“Sounds to me like you’re playing games with the out-of-­towners,” Ryan said, “perhaps spreading rumors and trying to scare the visitors. Because what better place to do that than here in the hotel, right?” He gave her a knowing smile, but she shook her head.

“I wouldn’t do that,” she said.

“Then what’s the big secret? What did you want to talk to Amy about?”

“I thought she ought to know something, that’s all.”

“And that would be?”

“It’s just this thing that I heard.”

“Okay, and what did you hear?”

Another long silence followed. Chloe snuck a glance outside and postured for a few seconds as though she were trying to come up with something to say. Finally, after sneaking a few looks around the lobby, she leaned in and started whispering.

“All right, this is what I know. Later tonight, when the festival is finished, there’s a group of people who are gonna go down to the lighthouse.” And then, even more quietly, she added: “They’re on some kind of mission.”

Despite himself, Ryan started whispering too. “A mission? To do what?”

“What do you think, silly? They want to find out how it turned on! Everyone wants to know what happened.”

Amy shuffled closer too, her own interest piqued.

“And how exactly are they going to do that?” Ryan asked.

“Dunno. Someone mentioned they were gonna climb the fence and break in.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“Who have you heard talking about this?”

“Lots of people.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “I suppose that’s hardly surprising in this town,” he said. “But why are you in here? And why are you involving Amy? What’s she got to do with this?”

“Umm.” Chloe looked skyward, a poor attempt to bide some more time.

“Come out with it, Chloe.”

“I just thought she ought to know, that’s all.”

“But why?”

“Because I thought she might be interested.”

“Interested in what, exactly? I hardly think Amy wants to get involved in the nefarious activities of some spooked townsfolk.” Realizing that he was sounding a lot like a disapproving parent, Ryan paused for a moment and took a breath. “Look, while I’m sure you mean well, and while I’m sure Amy appreciates the gesture, I really don’t think—”

“You know what? I don’t think it sounds all that bad,” Amy interjected. “Actually, if you’re asking me, it sounds like a bit of good-natured fun. And after what happened last night, who could really blame everyone for wanting to get to the bottom of it?”

This contribution won a conspiratorial smile from Chloe but a wide-eyed glance from Ryan.

“Not helping!” he said.

Amy threw back an innocent smirk. “What can I say? I’m intrigued!”

“You just want to know if your theory is right and see if someone’s rigged a spotlight up top.”

“Like you said, I’m a sucker for a mystery.”