somebody else just moved the stuff. The electrician and a plumber were in earlier.”
“About that… I’ve seen that they’ve hired humans for a number of the jobs. Except for Jacob, the electrician. I would think everyone, even if they’re new to the pack, would hire wolves.”
Tom shrugged. “They’ve never been in a pack before. It’ll take a little getting used to. Maybe no one gave them a list of who could do the jobs for them. We all know who does what in the vicinity. The sisters wouldn’t have a clue.”
CJ nodded, but he was already thinking about how the painters had left the work unfinished. Maybe the women could use his help in painting the rest of the place. As long as the town or surrounding area didn’t require him to get involved in any law enforcement business, he was free to help out. And eager to do so.
“Of course, that doesn’t explain the X on the ceiling,” Tom said.
“Most likely vandals.”
CJ wasn’t afraid of any old ghost in the hotel. He hadn’t been since that day when Darien and Jake had tried to scare him and Tom when they were all kids. CJ told himself it had just been them. But neither of the Silver brothers had said anything about what CJ had witnessed, confirming or denying it. He was still telling himself the apparition he’d seen was only a figment of his imagination. That, as a kid, he’d been so scared, he could have imagined anything. That the darkened shadow of a woman was nothing more than dust particles highlighted by moonlight shining through the basement door’s window.
Tom sat taller in his chair. “If visitors ask about the hauntings, Darien wants everyone in the pack to tell them the stories are just rumors.”
“Right. Ghosts don’t exist.”
Tom let out his breath. “But you know differently. We both know differently.”
That made CJ wonder what Tom had experienced. But if CJ admitted to even one soul that he believed the hotel was haunted, there would go his best-kept secret of all time. Besides, Tom had never shared what he’d experienced either.
Tom straightened a bit. “Okay. Well, as I said, Darien has a job for you.”
If it had to do with helping Laurel MacTire, CJ would jump right on it. He was certain that she really didn’t mind that he’d been so in the way when she was trying to get the place fixed up. She was just overcautious about everyone in the wolf pack.
“Hang some Christmas lights on the hotel?” Then again, the job could have nothing to do with Laurel, her sisters, or the hotel. CJ finished the last of his beer.
Tom tilted his chin down. “No helping the women with the hotel. Unless they change their minds and ask you to.”
“All right,” CJ said. “What then?”
“We have some ghost busters in town.”
“That’s just what we need.” CJ was ready to protect the three sisters from anyone who might try to ruin things for them.
“For now, they’re staying in the Hastingses’ bed and breakfast, both tonight and tomorrow. But they have reservations at the hotel, and they will be moving over there as soon as it opens. They’ve been grilling Bertha Hastings and everyone else about the hauntings.”
“That’s not good.”
“Of course, we’re worried they might stir up trouble for the ladies by reporting the place is haunted to discourage people from staying there. But what we’re really concerned about is that they’ll learn that something a lot more serious than ghosts exists in the area.”
“Lupus garous.”
“Yes. Us.”
“You want me to get rid of them?” CJ asked, surprised. Not that he thought Darien wanted him to kill anyone, but keeping their wolf halves secret was paramount to their well-being.
Tom chuckled. “No. But you’re assigned to watch over them. If they see anyone shift when they shouldn’t, then we’ll have to take care of it.”
CJ’s whole outlook brightened. “Right. They’re staying at the hotel.” And if he had to really watch them, he’d have to stay there too! That meant he could see Laurel more.
“Can you handle it?”
“Hell yeah.”
“I mean…” Tom glanced around the tavern where pack members filled nearly every chair at the wooden tables. The room was humming with conversation. He leaned forward. “Because of the ghosts.”
“That don’t exist.”
“Right.”
“Yeah, I can handle it.” CJ smiled. He would do anything to be able to spend more time with that wickedly intriguing she-wolf. Though he hoped he wouldn’t be running out of the hotel and breaking out into a cold sweat—again.