Fire in Frost

by Alicia Rades

  My heart froze in my chest. In my mind, I was thinking, No, no I don’t think I can.

  “I want to help Kelli more than anyone,” Justine said. “If you don’t think you can do it without my help, maybe I can—“

  “No,” I cut her off. I couldn’t force that upon her. I knew exactly how she felt. I still avoided the intersection where my dad died. If someone had tried to make me go back there . . . I couldn’t finish that thought.

  “Um, just one sec.” I placed my hand over the receiver and spoke quietly to my friends as we walked. “She says she can’t face the place of Olivia’s death. What are we going to do now?”

  They were both silent for a few seconds as if thinking, and then Emma spoke. “There’s only one more thing we can do.”

  “Yeah. Turn him in,” I suggested.

  “No,” Emma continued. “We could steal it.”

  “What?” I squeaked and looked at her in disbelief.

  Derek was giving her the same expression.

  “Stealing? No. I don’t steal,” I said.

  “But it’s so perfect,” Emma insisted. “Tammy will be at the Halloween festival tomorrow night, so her house will be empty. You said you know where it is. We can get in and out of there in a matter of minutes.”

  “She does have a point,” Derek agreed, and I gawked at him, unable to believe that he was considering this.

  “You guys have got to be kidding me. I don’t steal things, and I certainly don’t break in.”

  “Since no one locks their houses around here, it’s technically not breaking in,” Derek pointed out.

  I stared back at them in skepticism. What else could I do, though? This was my responsibility, wasn’t it?

  I sighed. “Fine. But someone needs to be at the festival to keep an eye on her, okay? I don’t want anyone catching us.” I looked between them both and wondered who would volunteer.

  Derek raised his hand. “Okay, I’ll keep watch. You two can do the sneaking. If I notice anything, I’ll text Emma.”

  My mind continued to contemplate the ethics of this decision. How did I get dragged into this, and why was getting ahold of a video the best solution? It didn’t make any sense to me.

  I sighed and brought the phone back up to my face. “Justine, I’ll get it for you.”

  She squealed excitedly into the receiver. “Thank you! When can you get it to me?”

  “You’ll be at the festival, right? I can give it to you then.”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there. I’m helping out with some of the booths, so if you walk around, you’ll probably see me. I’ll be in a butterfly costume. I can’t wait! We’re finally going to get him, and I’ll have my best friend back!”

  Her excitement was palpable. It made me feel great that I was able to help, which for the first time since she’d asked me for help made me feel welcoming about my abilities.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Justine said, signaling the end of our conversation.

  “Wait,” I said, stopping her.

  “Yeah?”

  “What are you going to do with the video?” I asked.

  “It’s a video!” She seemed even more amazed. “Wow. You really are a good detective, Crystal. You know what I’m going to do with it? I’m going to use it to send the piece of crap to jail.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was even possible, but even so, I figured it would help to at least get Kelli out of the relationship. Maybe Justine and Kelli could use it as blackmail against Nate.

  “Thank you so much, Crystal. Seriously.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  I hit the end call button and handed Emma back her phone.

  Emma and I said goodbye to Derek when we got back home. We found the fold-up cot and set it up in my room next to my twin bed. Emma and I laid side by side facing each other and talking about the situation we were in.

  I was feeling better that this was almost all over, but when my head hit the pillow, I reminded myself that I still had to break into someone else’s home. That sent a sickening sensation throughout my body.

  25

  Emma and I couldn’t sit around with nothing to do all day, so we tagged along with my mom to help with the festival. My mom didn’t mention anything about our adventure. I didn’t think it was because she didn’t care but rather because she was so busy.

  I wondered why Emma and I couldn’t just go to Tammy Owen’s house now. She had to be here somewhere, right? When I spotted her, I understood why it was a good idea to wait. I watched as she hopped into her car and announced to a few other helpers that she had to pick up more supplies from her house. I didn’t know how many trips she was going to take, but I didn’t want to risk the chance of her catching us.

