#Chapter 79: Breaking and Entering

Ruby

“Come on out,” the herbalist says, suddenly looking far more sinister than the woman we met in the shop earlier as she brandishes a gardening trowel in her free hand. “Give me the phone.”

I want to tell her to buzz off, but she’s got my friend, so I comply and slide the phone across the floor to her. She catches it under her foot and crouches to pick it up, yanking poor Nancy along with her, then stands and opens it.

“Password,” she says.

“Um… 9286,” I answer, gulping as I watch her open the phone. She taps on the screen a few times, likely deleting the picture, then pockets the phone.

“The police are already on their way,” she growls, gesturing for me to come away from the door. “If either of you says anything about that room, just know this: I could mix up a poison with that plant that would kill you instantly.” She shoves Nancy over toward the corner and lets go of her collar, leaving her whimpering there as she marches over to the hidden door and shuts it, then shoves the tab