Read on for a sneak peak of Curtains, book 2 in the Billie and Diana series. 

 

* * * 

 The scene had left Billie shaken. It shouldn’t have—after all, she should be used to murder and mayhem, and attempted murder shouldn’t be a big deal. But somehow, in a creepy asylum, it seemed a lot worse than a crazed killer running around. 

“This can’t be happening,” Billie said, sighing so deeply she felt out of breath. 

“Of course it’s happening. It’s us—it always happens,” Diana said, her heels clicking on the floor. “I think it’s official: We’re jinxes.” 

“You know, it might not be us,” Billie said. “We are in an asylum. A creepy one. With ghosts.” 

“Please do not tell me you think ghosts did that. You’re as bad as Babaylan.” 

Billie thought for a moment. “Of course I don’t think a ghost actually did it—they’re non-corporeal after all. But maybe someone possessed by a spirit.” 

Diana stopped and spun around. “Someone what? You didn’t just say possessed. We aren’t in The Omen or The Exorcist.” 

“I didn’t say a demon,” Billie said peevishly. “But there’s been some weird stuff happening around here. I’ve heard some of the noises everyone talks about.” 

“The wind. Creaking floorboards. Construction workers. Next,” Diana said. 

“Carl was telling me he was sure he saw a spirit backstage. It was a woman dressed in an old gown.” 

“Or a costume on a rack he saw out of the corner of his eye. Carl is not to be trusted,” Diana said. “He spent over an hour arguing with Josh on the finer points of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Not even actual Star Trek.” 

“Sure, he’s a little nerdy, but he believes at least.” 

“I’ll believe it if I can see it.” 

“Well, you better believe someone is sabotaging things, because we saw it with our own eyes.” 

Diana turned around, her eyes lit up. “Sabotage! That’s it! Krasniy and his pamphlets. I bet it was him trying to scare us off.” 

Billie hated to admit it was plausible. The man seemed hell-bent on getting them out of there. She didn’t think renovations would freak out spirits. Whether it was a hospital or theatre it wasn’t like they were tearing the building down. Now they just had a nicer area to haunt. 

They turned the corner toward Diana’s office. Allan was hanging around outside. 

“I brought that headshot you wanted,” he said. “Slid it under the door. Babaylan called from the hospital—Carmen’s fine, just a few scrapes and bruises, but she’s too afraid to come back.” 

Diana sighed. “I’m calling the priest in a few minutes.” 

Allan snorted. “You believe all that crap? Babaylan insists it was menacing spirits. Personally, I think it was Leighanne. She’s Carmen’s understudy after all.” 

“You never know,” Billie said. “So many people probably died here, and with the terrifying mental illnesses they had, you never know what kind of spirit could be haunting this place.” 

Allan made a face. “Spirits and ghosts. You’re ridiculous. Everyone around here is scared of their own shadows because of this bull. It’s an old building. And apparently it’s still full of crazies.” 

Billie saw Diana draw herself up to her full height of five foot seven in those heels. She cringed a little, feeling a bit sorry for Allan. 

“You did not just intimate that Billie is crazy, did you? Because I will have you know that Billie graduated at the top of her class. I will also have you know that she has had experiences that would make you throw up in that potted plant over there. Just because she believes in spirits doesn’t make her stupid! You know what’s stupid? Besides your four-dollar boy band haircut? The fact you think that headshot of yours is getting you work, because it’s a black and white 1990s mess. The only thing that’s getting you work here is the fact Paul owes you a favor!” 

Billie glanced around, noticing some of the workers had dropped their tools. It was pretty quiet in the hall, and all eyes were on them. 

“And another thing!” Diana said. “If there were spirits in here, I wouldn’t be surprised if they set that trapdoor to try and kill you because they’re sick and tired of hearing your horrible soliloquy in Act Two. You’d make a ghost want to kill himself again. You kept talking before the bell rung. I think we need to rewrite this thing so Duncan kills you! Come on, Billie.” 

Diana unlocked her door and Billie rushed in before Diana slammed it, making the frosted window rattle. Billie swallowed a lump in her throat. Half the time she never knew whether to chastise Diana or hug her. It was nice to have someone stand up for her, she just wished Diana waited until it was more necessary than some dull actor thinking she was nuts for believing in ghosts. 

“I have a date with Steve tonight,” Billie said. “Are you going to be okay? You look a little … worked up.” 

Diana was breathing heavily and her shoes had seen better days after tram-pling around under the stage. 

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I just have to relax. I think I’ll do that while you’re out tonight. Me, a glass of wine, Closet Sidney. All this trapdoor business has me on edge.” 

“Me too,” Billie admitted. “Let’s just hope this is the last of it.” Neither of them said it, but Billie had a feeling Diana was thinking it wasn’t the last of it too.

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