  Emma and I spent most of the morning helping set up tents at the park, moving around supplies, and decorating. Some people from the community brought all the workers sandwiches for lunch, and Emma and I sat by the creek as we ate. We didn’t talk about our plans for that night or being psychic because we didn’t want anyone to overhear, so we kept our conversation casual.

  As we put up more decorations and more people showed up to set up their booths, the Halloween festival really started looking amazing. There was my mother’s tent for fortune telling, some carnival games, food vendors, apple bobbing, a kissing booth, and even a huge stage for a band.

  Around three o’clock, Sheryl tested the microphone on stage and began barking last-minute orders since we only had an hour until the festival officially started.

  “Why aren’t you girls dressed yet?” I heard a familiar voice behind me and turned to see my mother with caked-on makeup, curly hair, gaudy jewelry, and flowing clothes. She really had the gypsy look down.

  “We don’t have our costumes with us,” I said.

  “Well, go get them! I don’t want to be the only one dressed up. Here, take my car.” To my surprise, my mom put the keys in Emma’s hands. Of course, I didn’t have my license, so she certainly wasn’t going to let me drive.

  “Awesome,” Emma said, pulling at me. “Let’s go get our costumes. See you later, Andrea.”

  As we were walking back to the parking lot, we spotted Derek coming our way in his own costume.

  “You guys are leaving already?” he joked as he approached us.

  “We’re just going to get our costumes,” Emma answered, “but we might not be back for a while.”

  “Okay. I’ll keep you updated.”

  As soon as we walked away from Derek, I saw a tall girl with dark hair and wings trailing behind her. She was coming toward us.

  “Do you have it?” Justine asked when she was close enough.

  “We’re going to get it right now,” I answered, excited that this was all working out.

  “That’s great. I can’t wait.” Then to my surprise, Justine bent down—she was a lot taller than me, especially with her heels on—to embrace me. “I’d come with you, but I promised I’d help run the kissing booth for the first shift.” She pulled away. “And Crystal, I’m really sorry about blackmailing you. I wasn’t actually going to tell anyone your secret. I just really needed your help.”

  I smiled in forgiveness and thanked her, but her last words echoed in my mind. “Justine, if you have psychics in your family, why didn’t you go to them about this? Why me?”

  Justine gave me a look of apology like she was sorry she dragged me into this. “From everything I know about my family’s gift, it’s not very strong. And my aunt is only an empath, after all. It just sounded like you had a gift that could honestly help in this situation.” She paused. “I was right, wasn’t I?”

  I smiled and realized that yes, I think she was right.

  Emma and I said goodbye and made it to the car. Emma climbed in behind the wheel while I found my place in my usual seat. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and texted Derek.

  Have you spotted her yet?

  No. Someone said she was picking up a few last-minute things at home.

  Crap.
Okay. Thanks.

  “We can’t go get it yet. Tammy’s at home,” I told Emma.

  “Okay, so we’ll stake out by her house.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. I think she’ll notice and suspect something. She knows my mom’s car, which is supposed to be at the park.”

  “You’re right. Maybe we should just go get our costumes first.”

  “Yeah, I guess we can do that.”

  So we went to my house instead and slipped on our red onesies, which were surprisingly comfortable.

  “I think we can leave these in the car when we rob Tammy Owen’s house,” I suggested, rolling my blue pompon wig in my hand.

  “Crystal, it’s not robbing,” Emma said as she adjusted her own wig. “It’s Olivia’s camera, and she wants us to have it.”

  I thought about that for a moment. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” The familiar chime of my phone sent me reaching for it.

  I’ve spotted her. You’re good to go.

  Awesome. Thank you, Derek.

  BTW, I thought I was supposed to be texting Emma.

  She’s my driver.

  Lol. Ok. Good luck.

  “Okay, we’re good to go,” I told Emma.

  “Sounds good. Ready for your first criminal act?”

