Supernatural Psychic Mysteries: Four Book Boxed Set: (Misty Sales Cozy Mystery Suspense series)

by Morgana Best

  I didn’t know what to make of the tone of his voice. He sounded both irritated and worried. He very well could have been both.

  “Sorry, I didn’t want to make a fuss of it. I thought about telling you, but this was the first time we’ve had dinner together in forever, and the portal was already sealed. It might not even open again.”

  “But it could open again?” The concern in his voice was heavy this time.

  “I’m not sure. I just want to be on the safe side.” I clasped and unclasped my hands.

  He reached out and covered both my hands in his, giving them a reassuring squeeze. “You should stay with Melissa tonight. Deal with it in the daylight. I’d offer to let you stay in my room, but I’d not have people make assumptions about your character.”

  I smiled and leaned up to give him an appreciative peck on his cheek. “I appreciate the thought. I’ll be all right. I will take Melissa up on her offer tonight.”

  “I’d feel better if you did.” He stared at me. “Be careful. I want to help you in any way I can, but I’m not a lot of use against ghosts and magical portals.”

  “I will,” I promised, before he left to deal with whatever case was beckoning him.

  Chapter 10

  “Wake up sleepyhead,” Melissa’s voice called out as my groggy self felt a solid thump on the side of my pillow. “If we don’t get moving, they’ll stop serving breakfast by the time we get there.”

  “Breakfast is overrated,” I said sleepily with a yawn, burying my face in my pillow to try to block out the light. I had been too creeped out by the feel of the portal’s presence to sleep there in my room, so I had stayed the night with Melissa. I had been up for a couple more hours giving Melissa the play by play. She was doing her best to be supportive, but her concerns over my international long distance relationship with Jamie could be tedious. Two in the morning tedious.

  It had been a long, long night after I had returned from dinner. I had gone to the kitchens to find some salt, despite the fact that I had no idea how to explain away why I would need it. When I had finally found someone able to get me some salt, it had been in a pathetically tiny shaker. By the time I managed to get enough salt to do the room, I was pretty sure they thought I ate salt with a spoon.

  Housekeeping was no doubt going to be highly irritated. Yesterday they had to scrub chalk off the walls. Today it would be salt out of the floor and the bedding. Oh, and did I do the closet? I think I had. I needed to go back to the room and make sure the portal was still closed. If I hadn’t done the salt correctly, I might have a really irritated creature on my hands. No need to let the maids deal with that.

  “Come on. We need a good breakfast before we start work for the day.”

  I groaned and pulled myself up into a sitting position. I raked my fingers through my hair to remove the bed head. I needed to get up and check that room. If someone got mauled in there, I would never forgive myself. “Okay. Give me a minute to go get dressed.”

  “Are you okay?” Melissa looked at me with concern. “I could go and get your clothes for you if…”

  “No, no, I’ll do it.” I gave Melissa a reassuring smile as I stumbled to my feet. Melissa shot me a suspicious look, which I pretended not to notice. I did not want to try to explain the white powder all over my room. “See you in a few minutes?”

  I yawned again and rubbed at my eyes as I started down the hallway. For a place that was booked to capacity, it was oddly quiet. There were no heated conversations leaking through the doors, and only a couple of people were in the halls. That suited me fine. I wasn’t exactly dressed to impress on my way to my room.

  “Oh my goodness, look at you taking the walk of shame,” a gratingly familiar voice proclaimed out of nowhere.

  I spun around. My jaw dropped. “Julie?” I screeched in dismay.

  My mail lady was standing there in a wild-looking summer dress with a neckline down to her naval. She looked like a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. Her hair was down in a wild, tangled mess. Her lips were way too red, and her eyes were almost hidden by the pools of blue eye shadow painted all over them.

  “What are you doing here?” I said in shock.

  “You’re not the only one who deserves a luxury vacation, Miss Thing.” Julie smirked at me. “Looks like you didn’t waste any time finding some company.”

  “Nothing like that,” I said, not knowing whether to be confused or irritated. “What brought you here?”

