I bit back a laugh. “I doubt that.” I started to stand up and had to remove Finn from my side so I could walk towards the bedroom door. “I’m going to go outside and see if I can find any footprints. Are you going to be okay until I come back?”

  “I’m going with you, Mom.”

  “Finn, it’s okay if you want to stay here.”

  He shook his head. “I need to protect you if that guy’s still… around.”

  I looked at his sweet, cherubic face and at the thought of my son trying to protect me, I decided it wasn’t a good idea if we investigated this potential burglar ourselves. So, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, about to text Marty when the phone lit up with a call from Roy, my ex-boyfriend.

  “Hi,” I answered.

  “Hey, I, uh, I was just… thinking about you and wanted to, you know, say hi and… see, uh, how you were doing.” There was a pause. “So, how are you doing?”

  Roy and I had recently broken up and, according to our mutual friend Fifi, he wasn’t quite over me yet. I knew we couldn’t be together (because Roy was actually destined to be with Fifi) but I also wanted to remain friends, so we were still in communication. I figured it was probably another few weeks before he’d realize Fifi was the love of his life. I hoped so anyway.

  “Finn saw a man in his window and he’s sure it wasn’t a ghost.”

  There was a pause on the other line for exactly one second. “I’m on my way.”

  “Okay,” I started, but he interrupted.

  “Stay where you are and lock the door. Don’t open it until I get there and you know it’s me.”

  “Okay, but how are you going to get in?” I asked. “The front door is locked.”

  “I, uh, I still have your house key.”

  “Oh,” I answered and then worried my lower lip. I’d been meaning to ask for my house key back, but hadn’t been sure when the time was right to ask. And good thing I hadn’t…

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  I thanked him and hung up, then walked to Finn’s door and closed it, locking both of us in.

  ***

  Eight minutes later, I heard the sound of Roy unlocking the front door. Then his massive footfalls reverberated through the house as he took the stairs two at a time. Next came a few thuds on the door.

  “It’s me,” he said gruffly.

  I unlocked the door and opened it and Finn immediately ran towards Roy, throwing his arms around him.

  “It’s okay, buddy,” Roy said as he returned the hug. Then Roy faced me and hesitated a moment or two before he stepped forward and threw his massive arms around me, lifting me right off my feet. It was awkward, to say the least. He pulled away another split-second later and cleared his throat.

  “I didn’t see anyone when I pulled up.”

  I nodded and explained everything Finn had told me, while Finn filled in any missing details. Roy breathed out a sigh and I could tell there was more on his mind.

  “Even though I didn’t see anyone, I did notice footprints in the mud outside,” he admitted finally.

  “I want to see them,” I answered, and Finn took my hand as if to say he wouldn’t be left in his room alone. Together, the three of us walked downstairs, out the front door, and onto the spotty grass that led around the house. When we reached the area under Finn’s bedroom window, I started searching the ground for any sign of disruption.

  The minute I looked at the muddy soil under Finn’s window, I saw the tracks as clear as day. Trampled deep into the mud and what little grass there was, they headed away from the window and towards the graveyard.

  “See?” Finn told me. “I told you he was real.”

  “I’m sorry I doubted you,” I answered as I pulled him in for another hug and didn’t let go. Then I faced Roy. “The question now is figuring out who this guy is and what he wanted.”

  “Don’t you have a potion for that?” Roy asked.

  I tried not to laugh, but the question struck me as a silly one. I didn’t have a potion for everything under the sun. “I don’t have any potions that could tell us who the stranger was, but Wanda’s coming over in a little while. Maybe she can use a tracking spell to trace him.”

  “Oh, Wanda’s coming over?” Roy asked.

  “Yeah, we have a… a dinner to go to.” I didn’t want to tell him Marty was part of that dinner because it seemed Marty wasn’t Roy’s favorite person lately. I had a feeling Roy was jealous of my close friendship with Marty. Not to mention, Roy was also fairly convinced Marty was part of the reason (if not the whole reason) I’d broken up with him. Unfortunately for all concerned, I hadn’t been able to come out and say Fifi and Roy were destined to be together, even though they were. But, apparently, the rules of the cosmos just didn’t work that way.

  “Do you have to go?” Finn asked. “Can’t you cancel the dinner?”

  “I probably could cancel, but...”

  “No, you should go,” Roy said as he faced Finn. “I’ll keep an eye on Finn.”

  I looked at my son, who was no longer the small child he used to be. Now he stood eye-level with me. “Is that okay with you?”

  “That’s okay with me.” Finn nodded. “I feel safe with Roy.”

  I looked up at the enormous sasquatch and couldn’t help but feel indebted to him. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “I’m always here for you both.”

  Chapter Three

  The three of us wandered back inside.

  Instead of returning to his room, Finn sat in the living room with Roy, both of them supposedly watching Stranger Things, but I could tell their minds were elsewhere—no doubt on the identity of the stranger who had shown up in Finn’s window. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and, even now, was leery about leaving. But, if there was one person I trusted to keep Finn safe—it was Roy. As a sasquatch, he was basically invincible.

