It didn't start with a message on the answering machine.

It started with a modest promotion (for fun and the one hundred and fifty-fifth anniversary of the Curated Curiousities collection) in the form of a draw: Enter for a Chance to Win a Trip for Two to Tombstone, Arizona; Courtesy of Curated Curiousities. It had been advertised on the museum blog, through a couple magazines, and in partnership with americanghostwalks.com.

The message on the Kings' answering machine was part of a prelude, sure, but it had started with Saxsice filling out an entry form while bored in line, since someone before her had torn all the perforated pieces out of every magazine on the rack at the end of the till. The minute of busywork wasn't even memorable, but probably came back with the first sentence: “Hello, this is Mackenzie Maizel, owner-operator of Curated Curiousities. I'm hoping to speak to Saxsice King, the winner of our draw. I'd like to confirm a time-frame, so the travel may be arranged, and the accomodations, as it is all-expense-paid. Thank you!”