He smiles at her indulgently—like he thinks he knows what Grandma is here to say. “Lots of people stay here hoping to see her,” he says. “We sell a book about the history of the haunting if you’re interested in more information. I’ve never personally had an encounter, but I know a few staff members who think they have. I’m not sure I believe in ghosts.”

Grandma isn’t always asked to take jobs and doesn’t always get to help the ghosts she comes across. Sometimes the living think they’re more important than the dead.

“Oh, you’ve got a ghost all right,” says Grandma. “Could I speak with the hotel manager?”

The concierge pauses, the smile slipping from his face. Grandma’s question has obviously caught him off guard. “The manager?” he repeats. “Can I ask what you want to speak to him about, ma’am? He might not be available right now. I could certainly pass on a message for you.”

“We can wait until he’s free,” Grandma says, smiling at the concierge, stubborn as anything. “We want to talk to him about your ghost problem and I could use a cup of tea. I’m sure the restaurant is a perfectly comfortable place for us to wait. Would you call and let him know we’re here?”

Grandma stands right where she is, staring the concierge down, until he gives in and reaches for the phone. Shelly feels smug. Grandma can be immovable as a mountain when she wants to be—same with Mom. Maybe that runs in the family the way seeing ghosts does. Shelly hopes so. She wants to be like that, too.

“I’ll call,” he says. “No promises. I’m not sure—what about the ghost?” There’s a look in his eyes like he thinks maybe they’re going to claim something outlandish, something unbelievable that he’s going to have to deal with.

“I’m a professional,” says Grandma. “I deal with the dead for a living. I’d like to speak with the manager about helping your ghost move on.”

The concierge stares at Grandma, and this time she just smiles at him.

“You know what?” he says. “You’re right. The manager should be the one you talk to. I don’t get paid enough to decide whether or not the hotel gets an exorcism.”

Shelly presses her lips together to keep from laughing, but Grandma doesn’t bother hiding her amusement. “Perfect,” she says, grinning at the concierge. “We’ll be in the lounge having some tea while we wait.”

• • •