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Hirsch wore a button-up, baby blue dress and a white apron. Wiry, gray hair hung at shoulder length.
    The girls slid over on the stairs to let her pass. Mrs. Hirsch didn’t acknowledge them further, continuing methodically down the stairs, into the Great Room and out of sight.
    “I don’t think we should be late. There’s no telling what she’ll do to us if we are,” Allison said, seemingly forgetting that she’d been ready to leave. “Let’s just follow her.”
    Jess nodded, feeling a bit better. Allison’s rat in a maze nervousness seemed more of a personality issue than a haunted house problem. The girl was afraid of everything, including Mrs. Hirsch. The head housekeeper was intimidating, but hardly scary.
    They went down the stairs and through the Great Room, following the scent of food and sound of other voices.
    “We weren’t supposed to dress up or anything, were we?” Allison asked.
    Jess shrugged. “I hope not, but it’s too late now.”
    Dr. Brandt was already seated when they entered the dining room. Bryan was still standing, as though he had been waiting for them to arrive. He held out Jess and Allison’s chairs.
    On top of being cute, he was downright polite. Jess smiled up at him. “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome,” Bryan replied as he walked past the new guy at the end of the table, offering him what seemed to be an apologetic shrug.
    The new guy in the snug t-shirt, who, Jess couldn’t help but notice, leaned back in his chair. His eyes met Allison’s, then hers. “Hello,” he said with the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.
    Allison seemed to blush, and Jess couldn’t blame her. The new guy was hot, but extremely cocky. Jess looked away. No sense in stroking his ego any further. She was all too familiar with guys like him. Sexy, desirable. Until you got too close. She’d been burned by an ex just like him, although he hadn’t been quite as hot as this guy. Which meant she’d be smart not to let those eyes and that perfect mouth distract her.
    Once everyone was seated, Dr. Brandt tapped his knife against his water glass. “I thought we’d take a moment to introduce ourselves before we eat. Just give us your name and where you’re from. Jess, why don’t you start?”
    Jess introduced herself, followed by Allison—who Jess learned was from Kentucky. Dr. Brandt’s eyes cut to the end of the table and the new guy. He was still leaning back in his chair, still looking smug and tempting.
    “Gage Jackson. Blairsville, Georgia,” he offered.
    Simple, to the point, Jess noticed. Right along with those hazel eyes and that totally kissable mouth…
    Quit staring at him!
    “Man,” Bryan said in a low whisper from across the table. It made Jess frown. Clearly, the boys had some inside joke going on between them at her and Allison’s expense. She’d been caught staring a second too long and Bryan had picked up on it.
    Bryan’s comment caught the attention of Dr. Brandt, who motioned for Bryan to go next.
    He cleared his throat and straightened. “Bryan Akerman from Easley, South Carolina. Nice to meet everyone.”
    Dr. Brandt slid his chair back a little and all eyes turned toward him. Jess leaned forward, eager to learn exactly what they’d be doing here and how each of them had been selected.
    Dr. Brandt situated his napkin in his lap. “As you know, I’m Dr. Gregory Brandt. I work as a parapsychologist at EPAC, a government-funded organization sponsoring this experiment. Each of you has been carefully chosen. And before any of you asks, yes, I honestly do believe in the paranormal. At least to an extent. Ghosts, mostly. Also, evil spirits and demons, but not werewolves or vampires—the sparkly kind or otherwise.”
    Jess and Bryan laughed. Gage smirked. Allison didn’t seem to enjoy Dr. Brandt’s attempt at humor.
    “Which agency? Why is the government interested in us?” Gage asked.
    “Why not?” Dr. Brandt replied. “The government funds a lot of studies, ranging