  I rolled my eyes at her. “According to you and Derek, we’re not breaking and entering or stealing, so I think we’re good.”

  Emma laughed as we headed back to the car. The sun had fallen low in the sky, but it still wasn’t dark.

  “Do you think anyone’s going to suspect anything?” I asked warily.

  “No. First, a lot of people are at the festival. Second, we’d just look like we were sent to pick up supplies or something. No one is going to see us. We’ll be fine.”

  “Even in these?” I gestured toward our costumes.

  “People will just think we’ve been downtown.” She had a point.

  It didn’t take long to make it to Tammy’s house. We parked across the street and looked around to make sure no one was watching. We couldn’t see anyone, but the hairs on the back of my neck still stood as if someone was watching us.

  I scanned the street again. No one. I’m just nervous, I told myself until I believed it.

  “Okay, I think we’re set to go.” My heart pounded as I took off my seat belt and opened my door. Even though the air was cool, I felt almost too warm in my costume, which made me sweat all over.

  “Well, are you ready?” Emma stared at me as I simply stood there, but when I nodded, she took my arm and led me across the street.

  I wasn’t even surprised when the back door opened easily. We walked onto a landing where one set of stairs led to the main floor and the other to the basement. I climbed the stairs and found myself in a pristine kitchen. I led the way, although I wasn’t entirely sure the layout of the house.

  “Her bedroom is upstairs,” I whispered, even though I was sure we were alone. “Stay quiet.”

  “Why?” Emma asked, mirroring my volume.

  “I don’t know. I just feel better about it. The stairs are over here.” I rounded a corner and went down a hallway before I crept up the stairs. I was careful not to make a sound. When we came around the banister, the door I was looking for was already open.

  And then I heard it, which only made me creep back down the stairs and hide. I gripped the owl pendant that hung around my neck and rubbed it for good luck. I peeked up to the floor’s level to try to see into the room, but I couldn’t tell what was going on.

  “Text Derek,” I mouthed to Emma. I handed her my phone after making sure it was on silent.

  I watched intently, trying to detect what was happening in the room. It sounded like someone was shuffling through boxes. I heard footsteps, and then objects shifted as they bounced against each other in their containers. I listened closely and heard rapid breathing and then a sob.

  “Derek says she’s still there,” Emma whispered so quietly that even I could hardly hear her. Then who was digging through boxes in Olivia’s room?

  I snuck back up the stairs, intent on finding out who was screwing up our operation. My pulse quickened as I thought about the possibility of getting caught. I pressed my body against the wall as I slowly and quietly stepped closer to the room. Then even slower, I peeked around the open door. I could feel Emma right behind me.

  A young woman about my age with blonde hair was facing away from me and shuffling through boxes. She was dressed in a baby blue dress, white tights, and black flats.

  “Where is it?” she mumbled, lightly kicking one of the boxes in frustration. I knew who it was immediately.

  Without thinking, I emerged from my hiding spot and entered the room. “Kelli, what are you doing here?”

  26

  Kelli Taylor whirled around to face me. “Me? What are you doing here? And in your pajamas?”

  My pajamas? I looked down at my costume. I liked our Cat in the Hat idea. I liked her Alice in Wonderland costume, too, but this was no time to admire costumes.

  “Um . . . Tammy sent Emma and me to get something for the Halloween festival.” At the mention of her name, Emma came into the room. “We heard something up here and thought you were a burglar or something.” I could feel my eyebrow twitching.

  I was never good at lying, so I was shocked when Kelli bought it. I released the tension in my shoulders.

  “Me?” she said. “No, not a burglar. I’m just looking for something.”

  Emma, knowing I’d never been a good liar, took over for me. “Tammy sent us for something in the boxes, too, so do you mind if we look with you, do you?”

  Kelli scowled. I wasn’t entirely sure she believed us anymore. “But this is all Olivia’s stuff.”

