Ghost Squad

Babette has a store, Babette’s Baubles, that caters to the needs of those interested in the occult. The store has an air of magic: Cats appear suddenly, and it’s bigger on the inside than on the outside:

The walls were lined with candles (some lit), books (some turning pages of their own accord), and all sorts of strange items. Potions for everything from bad luck to baldness sat on tables and shelves throughout the store (37).

The shop, and the library connected to it, are part of Babette’s residence, which itself contains doors that lead to unexpected places. Lucely and Syd discover hidden rooms filled with mysterious things. The entire complex is imbued with an otherworldly sense; it’s a sign that Babette possesses magical powers, and, in a way, it represents her mind with all its mystery and complexity. The girls keep returning to it, seeking advice from its books and from Babette herself. The place becomes a home base for Lucely and Syd as they evolve into the Ghost Squad.

Three St. Augustine cemeteries figure in the story: Huguenot, Tolomato, and St. Augustine Memorial. Each holds items, hidden long ago, that can help Lucely and Syd as they search for a way to stop the local invasion of evil spirits.