I tossed my spray tank into the back of the company van and slipped into the front seat with a deep sigh.

  Hexxit Pest. Not exactly the dream. But Mike paid for the gas and didn't mind when I used it for errands so honestly it could be worse.

  "Nice ride." Twigg looked around the interior with genuine appreciation. "I bet this gets all the ladies."

  "It's not really mine. And I have no need to" I mimicked their accent "get the ladies."

  "Wow. Mocking me already. I thought you didn't think I was real."

  "I'm still not completely convinced you're not fake." I said it flat, starting the engine. "But I have work to do and that was just the first stop."

  I put it in gear and pulled out.

  "I'm tellin ya I'm as real as they come." Twigg scurried off my shoulder and jumped to the passenger seat.

  "Right. And there's a whole hidden world nobody can see unless they're..."

  "Crazy?" They nodded casually. "Pretty accurate yeah."

  I checked my phone for the next stop on the route. When I looked up Twigg was on the dashboard, nose practically against the windshield, watching Des Moines go by like they'd never seen it from this angle.

  Maybe they hadn't. How would I know? It was kinda cute.

  "Hey someone might see you."

  Twigg laughed. The kind that meant I'd said something adorably stupid.

  "Yeah right. If anyone sees me I probably look like a squirrel or a stuffed animal or something."

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  I sighed. Man this guy was going to be a pain.

  We pulled up to my second stop. Old lady Jenkins. Sweet woman, widowed a few years back, been on my route since I started. Every visit she had a little something extra she needed help with and I never minded. She was always nice about it and the snacks alone made it worth the detour.

  I hopped out and grabbed my gear from the back.

  "Okay Twigg." I kept my voice low. "I can't have you doing anything weird and giving this lady a heart attack. If you can hide or something that would be great."

  "Hide? Sure boss."

  And before I could say anything else they were gone. I felt them slip under my jacket and cling to my back like they'd done it a hundred times.

  It kind of tickled.

  I stood there for a second.

  Then I walked up to the door and knocked.

  A moment later the door opened and Miss Jenkins stood in the frame, already smiling.

  "Oh Reid, wonderful to see you again hon."

  She shuffled back to let me in and I stepped through into the familiar warmth of her house.

  "Hi Miss Jenkins. Good to see you too."

  "I made fresh banana nut bread and coffee for when you finish. I know you don't like tea."

  "That sounds wonderful ma'am." I started my sweep, moving through the front room with the spray tank. "You really have a way with pastries. Keep this up and I'm going to need bigger clothes."

  She let out a soft laugh and patted my arm as I passed through to the kitchen.

  "Oh you." She cooed it the way only somebody's grandmother can. "You could use a few pounds on those bones."

  She made her way to the counter while I worked. A beat passed before she spoke again, her voice dropping just slightly like she didn't want to make a fuss about it.

  "When you have the time hon, do you think you could check the attic? I heard something up there. Could be a raccoon. Could be a bat. I honestly wasn't sure."

  I followed her through to the kitchen doorway.

  "Of course. That's part of the job."

  She smiled and set down her dish towel.

  "Oh wonderful. Let me show you where it is hon, the pull cord is a little tricky."

  I followed her down the short hallway to where a white cord dangled from the ceiling. She pointed up at it like she was introducing two people.

  "There she is. Hasn't been opened in a while so it might stick a little."

  I looked up at the ceiling panel. Reached up and gave the cord a pull. The hinges groaned and the folded ladder came down in sections, settling on the hallway floor with a thunk that echoed just slightly more than it should have.

  Something shifted above us in the dark.

  Miss Jenkins didn't seem to notice.

  I did.