#
Liam cradled the dead bird in the shovel and carried it to the far corner of the yard where the Cayo’s back fence butted up against the neighbor’s property. A large banyan tree pushed against the fence, and its roots protruded from the earth. The trunk reminded Liam of a sea monster rising from the ocean, unfurling its tentacles. The tree must’ve been a hundred years old, at least.
The Marlberry grew underneath the Banyan tree, the shade providing just the right amount of darkness for the shrub’s bright green leaves and pink flowers. It was a pretty, albeit neglected garden. Just the right place to bury a dead animal. No one came back there.
Liam spotted a gap in the tree roots and considered it a fitting place to bury the bird. He dug a small hole in between the roots and scooped out the dirt, forming a pile of earth. He wouldn’t need to dig deep—the bird was barely the size of his palm.
Using the tip of the shovel, he nudged the bird into the tiny hole and then went to pile on the dirt. But something stopped him. Liam crouched and examined the dirt mound. He poked at it with his finger and uncovered a round brass pin, roughly the size of a quarter. Liam brushed off the loose dirt and held it up, hoping to read the inscription in the fading afternoon light. He could barely make out the name. St. Veronica’s School for Girls.
The pin seemed familiar, but Liam couldn’t remember why. He slipped it into his pocket, and covered the dead bird with dirt.
After he and Randall got their business off the ground, Liam swore he would not think about dead things, animals or people, for a long, long time.
#
Shortly before dinner, Autumn sat on her bed, a history textbook lay in her lap. Timothy knocked on Autumn’s bedroom door.
“What’s up?” she asked Timothy, who was dressed in a gray suit vest with a light blue shirt underneath. No bowtie. “Gotta date?”
“I have study group tonight.”
“Cyrus?” Autumn wagged her brows.
A smile crept up on Timothy’s face. “Maybe. Not that it’s any of your business.” Timothy leaned against the doorframe and softened his stance. “Listen, I know you think I’m all beauty and no brains—”
Autumn laughed.
Timothy narrowed his eyes. “But I’m telling you something important. You cannot keep channeling that ghost. She’ll kill you.”
Autumn rose and went over to the sputtering air-conditioning unit. She smacked the metal box until it roared back to life. “You’re being dramatic. The ghost only wants my help.”
“Something tells me she doesn’t.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Timothy scratched his cheek. “This spirit seems pretty bitchy. And not bitchy like Katie either, but more mean-spirited.” He laughed. “No pun intended.”
Autumn whipped around. “She deserves justice, doesn’t she?”
“Who are you kidding?” Timothy couldn’t keep the annoyance out of his voice. “That’s not what you’re doing. You’re exploiting her to get a college scholarship.”
“I’m not! She’s confused and unstable, and she’s likely to hurt Liam. Not me.”
“Channeling a ghost is risky. You do it too often, she’ll take over your soul. You won’t be Autumn Abernathy anymore. You’ll be Inez in Autumn’s body.”
“I’ve only channeled her twice. First, when I put on the ring and had no idea that would happen. And second, a little while ago in the bathroom.”
Timothy held up three fingers. “Three times. You’ve channeled her three times.”
“Huh?”
Timothy leaned against the mismatched painted walls as if he was straddling the border of two countries, and crossed his arms over his chest. “You channeled her in your sleep last night. And you bit Liam’s lip in the process.”
Autumn felt her stomach flip flop. “That couldn’t have happened. I don’t remember seeing him.” Although, she recalled a dream about lions.
“Were you wearing the ring in your sleep?”
Autumn had placed the ring next to her on the bedside table. She shook her head.
“Crap. Things are progressing faster than I thought. That’s what happens when you let a ghost into your body. She thinks it’s her new home and she’ll evict you right quick.” Timothy pushed off the wall and smoothed down his vest. “The boy knows you have his property anyway. He’s expecting it back.”
Autumn sighed heavily. “I didn’t even learn much. All I got was her last initial and she called out Leo Breyer as her killer.”
Timothy held up his hand. “Hold up. She named Liam’s grandpa as the murderer?”
“Yup.”