  “Funny you should ask. You inspired it after all,” Julie said in a pleasant tone as she patted her wild hair into place, making it look all the more like she had a briar bush on her head.

  “I did what?” I blinked as I stood in the middle of the hallway. It was way too early to deal with my nosy mail lady. Actually, it was never a good time to deal with her.

  “Well, there I was stewing over my husband, Craig, spending all my hard-earned money on yet another useless video game, right. And I was thinking, ‘Julie, you deserve a vacation. You should just up and go.’ And then…”

  “What in the world are you doing here?” Melissa demanded from her doorway, staring incredulously at Julie, my purse dangling from her hand.

  “My goodness. This place doesn’t have elite membership you know,” Julie declared in a huff. “And even if it did, I know you two couldn’t afford it.” Her brows furrowed. She looked over at Melissa, then slowly back to me. Her eyes widened as she looked me up and down. “Well, I would have thought it would have been that hot English muffin I heard you were spending time with. This is a big surprise.”

  “Wrong,” I said shortly. “Wrong and wrong. Melissa and I are on assignment for work.”

  “You know what work is?” Melissa said.

  “That so?” Julie asked skeptically, and gave a dismissive half shrug. “Well I wondered where you got the money for a vacation like this. You certainly didn’t win any lotteries.”

  “Wondered?” I blinked as I stared at the woman. “How in the world did you know we were coming here?”

  “Yeah, I’d like to know that too,” Melissa said irritably, as she walked over to hand me her purse.

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll let you ladies clean up and I’ll meet you at breakfast. I’m sure you had a long night, with work and all.” The woman sashayed past me, while humming a little tune to herself. I tried to think of something witty to say, but came up short. I needed at least two full cups of coffee to function in the morning, and a minimum of three to deal with Julie. And there was not enough coffee in the world to have breakfast with her.

  “What in the world is going on?” Melissa asked me as soon as Julie was out of earshot.

  I shook my head. “Your guess is as good as mine.” It was way too early and I was way too caffeine-depleted for all this.

  * * *

  The dining area was gorgeous, the tables dripping with yellow roses. Golden cut glass glistened in the morning light as the sound of a piano playing a soft melody wafted from the back.

  It was almost an exquisite scene, one which was worth getting out of bed for, especially with morning lattés served in elegant glasses. The scent of citrus mingled delightfully with the smell of gardenias and roses. It would have been a lovely time, but for one hideous blot on the whole experience.

  “You know, my doctor says I shouldn’t eat grapefruit. It doesn’t agree with my medication. I wonder what’s so special about grapefruit? People say it’s a superfood, but you can’t eat it if you take any sort of medicine. That’s crazy, don’t you think?” Julie chattered on as she gored her grapefruit with her fork. “Here’s to living dangerously!”

  Melissa and I had considered hiding in a room and ordering breakfast sent up, but that would have just given Julie fuel for a most inaccurate line of gossip. Plus Julie knew where Melissa’s room was. Sadly, there was no hiding. She would have come looking for us.

  “I’m glad you two decided to join me,” Julie said in a conversational tone as she nibbled at a mauled piece of g
rapefruit. “I had a feeling you would be here, but what are the chances of actually running into each other in this place? It’s huge.”

  “Speaking of that, how did you know we were coming here?” Melissa demanded irritably, not sharing Julie’s enthusiasm.

  “From the package of course,” Julie stated, as she puckered her mouth and glowered down at the fruit, pushing it to the side. “You remember, don’t you, Misty? That fancy thick envelope? I guess it was your reservation or directions or whatever?”

  “You read my mail?” My jaw fell open.

  “Of course not. That’s illegal,” Julie explained patronizingly, shooting me a patient look. “Anyway, like I was telling you before, my worthless husband spent half my paycheck on booze and this crazy looking video game. And I realized that while he was moochin’ off my hard earned wages, I haven’t treated myself in ages. I was thinking it would be nice to get away for a while. Then I saw that envelope in your mail. It was so much fancier than you usually get, with that metallic print and all. So I did an internet search on the return address. And this place popped up.”

