“What’s it going to take to prove to you?” I asked. “Wasn’t me almost getting hit by a car enough for you?”
Mason let out a snort of laughter, as if the thought entertained him. “That doesn’t mean it’s a killer. That just means you weren’t paying attention, and I had to save you again.” He closed the distance between us, coming so close I could feel his breath on my skin. It smelled like he had just chewed a stick of spearmint gum; my favorite. “If that car wanted to hit you, it would have. You wouldn’t be standing here now trying to convince me someone was not only after my sister, but also after you.”
“So if I was dead, then you’d believe me?” I questioned, not missing a beat. “That would be a little too late then, Mason. You’d have nobody to help you search for who killed your sister, because the only other person who believed you would be dead!”
Mason’s eyes flashed anger before he stepped away and said a quick goodbye. I had a feeling if I didn’t convince him now then I’d lose the chance forever. Maybe even a chance for something more than a real life murder mystery.
“We can stop someone else from dying,” I yelled, not worried about who heard me. I just needed to convince him to help me, even if he was reluctant to. “Even you don’t think she died of a drug overdose, but guess what? The police do!” Mason stopped, but didn’t turn around. I had his attention at least, and that meant I had a chance. “Now they’re going to stop looking. They aren’t going to dig deeper into the case, because you’re right—they want everyone in town to calm down, and to stop accusing their friends. They won’t look because they think it’s a suicide or a drug overdose. Hell, maybe they even think it’s some combination of the two. Either way, it’s not a killer. It will be all over the news and social media. By tomorrow, she’ll be nothing more than a memory. Good luck, Mason, you’ll need it.” Mason hadn’t moved, but I knew I had him hooked. My thoughts were confirmed when he turned around and approached me.
“Look, I’ll help you, but just so I can prove my sister didn’t kill herself,” he said. “There’s nothing else, except looking for her killer, and if you’re right, making sure you don’t end up dead either.” I nodded and offered a smile when I realized that deep down he cared if I wound up dead. It wasn’t straightforward, more of a backhanded compliment, but I would take it. “So, where do we start?” he asked.
Chapter 9
Guidelines
“People saw you talking to Mason, you know?” Mindy’s voice chimed over the Skype call. I had gone home after Mason and I talked, promising to meet later so we could both be out of range when classes let out for the end of the day. “Kate said he was upset with the ruling of his sister’s death. Who knows, maybe she did do drugs and just overdosed?”
“I don’t think so, Mindy,” I said, shaking my head. I knew the reason she called me was to get the “real” news. I knew that those kids from the convertible would tell everyone Mason and I had once again been seen together. Mindy had called to ask if we were secretly dating. I scoffed at the idea and brushed it off. Mason hated me, and he had made that abundantly clear. He was only helping so everyone would know his sister didn’t kill herself, and I could see why with what Mindy told me.
“Come on, Casey, be real. Look, I know the guy is hot, but maybe you were right. I don’t know if he’s worth the trouble. I heard that her family knew she had a drug problem and didn’t get her help. This time she probably just overdosed. Mason isn’t going to say something like that about his sister,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand, as if the death could be brushed away like it was nothing.
I scoffed. “Mindy, be real,” I said, mimicking her phrase. “Everyone only wants gossip. Have you ever talked to Mason or Sophie, and I mean when you weren’t trying to date him.”
She sighed. “No, but—”
I interrupted her, sick of having her use me for information and then bash everything I told her. “Then don’t talk about them like you know who they are. No one in town knew them because they were new. It’s only been two months since they moved here. He’s starting at a new school with no friends, and now his sister is dead and no one is leaving him alone. How would you feel if everyone was talking about you like you’ve been talking about Sophie?”
I watched her pixilated image look down in shame. I guess she realized she wouldn’t like people saying she had a drug addiction and had overdosed. “But I’d never do that.” Her voice was scared. She knew what people would say if it was her. Everyone in this town was just looking for another story to tell, whether it was the truth or not.
“It doesn’t matter and you know it, Mindy.” I let that sink in for a moment, knowing she understood. “That’s how this town is. They’d say whatever gave them the better story, so don’t think you know Mason and his family based on what other people say.”
She sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.” There was a moment of silence between us before she spoke again. “So are you and Mason going to become an item now, or was that a rumor too? I heard you guys made plans to see each other tonight.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know who told you that, but no, we aren’t an item, and I don’t think we ever will be. In case you haven’t noticed, he hates me, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Now, I have to go, so I’ll talk to you later.” I slid my fingers onto the track pad so I could close down the call, but Mindy had to get the last word in.
“Have fun with Mason!” she cried just before I ended the call. She had picked up on the way I avoided her statement about Mason and me making plans for tonight.
I groaned. By tomorrow everyone would think Mason and I had gone on a date. Wonderful, I thought sarcastically before I got off my bed and started to collect my things. Mason had suggested meeting at his house so we wouldn’t be interrupted or spied on. I had to agree with him, I didn’t want to be the source of another rumor, especially one that involved him and me together. My mom would never let me live it down—at least until she found out if I was actually dating again.
