by Apryl Baker
“Eh, we went looking to see if the cops missed anything at Elaina’s. Kyle here doesn’t appreciate it.”
“Find anything?”
“Yes, sir, we did.”
Kyle snorts.
“Your daddy was in the FBI, wasn’t he, QB-One?”
I nod but am kept from saying anything when Ethan ducks in, wearing his uniform and looking fit to be tied, as Gramps would say. He points to me and then outside.
“I’ll keep an eye on the girl if she comes out before you’re done talking.”
“Thank you, Mr. Marshall.” I get up and follow Ethan outside to his SUV.
“Explain.” His words are clipped and hard. He’s pissed.
I look around, unsure if we should say anything where people could be listening.
“It’s safe. There’s a ward up to protect against unwanted listeners.”
“Ella wanted to go see if Elaina’s ghost was at the house. She was mad when she found out we told you no.”
“She has a better sense of right and wrong than you do.”
“You might be right, but she feels guilty thinking her father has something to do with this. Helping Elaina’s spirit move on is her way of trying to assuage that guilt.”
“And did she?”
“No, she said there were no ghosts there.”
Ethan sighs. “I was hoping she could see her. That’s why I was desperate for her help.”
“We didn’t come up empty, though.”
He tits his head. “What?”
“Kyle thinks it’s a load of crap.”
“I’m not Kyle.”
“The cat. She has blood on her ear that she couldn’t have gotten from her own wound. We think it belongs to Elaina or her attacker. The house has been bleached, too.”
“Elaina cleaned with bleach.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’ve had to go up there to intervene with a domestic incident once a few years ago when she first moved to town. She told me herself.”
“But did you check for blood? Bleach hides it, but if you use luminol, it’ll show up. It’s one thing to clean in bleach, but I doubt you’d use bleach on wood floors. Ella also saw another thing I did. There’s a photo missing from her mirror in the bedroom.”
“Missing? I didn’t see any blank spots.”
“Did you notice the pattern they were arranged in?”
“It looked random to me.”
“That’s why I wanted to look. Dad showed us how to find patterns.”
“You taking criminal justice in college?”
“Nope. I have no desire to be any part of law enforcement.”
“You’re good at it.”
I shrug. Going into law enforcement means I might run into my own father, and that’s not allowed, so no matter how good I am at this, I can’t pursue it. “The NFL is the dream. Gramps is trying to find a way to make that happen for me.”
“You’re good, but the NFL is not going to want a felon on the roster.”
“I’m not a felon. I don’t even have a record.”
“Yet.” His eyes go hard. “You can’t keep doing this, Eli. Eventually, you’re going to do something we can’t get you out of.”
“I did it this way for a reason.”
“Ella?”
“Yes, sir. If we went to you, the people watching her would know, and that’s not how to keep her safe from them. This way, it looks like we went out on our own, and if anyone asks, the cat is the reason we were up there.”
“The cat was injured?”
“Pretty nasty cut. She wouldn’t let me see, but it keeps bleeding. I’m surprised she hasn’t bled out by now. And by the way, if you think you’re taking that cat from Ella, she’ll fight you tooth and nail.”
“Normally…”
“She’s grown protective of her. She’s not going to let you take her to an animal shelter.”
“And if her parents say no?”
“Then she’ll go home with me. The animal’s been through enough. She doesn’t need some sterile cage to be her only home for the foreseeable future.”
“Is there any point in me telling you not to do this again?”
“What do you think?”
He shakes his head. “Let’s go back inside. I need to tell the vet to collect blood samples.”
Matt and Jordan are flanking Ella when I go back inside. She looks ready to cry. Was the cat too bad to be saved?
“What’s going on?”
“It wasn’t just a cut. The vet said it looks like someone tried to stab her to death.”
“Say what?”
“We think the cat got into the blood and that the attacker wanted no evidence left behind and tried to kill her, but she got away. Dr. Jones said she can try a surgery to repair the damage, but she’s not sure it’ll save her.” Jordan pats Ella on the back. “It’s okay, Short Stuff.”
Ethan is speaking quietly with Gina, who’s nodding. Before she heads back, I walk up and hand her my debit card. “Do whatever is necessary to save the cat.”
“Eli…”
“Gramps will be fine with it. Call him if you don’t believe me, but charge me for the surgery and whatever tests you need to run.”
Gina looks over to Ella, who’s actually started to cry. “We’ll do what we can.”
“Thanks.”
I go sit down and pull Ella into my lap. She starts to cry harder. “Don’t worry, Shortcake, the cat will be fine.”
“What if she’s not?”
“She will be.”
“Yes, but you might not be.”
We all stare in shock when Mrs. Banks comes in, outrage vibrating off her.
“Mom?”
“What do you mean, breaking into someone’s home?”
“She didn’t, Mrs. Banks.” Ethan steps forward. “They had my permission to be there to check on the cat.”
Kyle’s head whips around, and the smirk he’s been wearing dies.
“That’s not what the deputy told me on the phone.” Angry blue eyes flash their ire at the deputy, and it’s my turn to smirk.