“Sounds like your work is done, then. Ghost girl solved her own crime. Now you just need to communicate that to her, and she’ll leave Liam alone. Case closed.”
“How can I do that if I don’t channel her?”
“Ask Miss Katie to relay the message.” Timothy pointed a thin finger at Autumn. “Don’t talk to her yourself. Got it? This ghost was dormant a long time, and one look at Liam Breyer and she’s awake. She wants something, and it isn’t help. I’d insist you give me the ring for safekeeping, but I don’t want to be responsible for that boy’s haunted jewelry. Lord knows I don’t need to channel a dead girl.”
Autumn crossed the room and made a big show of locking the ring in a black box on top of her dresser. “You happy?”
Timothy relaxed his shoulders. “Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He shut the door.
Autumn flopped back onto her bed. She hated how Timothy always acted like he was so smart, although Autumn had to admit he was right most of the time. Except for this. Autumn didn’t think Inez’s murder was a closed case. In fact, she thought Inez’s murder investigation was just beginning.
Autumn slid her cell phone off the top of the bedside table. She withdrew the piece of paper with Liam’s cell phone number that she copied from her mother’s files and texted him a message.
Meet me in the Cayo patio tomorrow before school so I can return the ring.
She hit send. She bit her lip and wrote him another message.
And FYI the ghost’s name is Inez T. Ring any bells?
Liam never replied.
CHAPTER NINE
That same evening, Liam huddled at his grandfather’s kitchen table and picked at the spaghetti.
“What’s the matter? You don’t like it? Sylvia from down the block made the sauce.” Pops grunted. “I think she has a thing for me.”
Liam laughed, but it sounded hollow. “It’s fine. Good, actually. I guess I’m not that hungry.”
His grandpa sipped his beer and wiped his mouth. “Something bothering you, kid? Like that cut on your forehead?”
Liam tapped his fork lightly against the ceramic bowl. “I have a lot on my mind. And the cut is fine. It doesn’t hurt too bad.”
Leo leaned back and opened up his arms. “Come on, sport. Talk to your old Pops.”
Liam heaved a big sigh. “Do you believe in ghosts?”
“Ghosts? I thought this was going to be a frank discussion about the meaning of life. Or about girls.”
“It’s about that too. But, seriously, do you believe in ghosts?”
Leo threw down his napkin. “I knew I shouldn’t have asked Glenda to hire you. That place has got you spooked.” He stood and lumbered to the fridge. “Did you hear some weird noises?” He rummaged around the side door for parmesan cheese and plunked it on the table. He sat back down and readjusted the napkin. “Or see a woman in a white sheet?” Leo smirked.
Clearly, his grandfather was making fun of him. Leo had a way of talking to him like he cared and couldn’t give two shits all in the same breath. He did it to Liam’s father too. But for some reason, Liam decided to be honest with his Pops, if only to say it aloud and move on. Weird stuff happened at the Cayo and Liam couldn’t keep tricking himself into normality anymore.
“Yeah. I did see a woman. A young woman with dark brown hair.”
Leo scoffed. “Sure it wasn
’t Glenda’s pretty niece?”
“No. She had a dark mole right below her eye.” Liam touched his cheek to show the spot.
Pops stopped smirking, and his face paled. “Is that all?”
Liam moved a piece of spaghetti around his plate and recalled Autumn’s text message, the one he hadn’t answered. “Autumn claims the ghost’s name is Inez. Go ahead and laugh if you want, but it’s just too weird. Not sure why she came after me, but—” Liam didn’t have a chance to finish. His grandfather sprung from his chair and vomited Sylvia’s spaghetti dinner into the kitchen sink.
Liam jumped up. “You okay? You need me to call the doctor?”
Leo ran the faucet, gargled water, and spit into the sink. He wiped his mouth with a hand towel. “I’m fine. It just went down the wrong pipe.” Pops returned to the table and slunk into his chair. He pushed away his dinner.
Liam shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Something sharp was digging into his pocket. He removed the pin he had found by the tree at the Cayo and laid it on the table.
Pops glanced down at the pin, and he sucked in a breath. He picked up the pin and ran his thumb across the engraving. “I haven’t seen this thing in years.”