  “You researched the address off my mail?” I asked, only just resisting the urge to splash my coffee all over the woman. I knew Julie was nosy, but this took things to a whole new level.

  “Of course. It’s not exactly classified. It’s on an envelope after all.” Julie dosed her mushrooms with a heavy cloud of pepper, looking completely unapologetic. “I have to say, this is a fantastic place to pamper yourself. I was curious about how you found it. I didn’t think you had such good taste. But if it’s for work, then it makes a lot more sense. I’d have thought you won the lottery, but I know you don’t play. Plus no letters from the prize patrols, of course.”

  “Are you a stalker? Seriously?” Melissa studied the woman suspiciously. “Does Misty need a restraining order or something?”

  “Oh, you are completely blowing it out of proportion. It was just a little peek online. Anybody could have done it.” Julie waved off the glare. “You better eat something. You two are so crabby first thing in the morning. It’s probably low blood sugar.”

  “More like high blood pressure,” Melissa quipped back. “You said you thought Misty would be here. How would you possibly know that without getting snoopy in her private mail?”

  “I deliver the mail to both you girls,” Julie said in a slow, patronizing tone with a sugary smile. “When you both put in the request to have your mail held, I figured you might be coming here.”

  “That’s not creepy at all,” Melissa said in a careful tone.

  I kept my eyes trained on my plate, poking at my fruit. If I’d had an appetite, I had lost it with how easily Julie had figured out my comings and goings. I had never realized exactly how much Julie knew about my life. It was even a little scary. Should I complain to the post master? The woman knew where I lived, when I was home—and apparently when I wasn’t.

  “Not in the least bit, right?” Julie said cheerfully. “It’s not like I knew you would be here. Not for a fact. And besides, the more the merrier! Especially with all that’s going on. Did you hear? Someone found a body in their bedroom when they checked in. Of course it’s just gossip with the house keep, but it could be real. Do you ladies know anything about it?”

  “We didn’t come to investigate bodies,” Melissa said shortly.

  “But you guys see dead people, don’t you?” Julie asked. “You write ghost stories for the magazines!”

  “We research the paranormal and mysterious happenings,” I said carefully in response.

  “Well what’s more mysterious than that?” Julie asked. “If this is work, what did you come to write about?”

  “That’s classified,” I said quickly.

  “Classified? What is this about classified? You think you’re a secret agent now?” Julie asked with an amused twinkle in her eye. I felt myself stiffen as the woman seemed to search for something. Exactly what, I didn’t know. Yet there was something about the look in her eyes that disturbed me.

  “Well, while you’re researching your classified mystery case, why don’t I hang around and help? I bet I could dig up lots of interesting stuff.”

  “I bet you could,” I said without enthusiasm.

  “Sorry, no outside help.” Melissa added sharply, giving the woman a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “I’m sure you understand. Just not possible.”

  “Oh come now, you’re just being silly.” Julie gave a short laugh and turned her attention back to me. “You ladies take your work much too seriously. Here you are in a lavish hotel with a missing person and a dead man. You think your work is really going to stay classified here?” The woman quirked a brow and then sighed at our expressions. “Fine, fine. Three’s a crowd. I get it. But we absolutely must see some of the afternoon events together. It would just be silly not to sit together. We all know each other really well after all.”

  Too well, way too well, I thought despondently.

  Chapter 11

  A loud knock echoed through the hotel room and snapped me from my sleep. I rubbed my eyes to rid them of fatigue. Had I imagined it? I’d slept in my own room, but had been so scared that I’d been up half the night. It seemed as if I had only just fallen asleep.

  I sat up in the bed and listened for a second knock. After several seconds it came, causing me to leap from the bed and hurry toward the door. I pulled it open to see a tall, thin man wearing a dark uniform. If his peculiar mustache hadn’t distracted me so much, I might have noticed right away that he worked for the Hydro Majestic hotel.