  The doorbell rang and when I opened it (with Roy shadowing me), I found the window repairman. After leading him into the kitchen and showing him the damage from the potion gone awry with Astrid, he said he’d have to order the windows since he didn’t have them in stock. In the meantime, he was happy to board up the openings.

  So, I went upstairs, took a shower, and changed my clothes. Then I walked back downstairs and didn’t miss the wistful expression Roy gave me when he took in my black fitted slacks and red, silk blouse. I’d pulled my shoulder-length white-blond hair into a chignon at the nape of my neck and even opted to wear my pearl earrings. Then I’d dusted a sheen of pink blush over my cheeks that matched my lipstick and I’d even lined my eyes in charcoal liner and applied an extra layer of mascara. Not that I was getting all dolled up for anyone in particular—I just felt like looking nice since I hadn’t dressed up in who knew how long.

  I checked the clock on the wall when I returned to the living room. “Ugh,” I grumbled. “Wanda was supposed to be back by now.” Yes, Wanda was one of those people who was chronically tardy.

  I sat down next to Finn and continued to watch the minutes as they ticked by, growing closer and closer to the time when Wanda and I were supposed to meet the guys at the restaurant. Soon, we’d have to ditch researching Wanda’s mystery women.

  “Do you think whoever that guy was that I saw in my window, that he’s gone now?” Finn asked as he looked from me to Roy. All the while, a concerto of hammering played in the background as the repairman boarded up my windows.

  Roy nodded. “I’d say so.”

  I also nodded. “Maybe he just got confused and thought this was some other house?” Not that I believed my own words, but I was trying to make Finn feel better. “Or maybe he knew the people who used to live here and figured they still did?”

  “Maybe,” Finn answered, but he didn’t appear convinced.

  Just then, I heard the wheels of Wanda’s Escalade crunching the gravel in the driveway.

  Standing up, I walked to the door, unlocked it and opened it—about to tell her we didn’t have time to research anyone but the words were taken right out of my mouth when she stomped up the stairs, Astrid, Darla, and Libby in tow.

  “Sorry it took so long,” Wanda said by way of greeting. “We had some trouble at the duplex.”

  “Trouble?”

  She nodded and then sighed. “Some guy was prowling around Astrid’s bedroom window.”

  I gasped out loud and glanced around the corner to where Finn was sitting with Roy, neither of them watching Stranger Things. Luckily, Finn hadn’t overheard Wanda.

  I turned back to face her and whispered, “A strange guy was also looking through Finn’s bedroom window earlier.”

  “Was it a ghost from the graveyard?” Wanda asked.

  I shook my head. “Finn insists it wasn’t and I’m sure he’s right because after Roy came over, we found footprints on the ground outside Finn’s window.”

  Wanda stiffened. “Maybe it was the same guy. What did he look like?”

  “Finn said he was stout and his clothes were stained with red,” I started.

  “And he had a bald head,” Finn interrupted from behind me, nearly making me jump right out of my heels. I turned around to face him and found his expression narrowed on Wanda’s face.

  “Apparently, he had a comb-over,” I continued.

  Finn nodded. “And I’m pretty sure he hadn’t shaved in a long time.”

  “That’s him!” Astrid cried, nodding in swift succession as her gaze shifted from Wanda, to me to Finn. “It sounds like the exact same guy I saw.”

  “Do you mind if Astrid stays here tonight?” Wanda asked. “She doesn’t want to be alone and,” she paused, looking past me to Roy, where he sat on the couch. Her gaze settled on me again. “And, knowing Roy is here… well, that makes me feel even better.”

  “Can we stay here too, dollface?” Darla added. “This whole bizness is givin’ me the heebie jeebies an’ I ain’t in no big rush to get kicked off… again.”

  “Of course,” I answered, pleased they were asking because I didn’t want Astrid (or Darla and Libby) to be on their own if someone dangerous was lurking around.

  “Oh, thank you, Poppy,” Libby said as she looked at Finn and gave him a big smile. He gave her a queasy one in return. A few months ago, Libby had taken it upon herself to act as Finn’s “second mother” because he reminded her so much of her own son, who was now dead and gone.

  “Did you want me to read you another beddy-bye story tonight, honey?”

  Finn immediately shook his head as he started for the living room again, calling over his shoulder, “Actually, I’m um… I’m watching Stranger Things with Roy but you can watch it with us, if you want.” Then he stopped walking and looked over at Astrid. “Are you staying over all night?”

  Astrid looked at Wanda. “Am I?”

  Wanda shrugged. “I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

  “What’s this Stranger Thing flick all about?” Darla asked as she walked past me and started for the living room.

  “It’s a show,” Finn answered, while resuming his seat next to Roy on the couch. Darla flung herself between them both, causing each one to shift over to make room. Neither one appeared happy about it, but Darla just gave them each a big grin.

  “As long as your show’s got some hunkin’ cake-eater fella, I’m in!”

  “I don’t know about cake, but it’s good,” Finn answered as I turned to face Wanda again.