“Wait, you recognize this?”
“Well, yeah. Didn’t you find this in your abuela’s jewelry box? It’s her class pin.”
Liam leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “No. I found it buried at the base of a tree in the Cayo’s backyard.”
“Well, that’s a coincidence.”
Liam arched his brow. “There seems to be a lot of coincidences at the Cayo.” He got up from the table and gently squeezed his grandpa’s shoulder. “And that can’t be a coincidence.”
#
The following morning, Autumn stood close to the pool’s edge and stared into the green water as if in a trance. She jumped at a light touch. She would’ve toppled into the water if it wasn’t for the strong grip of a hand.
“Whoa.” Liam pulled her upright. “Close one.”
Autumn caught her breath, her cheeks flushed, embarrassed that she had almost gone headfirst into the greenish water. “Yeah, thanks.” Liam loosened his grip on her silky, floral blouse. The one that was so practically see-through she had to wear a camisole underneath. She wasn’t sure what possessed her to dress-up, but Autumn felt a peculiar need to show Liam she wasn’t always a sweaty, gross mess. To prove that she fit in Key West just as much as the pretty girls in her high school.
Autumn took a step back from the pool and from Liam. She inched her fingers into her shorts pocket and slid out the gold ring. She watched Liam’s face visibly relax before he opened up his palm. Autumn placed the ring inside Liam’s palm and closed his hand over it. “I’d take really good care of this.” Autumn regretted having to give up the ring. She’d gotten a glimpse into the life of her mystery ghost, and she wanted to know more. But Timothy’s warnings, plus the fact that she supposedly kissed Liam and didn’t remember, made the decision for her.
Liam looked into Autumn’s brown eyes. “Thanks. I was worried this was gone forever.”
Autumn stared at Liam’s bruised lip and averted her gaze. She could feel the heat climbing her neck. “I shouldn’t have held on to it for so long.”
As if checking for damages, Liam examined the ring in the morning light. Like Autumn could ruin a diamond. “I’d give you a hard time about it, but I’m just relieved to have it back. You didn’t find any dog tags in the pool too, did ya?”
“Dog tags?”
Liam pushed his shirt collar aside to uncover a metallic rectangle attached to a silver chain. “Like this?”
Autumn shook her head.
“Weird.” Liam dropped his necklace under his shirt.
“Right.” Autumn needed more information about the ring, such as how Liam came to possess it. “The setting looks quite old, like the ring might be antique.”
Liam’s eyes brightened. “Hmmm. I wonder if Louie will give me more money for it then.”
“You’re gonna sell it to Pawn Louie? Why would you do that?” Everyone in town knew about Pawn Louie. Evelyn had even dropped off a few of the Cayo’s antiques, including some of Aunt Glenda’s forgotten record albums, hoping they’d bring in extra cash.
Liam tensed his shoulders. “It’s none of your business why.” He glanced at the sliding glass doors. “I better get inside. Your mom has a list of repair jobs for me.” He started toward the door, and Autumn cleared her throat.
“You shouldn’t sell the ring.” She searched for a reason. “It looks sentimental.”
Liam rolled his eyes as if he had no time for explanations. “My abuela never even wore it. I doubt it’s worth anything.”
“Then don’t sell it. Hold on to it for a little while longer. Just until I can figure things out.”
“Figure what out?” Liam asked impatiently.
“That ring is connected to the ghost.”
“That’s impossible. It belonged to my grandmother.”
“Was her name Inez?” Autumn whispered.
“No,” Liam said. “Mariana.”
Autumn gasped. “Mariana was your grandmother? So, she and Leo got married?” A weird surge of jealousy burned Autumn’s ribs. Her hand flew to her chest to quell the acid.
Liam blanched. “What’s going on with you? First, you bite my lip. Then the weird text. Are you playing me?”
“No,” she said, insulted. “I don’t remember kissing you.”
“You bit me,” he clarified. “Not kissed. There’s no mistaking the difference.”
Autumn cringed. “Here’s the thing. I have some insight. About the ring. And the rightful owner.”