I shivered. I’d had bad experiences dating before. I wasn’t sure I wanted to date someone from this town again, but then again Mason wasn’t from here. If only he wasn’t a standoffish jerk and we weren’t in the middle of trying to find out who killed his sister and may be targeting me as well, then maybe I’d consider it.
I tossed my backpack over my shoulder once I had put my house keys, phone, notebooks, and laptop into it. I wasn’t sure what I would need to start sleuthing, but I didn’t want to leave something important behind. I quickly raced out of my room and down the stairs, in a vain attempt at avoiding my mother’s questions before I left the house. Unfortunately she was at the bottom of the steps, and she blocked the front door.
“And where are you off to in such a hurry?” she asked curiously, taking note of my backpack and shoes. If she hadn’t been there I would have just called a quick goodbye, and said I’d be back in time for dinner, then shut the door behind me. Now I had to sit through the who, what, when, and where conversation.
“I’m going to meet my friend from school. I should be back for dinner, and if I’m not, I’ll let you know when I’m on my way back home.” I knew what to say to calm her down, not that it was typically needed with how safe Shady Hallows was. Used to be. John was always out with friends until Mom’s mandated curfew kicked in and then he would grace us with his presence. If we weren’t home by curfew, Dad would be waiting for us when we got here.
Mom glanced at me skeptically. Either she didn’t like my outfit that consisted of a Public Enemy band t-shirt and ripped shorts, or she knew I didn’t have any friends and she thought I was lying. “Who’s the friend, and where are you meeting them?”
“I’m meeting Mason. He’s just a kid from school, so don’t get too excited,” I said, hoping that the playfulness wouldn’t alert her.
She widened her blue eyes. “Mason Peters? Sophie’s brother?” I had forgotten how closely she was following the investigation.
&nb
sp; I nodded, taking in the worry in her eyes. I wasn’t sure if she was worried about me upsetting Mason, or if she was distraught I was spending time with him. Normally she was thrilled to know I was hanging out with a friend, even if a few weeks later they ditched me for someone more social.
“You should stay away from Mason after all of the stuff happening with his family. I don’t want you to say the wrong thing and hurt them more. Losing a child is the worst thing a parent can go through, and it’s going to be sensitive. Mason isn’t going to like it either. I know you’re curious, but I would avoid talking to them for a while. Let them heal a little bit.”
“I’m not meeting him for personal reasons, Mom,” I said. It wasn’t a lie, it just wasn’t the whole truth. I wasn’t seeing him for fun, I was visiting him to track down a killer. I just didn’t want Sophie to die being accused of drugs and suicide, especially if someone was after us. “I’m meeting him because we have a project together. It should only take a few weeks, and I promise to do my best not to upset them.” I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before I raced outside, following the directions Mason had given me to his house.
***
Not even a second after the doorbell rang, the door was pulled wide open to reveal Mason. He had changed out of his clothes from earlier and was now wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. His hair was a few shades darker than normal, and I noticed that droplets of water were falling from it, leaving damp stains on his shirt.
“Hey,” he said, beckoning me inside.
I smiled, but he didn’t return it. Instead he just looked away as I entered, and then shut and locked the door behind me.
“Find the place all right?” he asked, focusing his green eyes on me. He truly was handsome. His jaw was strong and masculine, and his eyes were breathtaking.
I hiked my bag up higher on my shoulder. “Yeah. I know the streets in this town like the back of my hand.”
He didn’t laugh, just nodded and gestured for me to follow him up the stairs. “This town is so small that I’m sure a map of it would fit on the back of your hand.”
I let out a breathy laugh. He didn’t say anything more as we reached the top of the stairs and I followed him down the hall, past a closed door that had a sign on it saying, ‘Sophie’s Room,’ and into a bedroom that I assumed was Mason’s. Despite how I may have imagined his room—dark and cold—it was the opposite. One wall was covered in pegs that held up so many baseball caps that it had to be the most impressive collection of anything I had ever seen. It was neat and organized. The others were lined with photos, mostly of him and a few friends I guess he left in Nantucket, and a few with Sophie in them. There was a lot of life in this room. It made me wonder if his personality was different because of her death. I recalled him being friendly when they saved me, but now he only offered a cold shoulder.
“You can sit down,” he offered, glancing at his bed and the desk chair that was tucked neatly under his computer desk.
I obliged and went to take a seat on his bed. “Thanks.”
He nodded and closed the door. I scratched my arm, and then tried to busy myself by taking my bag off and placing it at my feet. I could feel my cheeks heating up, but I tried to cover my blush by tilting my head down so my hair would cover it. The fact that this was my first time being alone in a bedroom with a boy was floating through my mind, but I tried to ignore it. We weren’t here for us, by any means. This was about Sophie.
I leaned down to dig a notebook and pen out of my bag as Mason dragged the desk chair over and sat across from me. I flipped my notebook open to a blank page and uncapped my pen. “So, I think the first thing we need to do is go over some guidelines that we need to follow in order to make this work.” I poised my pen over my notebook and looked up at him. I nearly jumped in surprise at how close he was. Our knees were almost touching, and he was leaned over to look at the page in my book. When he saw that it was blank he sat up straight.