  “And apparently yours,” Emma said casually as she went over to a box and flipped it open to peer inside.

  Kelli had shifted boxes all over the room so that it didn’t look quite the same as when Olivia showed me where the camera was. Yet somehow, I still knew where it was as if its energy drew me closer. Suddenly, I understood what energy I was feeling.

  Olivia’s spirit sat above the boxes and peered down at me. I thought I’d helped her cross over, but she wasn’t gone yet. I briefly wondered how she’d appeared so easily and why I wasn’t feeling as woozy as I normally did when she appeared. As I thought this, she glanced over at Kelli, and I realized why. Her connection with Kelli was strong enough to ground her here if she was close enough.

  “Tell her,” Olivia said from her perch, although only I could hear her.

  “What?” I asked. Both Kelli and Emma stared at me.

  “Crystal, are you okay?” Emma asked.

  “Tell her where it is,” Olivia repeated.

  “Yeah, I’m okay Emma, but why?”

  Kelli and Emma both gave me a weird look again.

  “Look,” Kelli said. “I don’t know what you guys want, but you’re not going to find it here. These boxes are all full of Olivia’s stuff.”

  “You have to show it to her,” Olivia told me.

  As much as I didn’t think that was a good idea, I figured Olivia knew better than me. I sighed and moved aside several boxes until I found the one I was looking for. I pulled it free, set it on the floor, and opened it.

  Inside was the same camera case Olivia was carrying in her memory along with her tripod and other belongings I didn’t recognize. I pulled the bag from the box and stood up.

  “Is this what you’re looking for?” I asked, holding it out to Kelli.

  “Oh my God, yes!” she exclaimed while reaching out for it.

  “Crystal,” Emma scolded in the same moment. “What are you doing?”

  “No!” Olivia cried, which made me recoil. I pulled the camera bag back to my chest. “Don’t give it to her. Show her the video. She has to see it.”

  “Just hold on,” I said, trying to calm everyone, including myself. I unzipped the bag, and Kelli watched wide-eyed.

  “That’s mine! You can’t do that
.” Kelli lunged toward me, but Emma stepped in between us to stop her.

  “Actually,” I said, “I know for a fact this was Olivia’s.” I pulled the camera from the case. It was a large digital camera, clearly made for a photography lover. I pushed the power button, but it didn’t turn on.

  “There’s a fresh battery in the front pocket,” Olivia told me.

  I continued talking to keep Kelli at a safe distance while I retrieved and changed the battery. “For one, Olivia was the photographer, not you. Only she would own a camera this expensive.” I didn’t know how I knew it. The words simply flowed from my mouth. I wasn’t sure whether they were true or not, but I suspected they were by the way Kelli simply stood there and listened. “Not to mention that the strap has her initials on it. But the real proof is on the camera, isn’t it, Kelli?”

  I had the batteries changed by now. This time when I pressed the power button, it turned on. The battery wasn’t full, but it was enough to do what I needed.

  “And what do you think is on it?” Kelli asked accusingly.

  “I don’t know,” I replied innocently, even though I did know. “Why don’t we see?”

  I pressed the playback button. The video I was looking for was the first image to appear. I pressed the play button, initiating the sound.

  “You don’t know what you’re doing! Give that here!” Kelli dove for me again, but Emma came to my rescue for a second time and caught her before she could get very far. They were both stronger than they looked, but Emma was bigger and could hold Kelli back.

  “Kelli, we’re only here to help you,” I said evenly, hoping my tone would calm her down. The video was playing through her serves. I knew we didn’t have much time until Nate would walk into the gym and slap her. “Kelli, your friends are worried about you, both Justine and Olivia, and they asked us to help. Now, I want you to take a look at this. If you can honestly tell me that you’re okay with what Nate has been doing to you, we’ll let you go, and I won’t intervene anymore.”

  “What is it with you?” Kelli asked. “You and Justine really are plotting against me, aren’t you? Nate’s not a bad guy.”