Liam pointed at himself. “I’m the rightful owner.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Oh, really?”
“This ring belonged to a woman named Inez.” She gestured at Liam’s cheek. “The ghost who scratched your face. I wouldn’t have been able to channel her otherwise.”
Liam pulled away and laughed uneasily.
“You don’t believe me, I get it. But when I put the ring on, I can channel her—see inside her past. It’s the reason I don’t remember talking to you that night. She gets into my head just as much as I can see into hers. And I become her.”
Liam twisted his body toward the Cayo. “I really have to get to work, and you have school.”
“I’ll prove it to you.” Autumn plucked the ring from Liam’s finger, and before he could stop her, she was already losing focus.
Suddenly, Autumn was inside Inez’s body again. This time she was at the beach, her dark tanned legs stretched out in front of her, her toes digging into the sand. A muscled arm embraced her and she felt lips graze her collarbone. She glanced up at Mick. Inez ran her fingers through his sandy blond hair and laughed. But the emotion felt hollow, as if Inez wasn’t joyful in the moment. Autumn watched Leo Breyer bob in the ocean waves, his arms protectively encircling Mariana. And then Autumn screamed—a sound so primordial, she awoke on the cement patio floor, to where Timothy was yanking the ring off her finger. He placed it in Liam’s palm.
Anger bubbled inside her. “Why’d you do that?”
“I told you it’s not safe.”
Liam hovered over her, speechless. Autumn wondered if he thought they were performing for him. There was no way he believed her.
“I saw something,” she said, her voice hoarse.
Liam furrowed his brow, but despite all that skepticism, she could tell he was curious. “What?”
“I became her again. Inez. Except this time I was on the beach, and I was laughing, yet angry. I wasn’t alone either. Mick was with me. He had his arm wrapped around my shoulder and he kissed me right here.” She touched her bare skin below the collar of her shirt.
Liam’s eyebrows shot up. “Mick Canton? That’s gross. You have major issues.”
“We weren’t the only people on the beach either. Mariana was there. And . . .”
Autumn glanced at Ti
mothy for a second, and he nodded in assurance. “Tell him.”
“Leo,” she said.
“Leo? As in my Pops?”
“Yes.” Autumn’s voice was barely a whisper.
Liam’s face reddened, and he clenched his fists at his sides. “This crap isn’t funny. You’re telling me a murdered ghost knew my grandpa?”
“Not just knew your grandfather, but I think she was in love with him.” Inez never showed Autumn that part, but Autumn could sense it. “Maybe she’s confused. Spirits can get like that. It’s just—”
“Just what?”
“You have her ring,” she said.
“No, I have my abuela’s ring, and her name was Mariana. Mariana Cruces.”
“Cruces? I saw that word in my Spanish textbooks. It means—”
“Crosses.” He rubbed his face.
Crosses! It wasn’t a ‘T’ Inez had shown me in the bathroom mirror. It was a cross. Autumn’s excitement grew. “Mariana was Inez’s sister.”
“My abuela didn’t have a sister. She was an only child.” His eyes flitted back and forth like he was trying to work out his family tree in his head. But rather than concede Autumn might be on to something, Liam backed away from her, his hands out as if trying to placate an unstable person. “I need a break from this.” He turned on his heels and headed back to the Cayo.
Autumn smacked her forehead. She’d put on the ring to show off a little, thinking Liam would believe her once he saw what happened. But he just thought she was teasing him. Or worse, that she was insane.
Timothy clucked his tongue. “Girl, I told you not to channel her again.”
“Because you said it was dangerous,” she argued.
Timothy drew a circle in the air around Autumn’s hurt face and then glanced at the patio door where Liam had just entered. “Well, wasn’t it?”
CHAPTER TEN
Later, during his afternoon break, Liam ran out of the Cayo Hueso and down the street, leaving his scooter, which was wet from an afternoon rain shower, parked outside the hotel. He needed to get out of the hotel to breathe. He felt bad for dismissing Autumn that morning, but there was something not right with her. She didn’t strike him as the type of girl to play cruel jokes, but neither had Victoria, and look how that ended up.
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