  “Finn and I were hoping you could do a tracking spell on the footprints so hopefully we can find out who this person is.”

  “I already tried,” Wanda replied with a shrug. “There were footprints outside Astrid’s room also, but I couldn’t get a trace on them or him.”

  I frowned. Any time Wanda’s magic didn’t work, it was cause for alarm—either because something was blocking her magic or her unpredictable power was about to go haywire.

  “That’s strange,” I said. “What would block your casting abilities?”

  Wanda shrugged again. “Either he’s a warlock, and the chances of that are slim to none, or he’s some other supernatural creature with camouflaging powers. I can’t think of any other explanation.”

  “We should report this to Taliyah and the police,” I said. “A strange guy looking through people’s windows is definitely cause for concern.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Wanda said as I realized she, Libby and Astrid were still standing in the foyer. Stepping aside, I closed the door behind them and they all walked in, heading for the living room.

  The hammering started up again in earnest.

  “What’s that?” Wanda asked as she shielded her ears.

  I waited to respond until Astrid walked into the living room and sat down in an armchair beside the couch, next to Finn.

  “The windows blew out during our potions class this afternoon,” I explained.

  “Well, send me the bill,” Wanda said with a sigh.

  I nodded because I didn’t want to get into a debate about it, but I had no plans to send her anything. Then, approaching the kitchen counter, I grabbed my phone and dialed the Haven Hollow Police Department, stepping back into the foyer to make my report.

  The officer I spoke with wasn’t Taliyah, but one of the men who worked for her. He promised to give the information to Taliyah for later investigation—something which didn’t inspire much confidence in me, but there it was.

  I returned to the living room, only to find just Wanda and Roy sitting there. “Where did everyone go?”

  “Finn and Astrid went upstairs,” Wanda answered on a shrug. “They said they had better things to do than spend their evening with the Walking Dead.” Then she jerked her thumb over her shoulders toward the kitchen, clearly pointing out the ‘walking dead’ in question. There, Darla and Libby were in the midst of playing Good Housekeeping again. I caught a snatch of conversation about Libby’s latest perfected chocolate chip cookie recipe.

  I laughed and was suddenly beyond grateful Finn had Astrid to keep him company and all under the watchful eye of Roy. Speaking of, I turned to face him. “Looks like you’re going to have to keep yourself company tonight.”

  He shrugged. “I’m fine with that.”

  “Well, I’m beyond happy to see you’re here,” Wanda said as she inspected her long fingernails, which were painted black. “Knowing a sasquatch is keeping watch over the place is about as comforting as comforting gets.”

  Roy chuckled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  Wanda nodded, then turned to face me. “Should we get started researching Betanya’s friends?”

  “What—now?” I checked the clock on the wall again. “Wanda, we’re already late for dinner.”

  She shrugged and seemed less than concerned. “I texted the guys and asked to push it back an hour.”

  “The guys?” Roy repeated, looking at me with interest. I felt my stomach drop.

  “Oh,” I answered immediately. “Henner asked us to dinner.”

  “That’s a guy,” Roy responded. “And you said ‘guys’ in plural.”

  I swallowed hard. “Right.”

  “Will Marty be there too?” Roy asked, his pallor coloring.

  “Um,” I started.

  “I don’t think he’s going to make it tonight,” Wanda interrupted. “I think RJ is filling in for him.” I wasn’t sure if she was just covering for me or if Marty really wasn’t going to make it. Of course, it wasn’t as though Marty had anything else going on, so I was fairly sure Wanda was covering for me. I gave her a quick smile of gratitude. Clearly, the strained relationship between Roy and me was public news.

  “Anyway,” Wanda continued as she pulled one of Betanya’s journals from her handbag and handed it to me. “Let’s start with this one.” Then she took a breath as I opened the journal and flipped through to the pages at the end, marked with a red post-it note.

  “This journal is the one where the three mystery women first appear in Betanya’s life,” Wanda continued. “After this, with the way Betanya refers to them, it seems like they just become ordinary fixtures in her daily routine—almost like her closest friends. I also brought this.”

  She pulled out one of her notebooks in which she kept notes detailing her attempts to break the blood bond between herself and Lorcan. As of yet, they still hadn’t managed to break their bond, though they kept trying.

  Wanda opened the notebook and started flipping through the pages before she paused on one and flicked it with her fingers. “Here it is. The three women are Florence Wilson, Agnes Smith, and Imogen Flannigan.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Hmm, old-fashioned and bizarre sounding names.”

  “What do you mean?” Wanda asked, and I realized I’d just put my foot in my mouth since ‘Wandellmelia’, Wanda’s first name, was as bizarre as names got. “I just meant… you don’t hear those types of names anymore.”

  Wanda looked at me and frowned. “Of course you do!”

  “You do?” Roy asked.

  Wanda looked from him to me. “Are you telling me there’s no one around here named Florence?”

  “I’m just saying those names aren’t as common nowadays as they used to be.”

  “I don’t know anyone named Florence,” Roy said.