  I stared at the man, focusing on the light brown creature that rested atop his upper lip. I tilted my head as he raised his eyebrows but said nothing. His mustache was thick and bushy in the center, but then twirled up at its ends, almost as if both sides were racing to touch his nose. “Excuse me, ma’am?” he finally said, shattering the silence.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry if I woke you, but your upcoming tour of the Jenolan Caves is at eleven. This is just a reminder that the bus will be here at ten for all booked guests. It can’t wait for stragglers,” he said, flashing an awkward smile and handing me a small envelope. “Have a lovely day,” he added, nodding before he continued down the hallway.

  I closed the door to my suite and then looked at the envelope in my hands. I had no idea what tour the concierge had been talking about, but it was obvious that I was holding the answer in the palm of my hands. I leaned backward, my back pressing against the closed door as I ripped open the envelope and pulled out a small card that read: Misty Sales and guests. Enjoy your all-expense paid trip to one of the Blue Mountains’ most breath-taking natural attractions.

  I read the note over and over, hoping I would miraculously discover something new if I looked just a little a bit harder. I wasn’t sure who had booked the tour for me or why they had, but time wasn’t going to slow down and wait for me to come up with the answer. The concierge said the bus would be arriving at ten, and a quick glance at my cell phone showed that it was already just after nine.

  I decided to text Melissa and tell the news. I figured I could invite guests, or hoped so, anyway. Hey som syerosu prosn, Skinny perhaps? Booked us for tour of the ejnolan caves. The bus will be eher at 10. lets emet up in the lonny in 30.

  I then looked at what I had written, deleted it, and typed it again, more carefully this time. Oh, if only I’d learned to type! Hey, some mysterious person, Skinny perhaps? booked us for a tour of the Jenolan Caves. The bus will be here at 10. Let’s meet up in the lobby in 30.

  Melissa’s response was fast. That sounds like fun! I’ll be ready in thirty.

  I thought about Jamie. I wanted to invite him, too, but was he working? I was sensitive to rejection, so didn’t want to invite him and have him refuse. I decided to type an ambiguous message. Someone mysterious booked me a tour of the Jenolan Caves. It said I could bring guests. Melissa and I are leaving on the bus at 10. I smiled, both at my cleverness, and the fact that
I hadn’t made any typos for once.

  I brushed my hair, and applied makeup, and then headed toward the exit. I shut the door and tested the knob to ensure it was secured. Then, as I turned to leave, a pain knocked me backward. I gripped my upper left arm with my right hand in reaction to the sharp pain that was sending jolts of agony through it.

  I looked up into the face of Julie.

  “I’m so sorry!” she said. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

  “That’s fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “Well, see you later, I’m just in a bit of a hurry.” I pushed past Julie, massaging my arm. As I walked down the corridor, I saw that Julie was following at a distance, so I ducked this way and that, trying to lose her. It proved to be more difficult than I thought. Finally, I headed for the lobby, thinking I had given her the slip.

  Melissa was already there.

  “Hey,” I said. “I ran into Julie down the hall, literally, so I was trying to shrug her off.”

  “Did it work?” Melissa asked, bobbing her head up and down in an attempt to see over my shoulders.

  I shook my head and chuckled. “I think it’s safe to say she’s gone.”

  “So, how exactly did you get booked for this tour?” Melissa asked me, raising one eyebrow and scratching her chin.

  “Not a clue. A note was delivered to my room. Could it have been Skinny?”

  Melissa looked thoughtful. “Dunno, but why would she send a note to you instead of to me? Or not to both of us? And surely she’d tell us?”

  I shrugged. “Who would know? Who else could it have been, though?”

  Just then, a familiar voice sounded behind me. “Where are you two going?”

  Oh no, it was Julie. “We’re on holiday, Julie,” Melissa said. “People don’t just sit around in a hotel room when they travel places.”

  “I know that, but sitting around in my hotel room is exactly what I’m going to end up doing if I don’t find something fun and exciting to do,” Julie said, her lips forming into a pout. “I’m going on a tour of the Jenolan caves soon,” she added, a glint in her eyes.