Haunted Read Free Page A

seriously.
    “So what do you think, Miss Charles?”  Marcus was smiling at me expectantly. It was obvious he was the singer and voice for the band. “Are you willing to work for us? We will pay you generously for your time away from the shop.”
    I started at his words. “Away from the shop? I’m sorry, just where do you expect me to work?”
    Marcus looked questioningly at his uncle. Daryl put his hands out.” I hadn’t told her yet, son.” He turned to me with a serious look on his face.” These boys will be staying at the St. Germaine house for the next few weeks. They’d like you to come and stay with them, hear their stories and help them design their pieces.”
    I’d been by the St. Germaine house, it was on one of the haunted tours Mackenzie and I had taken a few months ago. I had been utterly entranced by its beauty and the chilling stories the tour guide had told us. One of my favorite authors was rumored to have tried to buy the house as it had inspired her writing.
    Shaking myself, I questioned Daryl, “And how am I supposed to be gone from my shop for that long?”  I’d never denied Daryl anything, how was I supposed to say no? But our shop was only in the black because I worked my ass off five, sometimes six days a week. “I’ve got appointments scheduled.” I looked over at Mackenzie for help, but she was too busy making eyes at Star.
    “I had our attorney draw up a contract for you to look over, Miss Charles. Please, if you would be so kind, take tonight to look it over and we’ll be in touch tomorrow. I really do hope we can work together. It would mean a lot to us.”
    I could sense a profound sadness from Marcus when he said this. He looked over at Mr. Mysterious who had taken off his sunglasses and was looking at me with the deepest blue eyes I’d ever seen. His beanie covered all but the very front of his black hair, which was pushed back from his forehead. The bottoms of his ears were visible and both were adorned with thick silver hoops. My breath caught in my chest and I couldn’t help but stare as he moved gracefully over to stand next to Marcus. He looked to his bandleader, who he towered over, and just above eye level to Daryl who patted him fatherly on the back. He swallowed and spoke in a low, quiet voice.
    “I understand you are very busy, Miss Charles. But we need the right person if we’re going to do this. It’s time, and we really need to move on. So please, think about it?”  
    Such sadness. My mouth went dry as his blue eyes held mine. “I will. Think about it. I’m sorry, this is just not something I’ve ever done.” I glanced again over at Mackenzie and this time she looked over at me, nodding excitedly.
    “Can I call you tomorrow evening? I just, I need to figure out if it’s even possible.” I glanced down at my appointment book. I was booked solid this weekend and most of next week. I gulped. That money would get us through the slower months until the weather cooled and the tourists poured back in.
    Marcus appeared relieved I wasn’t just shutting them down and showing them the door. “That would be just fine, Miss Charles. We’re getting settled in over there so here’s our manager’s card.”
    He handed me a grey card with an embossed black skull taking up the entire left side. It had the name Sherry Jordan on it with a Los Angeles area code.
    My gaze traveled from Marcus to D, who was looking down and nodding while Daryl talked to him quietly. He looked up at me and the faintest of smiles lifted his lips. He looked to Daryl, embraced him, put back on the sunglasses and walked out to the car to wait for the others. Mackenzie batted her glittered lashes at Star who seemed ensnared and had to be physically removed from the premises by his band mates, one hand dramatically over his heart.
    The men filed out. Daryl followed them to the door, shut it, then turned on me as the Hummer blasted to life and pulled out onto Frenchman street. He smiled at