Mocha Mayhem

Chapter Six

"So, why would this supposed ghost wants us to see her, but not other guests to see her?" I wondered aloud as we walked to the Lodge.

"Good question. Maybe she knows that you're a scaredy-cat."

I rolled my eyes. "Nice try! There has to be a solid reason. Maybe..."

We were about to reach the long building that housed the restrooms, and I wanted to stop inside before another interview. "I have to use the little ladies room," I announced to Sam. "I'll be right out!" As I started to head that way, I remembered something else. "Oh! Did I tell you that I work my other job today?"

"No!" Sam's narrowed eyes and attitude-heavy head tilt suggested that I probably should have told her sooner.

"Uh, well, I do..."

"What time?" She called after me.

"Not 'til noon!" I called back. "I close up shop today!" I dashed into the restrooms before she could kick my ass. God knows she could do it.

The restrooms included five toilet stalls and a few showers at the end. I heard one shower running, and the water was surprisingly hot enough to fill the room with steam. I shuffled through the haze and found a stall. What was the ghoul's plan? Why try to scare us? I mean, clearly, I scared easy, but this ghost must know nothing about Sam. Or was there some other reason for spooking us? Did she have a particular reason for haunting Cabin 4 and the dock, or was it just a coincidence?

As I opened the door to wash my hands, I noticed that the steam now covered the mirror in front of me. "Stop the case" was written in the foggy mirror in drippy letters.

I gasped and rushed out to get Sam. "Sam! Sam!" I called as I dashed from the restroom. She was facing away and spun towards, her braid banging against one shoulder. "Sam! Did you see anyone leave the bathrooms?!"

She shook her head.

"Follow me." I practically pulled her back inside the building, showing her the message.

"Huh." She took a few pictures with her phone. "I didn't see anyone leave, but, full disclosure, I wasn't really keeping an eye on the bathroom doors."

I noticed the shower was still running. I pointed toward it and wiggled my eyebrows, indicating to Sam that the perp was in the shower. She raised an eyebrow. "Unlikely."

I shrugged and slipped over to the shower stall, not terribly surprised not to see any feet below the door. I knocked loudly and with authority. "Excuse me. Police investigation."

"We need to investigate your shower." Sam mocked as she cracked open a window above the mirrors and attempted to dust the edges of the mirror for fingerprints. "That's one creepy-ass pick-up line, but I've heard worse."

Meanwhile, I hadn't received any response from the shower stall, so I gave a final warning and then pushed open the door.

I'd been gritting my teeth, unsure what to expect and anticipating anything from another spooky ghost sighting to a naked old lady with invisible feet. The stall was empty, water streaming worthlessly onto the concrete floor. I reached in and quickly shut it off.

"What a waste of hot water," I commented.

"I've been at some places where the showers are cold water only. Sometimes, you even have to pay just to turn it on."

"I think you're envisioning neglected state campgrounds, Sam. Not private resorts."

"Good point. These guests want rustic scenery with the comforts of home."