Dear Diary,

Kate came over and brought lunch. I hadn’t slept or changed or showered. I did run and brush my teeth and put some deodorant on while she arranged food on the coffee table. When I came back in she was talking to Foldger and complimenting Nevermore on his plants that are now growing so big they’re taking over the window.

I picked at my food while she asked if I was ok. I did my best to make it clear I didn’t want to talk about it. Then I asked if her dad was friends with Gallo. I couldn’t seem to fit this into my head even after Kate said that her dad worked for Mr. Gallo. The Beghana family is old magic and old money. What are they doing with gangsters who kill people in their basements?

I couldn’t ask that directly so I asked how her dad started working for Gallo. She shrugged and said she didn’t know. I don’t know if it was a lie. My Dad would know. He’s good at reading people and sorting truth from fiction when in the room with someone - its part of his law mage magic. Its part of why I don’t want to go home for the holidays.

Kate asked how long I’d been working for Gallo and I said not long. It was an awkward conversation full of unspoken “I can’t tell you so please don’t ask me.”

I stared at the food that on any other occasion I would have gobbled up. Kate reached over and held my hand. We just sat like that for a long time until her phone rang. She answered it and after a moment hung up and told me she had to get back to work.

I wanted to ask what work. Why was she at that party? Does this mean Gallo has her doing something horrible too? I didn’t ask any of it. I just walked her to my door and hugged her tight. She kissed my cheek and left.

I don’t know how I feel about all of this, diary. I’m so tired…more than physically. I’m pretty sure that if I died my ghost would look tired.

Speaking of, Gallo’s money is enough to cover the shielding I need. I’ll get that scheduled once I feel like talking to anyone. Right now, I could sleep for a week.

…

I only got to sleep for an hour before my phone rang. It was Johnny. He got my number from Gallo and said he figured I’d like a heads up before they pulled up to get me.

I asked if I couldn’t just stay home. I think my exhaustion made me braver than I actually am. He laughed and said no. That we were having dinner with the boss. “Just dinner,” he assured me. Unspoken was that there wouldn’t be bodies.

I got dressed. I should have showered but I didn’t have time. If Gallo took issue with my greasy hair, he would have to give me a bigger heads up.

We met at the restaurant and I actually was able to nibble at the pasta brought to the table. Gallo thanked me for showing up at his party and told me next time he would make sure I had enough time to dress and meet everyone. I didn’t tell him I didn’t want a next time. I am not that brave even this tired.

He also thanked me for the situation with his father. That I was a big help last night in handling the person who caused all of this mess to begin with. It took longer than it should have for me to put together that he was referencing how Gallo Senior said he’d been murdered. Luca must have been the one who did it. It didn’t make me feel any better.

I did finally find my voice and told Gallo that it was probably best I didn’t know anything at all. “My dad’s a Law Mage.”

Gallo laughed at that and said he knew. “I always check out my employees, even freelance ones. I know your dad very well, Miss Vitale.”

He was smiling like the cat who caught the canary and I didn’t dare ask how they knew each other. I don’t want to know.

Mr. Gallo said he would like to put me on retainer to make sure that when he called, I would be available to him. The way he said it wasn’t a request. I nodded and Gallo gestured to a small man with glasses and a drab suit who was working away on a smartphone.

“If you have any issues at all, you let me know, of course,” Mr. Gallo said. I assume he meant legal ones and just kept nodding like the best impression of a bobble head until dinner was over and Johnny brought me back home.

On the ride Johnny asked me about Kate. “She your friend? Girlfriend?”

I shook my head and told him we went to school together. I guess we’re friends. Do friends kiss each other? Don’t you have to know if someone is your girlfriend? Do I want Kate as a girlfriend?

All of that seems pretty silly when you are working for criminals.

I don’t know if I said anything else because we were pulling onto my street and I saw another ghost. I kept this information to myself and hopefully Johnny didn’t pick up on any additional weirdness from me as I rushed into the apartment and put a ward on my door to prevent the ghost of a murderer from coming in.

I need to get that shield and also call up Cooper to let him know that I spotted Frater Z’s spirit on my block.