“I…”
“Had he bothered to check with me before upsetting everyone’s mothers, he’d have not made a fool of himself.” Ethan’s lips thin. “Head back to the station, Kyle. I’ll deal with you when I get there.”
“See? Told you everything was going to fine,” I whisper as Mrs. B talks with Ethan and the rest of us settle in to wait to see what happens with the cat.
Chapter Sixteen
Ella
Turns out, Patches was fine. She pulled through like a champ, but because of Dad and Cecily’s severe allergies to cats, she didn’t join the Banks household. Instead, she became a member of the McGreggor family, despite Gramps grumbling about not wanting a cat. Even though Eli said nothing, I think he was secretly thrilled with the idea of a pet. He’d gone out and bought her toys, a cat bed, one of those towers, and food so that when she came home yesterday, she was all set.
It’s adorable how much he dotes on the cat, and I even caught Gramps running his fingers under her chin telling her she was a good kitty. Patches has them both wrapped around her finger to the point her new collar has bling on it. Her tag has both their phone numbers on the back of it, too.
Sure, they aren’t cat people.
It’s been a week since the cat was released from the vet. She usually sleeps in my bed, but sometimes I find her curled up under Eli’s chin, all her fur sticking up around his face. It’s adorable, and I have snapped several blackmail photos.
I already miss the cat and her antics.
Today is the day I have to go home. I knew it was coming, but sitting here in Eli’s Jeep in front of the house I know has hidden cameras and microphones, I don’t want to go in. I don’t want to feel watched in my own home. But it’s not my home, not really. We’ve never lived in a place long enough for it to feel like home before. I was hoping this place was going to be different because Dad said this posting would last for a few years
. Unfortunately, now it’s never going to be home.
Eli’s house feels like a home should, and I want to go back there.
But it’s not in the cards for me. Can’t have people get suspicious.
And now that I know about the cameras and microphones, I can’t let on if something happens or talk about my reaping ability. Not that I did much before, anyway, since everyone seemed to want to ignore it. At least that part won’t be different.
I wanted the spy equipment out of the house, but everyone agreed that if we did that, they’d know we were on to them. Leaving them was the safer option.
According to everyone but me.
“You ready, Shortcake?”
I glance over, and I still can’t believe the difference in him. His hair isn’t that beautiful blond color anymore. It’s a dark, rich brown that makes his aqua eyes pop even more. When I asked him about the dye job, he told me the brown was his natural color. He’d dyed it before the accident to be a little different, and his mom had loved the color. It’s why he’d kept it for so long. I never realized he dyed it, but I’m not with him twenty-four-seven, so I guess he could have dyed it when I wasn’t around or gone to one of the salons in town.
But he said he needed to start to move on from it, and that meant being himself. So, he dyed his hair back to its normal color.
It’s not bad. In fact, it makes him even more gorgeous, but I miss the blond. He looks less angelic now and more like the devil who’ll tempt you into danger that costs you everything. He’d gotten wolf whistles all over town from girls who will do just about anything to get his attention.
Which means I have their attention too. Attention I don’t want. I can’t even count the number of dirty looks I’ve gotten since he and I became friends. But I wouldn’t trade him for all the normalcy in the world. He’s the first real best friend I’ve ever had.
“Not really, but I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
“Sorry.” He taps my nose with the end of his finger. “If I could keep you at the house, I would. I don’t like leaving you here alone.”
“I’m not alone, though. Mom and Cecily are here.”
“And you have that new demon tat.” He winks, and my fingers graze the tattoo gracing my arm. Gramps said the spell is in the ink more than the design, but they did try to make it look like something I’d get. It’s a daisy surrounded by dancing butterflies. Anyone who sees it won’t know it protects me from demons. Eli’s tats, however, are seriously scary.
I was never one for tattoos, but according to Eli, I’ll probably end up getting more as we figure out how best to keep the ghosts from overwhelming me. And any other random creepy-crawly that can be guarded against.
“Guess I better get inside.”
“Want me to come with?”
“Nah. I’ve been at your house for over a week. Time for me to pull up my big girl pants and face everything I’m running from.”
“You know how much I believe in you, yeah?”
A soft smile escapes. He’s the only person who does, really. Not that my family doesn’t, necessarily. They just don’t want to admit that I’m a freak of nature now. In a way, not even Cecily, and I’m okay with that. If I could forget it, I would too.
“Thanks for everything this week.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. “You’re the best friend a girl could have.”
I open the Jeep and gingerly get down, retrieving my cane, and slowly start to walk to the front door. Eli’s right behind me with my bag. Yup, I forgot it. Goes to show how nervous I am about going home.
The front door isn’t locked, but I’m not surprised. I texted Mom to tell her we were on our way.
“Just throw that bag there.” I point to the stairwell. “You want something to drink before you go?”
“Nah. I got to get to practice. Coach has been killing us this week with the double practices. You straight?”
A lot of guys say that. I had no clue what it meant until I asked Eli. Basically, he’s asking if I’m good.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. Go on before you’re late and Coach makes you do laps or something.”
“Laps would be too easy. He’d find some kind of torture to make sure I’m never late again.”
