her before she fell to the ground.
Lenny felt a buzzing against his thigh. He had set his phone on vibrate. He couldnât look away from the scene before him. Lenore and Karnowski both hovered over the unconscious Ms. Siggenbottom, while a dozen other employees rushed to and fro on errands Lenny couldnât possibly imagine.
It was not the best time to get a call.
Chapter Five
Lenny stared as a pair of overly muscled men hustled their employer out of the conference room. With Ms. Siggenbottom gone, most of the noise left the room as well.
Lenny finally pulled his phone from his pocket. He had missed a callâfrom Sheila! Apparently she was determined to see him again. But when could he actually get away from here? Despite all the corn dogs and mucous membranes, the now unconscious Ms. Siggenbottom had been right. Things always happened to Lenny. But even he couldnât remember them happening this fast.
The tall man pulled a watch from the pocket of his vest. âKarnowski cannot delay! We must go to ourâother location.â
âThere are other parts of Terrifitemps?â Lenny asked.
Lenore nodded. âMore than any one of us knows.â She glanced at her own phone. âBut look at the time. Itâs well past lunch, closer to dinner really. We need to get some supplies before we travel.â
âKarnowski says eat on the run!â the ghost finder agreed.
Lenore led them to the back of the room, opening the door to a much smaller room beyondâa room that held a few small tables and a pair of vending machines.
âKarnowski says they need to stock these more often!â
Lenny could see exactly what the other man meant. The soda machine had half a dozen choices, all but one of which had a red âoutâ light above the name. Lenny put in some quarters and pushed the last remaining choice. He studied the can. He hadnât even known they still made grape Nehi soda.
The other machine displayed shelf after shelf of prepared food, except all but two of the display rows were empty as well. One row showed three pale-white sandwiches. The other showed something blue and green and lumpy, as though whatever had once been there had long ago surrendered to mold and mildew.
âWhatâs that?â Lenny asked.
âNothing for humans,â Karnowski grumbled.
âNothing for what?â Lenny asked.
âThese machines have to provide sustenance to everyone,â Lenore began. She looked at the green moldy thing. âWeâll have to explain that later.â
âIs sandwiches for Karnowski.â He inserted a bill into the machineâs cash slot and pressed a row of buttons. Three of the pale sandwiches slid to the bottom of the chute.
âCream cheese and olive. No crust. Very refined.â
Lenny unwrapped the cellophane and took a taste. He supposed they were edible. But not much more.
âWhen Ms. Siggenbottom not hungry, they stay in machine forever,â Karnowski added.
Lenny had never been so grateful for the taste of grape Nehi.
âBut we must go,â the ghost finder said after finishing his sandwich in three bites. He took a step back into the larger room. Lenny finished the last of the soda and left the rest behind as he and Lenore followed Karnowski.
Karnowski pushed the stem on his watch and a row of bookcases moved aside, revealing the battered green door of an ancient elevator. Lenny wondered if there were any walls in this office that didnât hide something.
âMuch is always hidden from view,â Lenore intoned.
Karnowski stepped forward. âGoing down!â The aged metal doors opened with a groan, revealing a metal grate. Karnowski pulled the grate aside and the three of them walked in. Lenny saw that the controls consisted of six mahogany-brown buttons. Even though they, too, were worn with age, he could faintly discern the labels B1 through B6.
âWeâre going all the way down, arenât
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