I managed to make it through the night but not without spooky drama.  I left the old historic Rose Theater in old town Port Townsend in search of dinner.  Found a small bistro with the door wide open and freezing inside to match it’s chilly reception.  But they had food.  I got 5 stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto and a potato torta to go.  I walked out in to the foggy chilly night and down the two desolate and dark blocks toward the Palace Hotel.  I saw exactly not one other person on the dimly lit streets.  As I passed one large tree I heard a very loud scampering sound.  Much too late and large for a bird.  Maybe a roof rat or raccoon I thought as I hurried my step to the vacant lobby of the haunted hotel.
Thank God I’d remembered to pack that small bottle of champagne because I needed it as I hunkered down in the expansive King sized bed only to hear the creak.   A slow motion eerie groan coming from the other side of the large solid wood, locked adjoining room door.