That, I believe. Coach Bear is vicious. I thought his actual last name was Bear, but come to find out, he’s a grizzly shifter, hence his nickname. He’s just as brutal when it comes to training his players as the animal itself. I’ve witnessed some of his creative practices when the guys don’t perform well.
“Call me if you need anything, Shortcake.”
He closes the door behind him, and I turn and take in the house. It’s quiet. Mom’s car was outside, so I know she’s here somewhere.
“Mom?” I call, limping my way through the house toward the kitchen. “Mom!”
“In the basement,” comes her muffled answer when I get to the kitchen.
What’s she doing in the basement? I’ll ask her when she comes upstairs. I open the fridge and find a bottle of water along with a yogurt. Grabbing a spoon, I sit down at the island and wait for her. I’m hungry, and a yogurt is an easy, healthy snack.
I’m finishing the yogurt when she comes upstairs. She’s wiping her hands on her jeans, and she looks dirty.
“What were you doing?”
“Your father put some of the unpacked boxes down there, and I was looking for one of my photo albums I thought might be in one.”
“No luck, huh?”
She sighs. “It has all your and Cecily’s baby photos in it. I’m going to be upset if that got lost in the move.”
“Sorry.”
“How’s Marco doing?”
“Cranky as an old goat because I refused to feed him bacon grease in everything. I swear, it’s a wonder he’s still standing. That old man eats worse than a college kid.”
Mom smiles. “Let me guess, you filled his fridge with lots of veggies and salad.”
“I did. I even fixed all the bacon for Eli’s football buddies who came over. I’m sure Gramps is going grocery shopping as soon as Eli tells him I’m back home.”
“Glad you’re home and that Marco’s feeling better.”
“He’s not going to be for long if he goes back to the grease and the fast food.”
“You did what you could, honey.”
Even if Gramps’ health was the reason we circulated for me being at Eli’s, I did try to show him that healthy food could be yummy too. He even grudgingly agreed that what I made for him tasted good, but I doubt he’ll keep it up.
“Where’s Cecily?”
“The pool, where else?” Mom grins, and I laugh. “Though, when your father finds out why she’s hanging out at the pool so much, he’s going to pitch a fit.”
Even I haven’t met her secret pool guy, and I usually get to meet them if they last more than two dates. She’s being very hush-hush about him. It worries me on one hand, but then it could just be because Dad’s home and not off on some mission or other.
“Dad will eventually hear about it. She might want to ’fess up sooner rather than later.”
“I’ve said the same thing to her, but she doesn’t want to unless she has to. Normally, I’d put my foot down and demand to meet Derrick, but she seems so happy.”
“You haven’t met him either?”
“Wait, your sister hasn’t introduced you?” Mom frowns. “Maybe it’s time to put your foot down.”
“I can have Eli sus him out, if you want?”
“Yes, let’s do that. I want to know more about this boy, and her keeping him a secret from all of us, including you, doesn’t sit too well with me.”
“Sure thing, Mom. I’ll text him, and he’ll probably swing by the pool after practice.”
The knock at the door interrupts whatever Mom was going to say, and she waves me to stay seated while she goes to the front door.
I toss the empty yogurt cup into the trash can sitting next to the island and pull out my phone to text Eli about scoping out Der
rick. Mom’s right. We need to know more about this guy.
“She’s right in here.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
No.
I turn around, and sure enough Matt is striding behind Mom as she comes back into the kitchen, a big smile on her face.
“Don’t you have practice?” I blurt out.
“I do, but this is worth the extra laps Coach is going to heap on me today.”
“What?”
He holds up his phone. “I don’t have your number, and Eli wouldn’t give it to me. Said if you wanted me to have it, you’d give it to me.”
“Uhh…” My brain freezes, and I sound like a fool.
“I thought if you were feeling up to it, we might go catch a bite to eat after our first scrimmage game on Friday night. Eli said you were coming to the game.”
“I never said that.”
“So, you’re not coming to the game?”
“She is,” Mom says. “We’re all going to support Eli in his first game. Including her father.”
His face goes slightly white, but he squares his shoulders. “Awesome. So, want to go grab food with me after?”
“Umm…”
“She does,” Mom assures him. “She’s not quite awake yet.”
He quirks a brow. It’s mid-afternoon.
“Nap,” I mumble.
His grin widens. “So, food after the game?”
“Sure.”
Great. One-word answers. I look like such a complete dunce right now.
“Here, put your number in my phone, and I’ll text you later.”
I almost drop his phone, but I manage to store my number without embarrassing myself further.
“Thanks, Ella. Talk to you after practice.”
Mom sees him out, and I’m still sitting here in shock when she comes back into the kitchen.
“Girl, we have to work on your game.”
“Huh?”
Mom laughs. “Sweetheart, why do you look so shocked someone asked you out?”
“Because I am?”
She cocks her head. “Why?”
“Because guys don’t ask me out. The few who did only wanted to get closer to Cecily.”
“Then they were idiots.” Mom comes over and hugs me. “You’re a strong, beautiful girl. Don’t doubt yourself. That boy seems to like you a lot. He braved the ire of his coach to come see you.”