“Guidelines? Like what? No talking to each other in public?” He frowned.
I shook my head no. “I mean, we can talk to each other in public, but we shouldn’t talk about what we’re doing in public. What if someone overhears us or something?”
He nodded. “Okay, write that down.” He pointed at my notebook, as if he thought I was going to forget that it was on my lap and would instead write on his white and blue bedspread.
I jotted down the note.
“What else?” he questioned, meeting my eyes.
I avoided making eye contact, knowing I’d blush again the second we did, as I said, “I also think we should try to keep a lie going with our parents about why we’re spending time together.”
Mason furrowed his eyebrows. “Why? Can’t we just say that we’re friends?”
I glanced down at my feet. “I don’t think that would work. My mom didn’t want me hanging out over here.”
“Really?’ Mason shook his head, and a few water droplets flicked my way. One landed on the notebook. “It’s because of those stupid rumors about me being a murderer, isn’t it? People are sick,” he mumbled.
“No, not at all,” I hurriedly interjected. “I’m sure she doesn’t think that, or she wouldn’t have allowed me to come at all. It’s because she doesn’t want me bothering you guys at a time like this. You and your parents are going through a lot right now.”
He nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. Either way, he still asked, “So what’s the story then?”
“I said that we were working on a project together.”
“Okay,” he responded. “Anything else?”
I tilted my head back in thought for a moment before the obvious came to me. “We need to exchange numbers so we can contact each other if we find anything.”
“Or if we need to meet up,” he added, leaning forward again to look at the notebook as I wrote. When he saw that I’d finished, he pointed at the page again and said, “You should add a rule for yourself that you should try to avoid falling in love with me. This relationship is strictly business, not pleasure.”
Taken aback, I tilted my head up and furrowed my eyebrows at him. He smiled softly in response and gave me a playful wink. It was the first time he’d shown me his true colors, and I couldn’t help but smile back. He was joking around—not acting like the jerk I had made him out to be—and I liked it.
“I think you might be the one who needs that rule,” I replied, leaning back to show that I was referring to his close proximity. “Give a girl some space, will you?”
He rolled his eyes, but chuckled nonetheless. He even scooted his chair back some, despite the fact that I was joking; mostly, anyway.
Just as his joking attitude had arrived, it quickly left again. “Anything else that we should add?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Not that I can think of. Those were the main ones I wanted to mention.”
Mason straightened up at my words then. “So, now that we have everything figured out, where do we start?”
The answer was obvious. “Sophie’s room.”
Chapter 10
Dirty Work
The sign on Sophie’s room was a neatly painted piece of wood. It was white, and had delicately painted cherry blossoms around the edges. I wondered if the sign’s style was an indication of what was to come. Her room could be the color of cherry blossoms, white and pink; simple and pretty. With Mason, I had his personality to go off of when I guessed how his room would look, and while I had been wrong, with Sophie I had no idea how it would look. I had only met her once, and even then I didn’t speak to her for very long. I left quickly after she saved me, both shocked at how closely we resembled each other, and what had just happened to me.
Another thing I noticed about the sign on closer inspection was that it didn’t actually say Sophie. Instead, in neat cursive print, it said Sophia.
Sophia’s Room.
I turned my head to look at Mason’s profile. “Was that her full name?”
He cracked a smile and shook
his head no. “We were on vacation in Seattle visiting some family, and my aunt Dorothy took us to this shop where they made all different sorts of things out of wood and then personalized them. Sophie wanted one, but we didn’t have time to have one made, so she grabbed one saying Sophia and we bought it.” He smiled wider. “I used to smile every time I saw it, but now I just walk past and pretend it doesn’t exist.”
“That must be hard.”
Mason shrugged. “You know what’s harder?”
Finding out that your little sister was murdered and disposed of in the middle of the woods? Thinking about the struggle she went through, or how terrified she was when she realized that she wasn’t going to see any of her family or friends again? All of those would be harder, but I didn’t say any of them out loud. Instead, I just asked, “What?”
He let out a deep breath of air, and scratched his chin, looking back to Sophie’s door. “Going in her room when the last time you were in there she was alive.”
I tried to imagine what that felt like, knowing that the last time you were in a place she was alive and well with no inclination of what was to come, but I just couldn’t. Thankfully I had never lost any of my close family members, so I didn’t know what the loss felt like, and to be honest I didn’t ever want to find out, judging from the deep mixture of pain and sadness in his eyes. I raised an arm and placed my hand on his shoulder. I was trying to be supportive, but I think the action was more awkward than it was comforting because there was still a thick tension between us.
As we stood there staring at the door, Mason afraid to go inside, and me waiting for him to open the door, I wondered how Sophie had left her room. When she had left her house for the last time, she most likely didn’t expect to never return. Maybe she had piles of clothes littering the floor that she thought she would clean up later, and then had never gotten the chance. Or she had just cleaned, expecting to make a few new friends and have them over later. That was a depressing thought.
Deadly Hallows (The Dead Ringer Series Book 1) Page 6
