Ezra had suggested talking to the librarian at the Grimwood Springs Public Library, and possibly contacting the person that runs a web blog called “The Skeptical Spector”. I ran up to my apartment and got out my laptop. The mall had basic wi-fi, the Thornberry sisters and Alastair hadn’t mentioned wanting internet access, so I still had the little cards I’d prepared for them in my wallet. I pulled one out and connected with my laptop's ancient wi-fi card.

  I searched for the blog, it was the third hit on google. I clicked and started browsing the page. It had articles about local hauntings that had been debunked, weird lights over the old springs, and a Contact Us link. Okay, I can do this.

  To whom it may concern,

  I’m wondering if you’ve ever come across anything regarding a fire spirit, or ghost, or maybe even a haunted laundromat. I’ve been in town for a little over a month and have been having dreams about a fire entity, I even had an experience in the laundromat in the Grimwood Plaza Mall while fixing a leaky pipe. I talked with a friend of mine, and they mentioned an old fire that happened in old Grimwood Springs. He suggested I contact you and ask about this stuff. I’ve also had a few weird fire related things happen outside of my time here, just wanted to add that in case you think it’s connected.

  Let me know what you think, please?

  Kit Walker

  I put my email into the box and hit send.

  Okay, with that done, let's figure out where the library is. I studied the map for a few minutes. I’ve really got to get a smartphone, that way the GPS could just tell me where to go.

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  I searched for local cell phone service and had a couple hits. I decided that I should probably have a smartphone for mall business at the very least.

  I won’t bore you with the details, but I went to our small town cell phone service and came out about an hour later with a brand spanking new smartphone. I was impressed that it was even faster than my old laptop. Okay, enough about my new phone.

  I used the map app to guide me to the public library. “Turn right in 200 feet,” it yelled at me. Eek, I did not need it to talk to me like that. I turned off the voice, I’ll need to get a mount so I can just glance to see where I am. That voice was annoying.

  I made it to the library, I parked and exited the vehicle. Snow crunched under my feet as I walked up to the entrance of the Grimwood Springs Public Library. I opened the door and breathed in the smell of old books, a happy smell from many different parts of my life. I was in a vestibule that had books that were in poor condition for sale, along with some books that reminded me that we were coming up on the holidays.

  I walked into the library proper. There was a large desk in front of me, to the left I could see several round desks divided into quarters that each had a computer. Using the computers were a few teenagers, a couple adults, and at least one under 10 year old. To the right were the rows and stacks of the library.

  A matronly woman greeted me at the desk.

  “Welcome to the Grimwood Springs Public Library, you’re a new face, my name is June Harper,” she said with a professional smile.

  “Hi June, my name is Kit Walker, I’m the new manager at the Grimwood Plaza Mall,” I said at the appropriate level for a library.

  Her smile became friendly. “Ezra said you might be stopping by. While we’re at it, we should get you signed up for a library card.”

  “That sounds fine to me,” I said.

  “Follow me to the office so we can speak at a normal volume.” I followed.