It was not on her GPS.  824 1/2 Winter Street was not on any map on the internet at all. She knew where Winter Street was located. Walking down Vine, she knew the alley was on the right from this direction. She only knew that because 'Sweet Temptations' was right beside it. 'Sweet Temptations' was one of the cupcake bakeries in town. Why such a little town needed 3 cupcake bakeries when it already had a coffee shop that also made cupcakes, was beyond her. Betty Chapel owned it though and Runa liked her cupcakes the best.

Runa thought she looked ridiculous, strolling down the sidewalk at this time of night alone. She was wearing a light red print dress and a black jacket. Her hair was done nicely but not styled in any particular way. She wore a black beret and she was carrying her white gloves as instructed. She hoped they would do. She bought them at the second hand store on 3rd street yesterday.

This street, so-called, was barely big enough for a car and she never saw anyone on it. The meager little sidewalk was barely wide enough for one person. There was a fire escape above her on the other building framing the alley. As she walked into it, she was thankful it was still somewhat daylight out. It was scary enough right now. How could there be anywhere to meet here?

There were doors though and actually the next building on the right sat back further. Some of the windows even had little flower boxes, of all things. The leftover plants looked shriveled up and rightly so since; she couldn't imagine any sunlight reaching them.

820, 822, 824... 826? The doors stopped there. There was no 824 1/2. Runa began to look around and saw that beside one of the doors was a set of steps going down. She walked over and looked down the steps at a door. The only numbers on the door was a bright gold "1/2". There was a little window and a lamp glowing in it. This must be the place.

She rapped lightly on the door and waited. She heard someone unlatching the door and finally opening it. Standing in the doorway was her boss, Miss Hunter. She was dressed in a pretty gown of yellow with spaghetti straps and a belt. She was holding a pair of white monogrammed gloves and smiling.

"Welcome Runa Walker, of the Bell, Book and Candle. Please come in." She bowed slightly and motioned for Runa to enter. When she walked into the little foyer, she could see that there was a place to hang her outer jacket. So she took off her jacket and hat and hung it up.

After that, she was ushered into a larger room. It was in fact, a very large and ornate room. It was decorated in an early 20th century style with furniture to match. The big wooden chairs with their plush velvet seats were the first thing to catch Runa's attention. There were 14 of them in a half circle on the other side of the room from them.

The room was lit with old fixtures in the ceiling and along the wall. There were also two large, floor candelabras with 7 unlit candles on each stand, to the sides of each chair on the ends. The room had no windows. There was an old fireplace behind the chairs that was not lit. But there was a burnt piece of wood laying in it. The hearth was decorated modestly with autumn colors. To the right and left of the Fireplace were two open doorways on the side walls. It looked like they led to hallways.

Runa surveyed the rest of the room and saw pictures of a few ladies in old frames dotted here and there. There was also the same symbol from the seal on her letter, painted in full color on one of the walls.

"Wait here please," Miss Hunter toldher and left the room.