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"I knohat you et the effect," David agreed "Well, thanks See ya, Danny Oh-you working at O’Hara’s tonight?"

"I start at ten there I aht"

"Cool"

David waved, and headed down the street He walked toward La Concha Hotel, and around to the stand where ghost-tour tickets were sold A young girl was selling tickets He asked her about Danny Zigler "Oh, yeah, he’s working tonight Eight o’clock He’s a good guide"

"Yeah It surprises me that you all don’t use hied "Hey, I’ee fellow, but a good storyteller!"

David bought a ticket and moved out of the way for the couple aited behind hilanced at his watch, and headed back horandfather’s desk He set an alar, hot shower and sha away the cakey salt and effects of the sun and the sea Katie lingered under the floater, then eretfully at last, aware that she should be conserving water-and that she was pruning

She slipped into a terry robe and towel-dried her hair, then studied her reflection in the mirror Wet, she decided, was really not her look But too bad-she loved the water too much

She looked over at the bathroo a moisturizer

When she looked back at the mirror, there was someone behind her

It wasn’t Tanya It was a different entity She had dark hair, too

A tear slipped down her astral cheek

"No!" Katie whispered "Please!"

The girl re down her face

"Please!" Katie whispered again "I’hosts I don’t kno to help you I don’t knoho you are!" she whispered veheo away She opened her eyes It did

Her hands were shaking when she reached for her cose was back

The girl was no longer crying She was just standing there, staring at Katie, as if she were in shock Her face was starkly white Her features seemed to have shriveled Her eyes were clouded with red dots

"I wish I could help you!" Katie whispered "Please…"

The i down the stairs

Bartholomeas perched at the kitchen counter He stared at her, frowning "What now?"

"Another ghost," she said

He looked annoyed "What is this-spirit central?" he demanded "This is hed "Actually, Katie, once upon a time, I lived in the upstairs bedrooreat deal of tihteen twenty-six, to be exact"

"But this house-"

"Oh, the house has been rebuilt It was just a tiny wooden structure at the time The place was a shantytown, really, except for so irl for a while She wasn’t the kind you brought home to mother But she was one hell of a woman Never mind, that’s not the point This isselfish," Katie said, feeling a new strength "They need help"

"Everyone needs help"

"She was hosts werethis country, Spain and Cuba, so I understand," Katie argued

Bartholohed "Katie, don’t let the she was o Like…Tanya Maybe it was the sa off the bar stool and ca his hands on his hips "Katie, I am very afraid for you"

"Sean will be here in another day or two and then I won’t be living alone I’ll be fine And I know the cops- I know everyone on the street I’m from here, Bartholomew I’ll be fine"