Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Author:TJ Klune
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

CHAPTER

13

At the beginning of his twenty-second day at Charon’s Crossing, a file appeared on the counter next to the cash register. The tea shop hadn’t yet opened, and Mei and Hugo were in the kitchen, getting ready for the day to begin.

Nelson was sitting in his chair in front of the fireplace, Apollo at his feet.

Wallace moved around the shop, pulling the chairs down from the tables and tucking them underneath. It was getting easier for him, and it was the least he could do to help. He never thought he’d find joy in such menial work, but these were strange days.

He was lost in thought, pulling down the chairs, when the room seemed to shift slightly. The air grew thick and stagnant. The clock on the wall, ticking the seconds away, stuttered. He looked up to see the second hand move forward once, twice, three times before it moved backward. It twitched back and forth as the hairs on Wallace’s arms stood on end.

“What the hell?” he muttered. “Nelson, did you see—”

He was cut off when the file folder burst into existence next to the cash register with a comical pop! Wisps of smoke drifted up around it as it settled onto the counter. It was thin, as if it only held a few pieces of paper inside.

“Oh boy,” Nelson said. “Here we go again.”

Before Wallace could figure out what that meant, Hugo and Mei came through the doors, Apollo trailing after them. Hugo frowned as he glanced up at the clock, the hands frozen.

“Dammit,” Mei said. “Of course it comes when I’m making muffins.” She grumbled as she headed for the stairs, untying her apron before pulling it up and over her head. “Don’t let them burn,” she called down. “I’ll be very upset.”

“Of course,” Hugo said, looking down at the folder. He touched it with a single finger, tracing along the edges.

“What is that?” Wallace asked, going to the counter.

“We’re going to have a new guest,” Nelson said, rising from his chair. He hobbled over to Hugo and Wallace, cane tapping against the floor. “Doubling up. Haven’t done that in a while.”

“Another guest?” Wallace asked.

“Someone like us,” Nelson replied. He stopped next to his grandson, peering down at the folder with barely disguised interest.

“Yes,” Hugo said, touching the folder almost reverently. “Mei will retrieve them and bring them back here.”

Wallace wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He’d grown accustomed to having Hugo’s undivided attention, and the thought of another ghost taking that away caused a strange twist in the hook in his chest. He told himself he was being foolish. Hugo had a job to do. There’d been many before Wallace, and there’d be even more after he was gone. It was temporary. All of this was temporary.

It stung more than he expected it to.

“What’s that for?” he asked, rubbing his chest with a grimace. “The folder.”

Hugo looked up at him. “All right?”

“I’m fine,” Wallace said, dropping his hand.

Hugo watched him for a beat too long before nodding.

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