The Secrets of Ghosts by Sarah Painter

opportunity, she’d be wearing one of those elegant ivory gowns, too.
    ‘I’m Violet, by the way.’ The girl trailed her hand lightly across the surface of the table. ‘Is this real linen?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Katie said. She added ‘sorry’ to make it sound more subservient. Truth was, the girl was starting to make her a little bit uncomfortable. She had a very intense gaze.
    ‘Would you like some cake?’ Katie asked, holding out a slice.
    ‘Oh, no.’ The girl’s hair didn’t move as she shook her head; it made Katie’s eyes feel funny. Maybe she really did have heatstroke. ‘I don’t eat cake,’ Violet said. ‘It’s bad for the figure, you know.’
    Fuck that, Katie thought. Out loud, she said, ‘Oh, come on. You only live once.’
    The best man pulled down a projector screen with a loud clatter and began showing photographs from the groom’s life. Smiling pictures of the groom as a kid, groom as gawky teenager, and many, many pictures of him with groups of friends, red and grinning, drinks in hand. His life before meeting his beloved, of course. Back when he belonged to the best man and hadn’t been bewitched by a female. Katie had only been half listening, but the best man’s bitterness was seeping through.
    Wrap it up, buddy, she thought. The emotions that came through during weddings were not always the ones you expected. Katie stopped staring at the carnage and turned to see if the MOP had any way of influencing the best man, but the girl had gone.
    *
    By the end of the shift, Katie was exhausted. The heat, combined with not sleeping well, made her feel like a zombie.
    Outside, she found Max sitting on a low wall. He stood up as she approached and put his hands in his pockets.
    ‘Hello, again.’ Katie tried not to be pleased to see him. ‘You’re too late for the buffet.’
    ‘I know.’ Max flashed his boyish grin. The one that had probably been getting him out of trouble since he was a toddler. ‘I was waiting for you.’
    Katie stamped on the burst of excitement that flared in her stomach.
    ‘I actually wanted to ask a favour.’
    ‘Ah,’ Katie said.
    Anna came out of the staff door, pulling car keys out of her shoulder bag. ‘Do you want a lift anywhere?’ She caught sight of Max. ‘Hello, again.’
    ‘No, thanks,’ Katie said. ‘Anna, this is Max. He was at the Cole wedding.’
    ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Anna said.
    ‘It’s fine,’ Max said.
    ‘He crashed the wedding,’ Katie said. ‘So he’s not bereaved.’
    ‘Oh, good.’ Anna looked confused. ‘I suppose.’
    ‘Nice to meet you,’ Max said. ‘Again.’
    ‘Likewise.’ Anna tilted her head slightly, appraising him. ‘You don’t live in Pendleford, do you?’
    ‘Just passing through,’ Max said.
    ‘Lucky for you,’ Anna said cheerfully. ‘Are you sure I can’t give you two a lift somewhere?’
    ‘We’re fine, thank you,’ Katie said. Ignoring the significant way Anna was looking at her.
    After Anna had walked away, towards the staff car parking area, Katie turned to Max. ‘A favour?’
    ‘I was hoping you’d let me into that room again. The door was open before but someone has locked it.’
    ‘Probably because of the dodgy types hanging around,’ Katie said. ‘I’m not going to help you find money. I told you—’
    ‘It’s not that. I’m curious about what happened earlier. I wanted to take another look.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘It might’ve been a ghost,’ Max said. ‘That’d be pretty cool.’
    Katie crossed her arms. ‘Are you going to tell me the real reason?’ She waited for a moment and when Max didn’t elaborate, she said, ‘I don’t think I should. I don’t know you.’
    ‘Fair enough.’ Max shrugged. He began walking around the side of the hotel.
    Katie followed. ‘What are you doing?’
    ‘Taking a look from the outside. Looking for wires or something rigged up that could’ve caused that effect with the curtains.’
    Max stopped on the lawn and took several steps