When the Shadows Come

by Breck, Alyssa

  She winced as the sticky glue pulled hair off her arm and left red marks.

  He held her hands. “Is there anything else you need to tell me that you couldn’t tell them.”

  She shook her head. “Can I take a shower now?”

  “Of course.” He helped her up the stairs to her bedroom. The splintered door hung on one hinge. “I can fix this for you tomorrow, if you want me to.” The bathroom door needed replacing as well, but that wasn’t his concern at the moment.

  Reaching into the shower, he turned on the water to let it warm up. The cool water sprayed over his hand until he was satisfied it was warm enough.

  Nathan went downstairs to wait for her, he scrubbed his hand over his face. He hoped Mallory was right and that the son of a bitch with the broken neck was, in fact, her killer. Then this whole thing would be over. A simple DNA test would give them the information they needed. He had spoken privately with the detective and the coroner and they agreed to make this a priority in light of the current investigation involving Mallory and the other women in Texas.

  Carolina stayed in the shower for over half an hour. He looked up when he heard her padding down the stairs. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel and she wore a pair of flannel pajamas with shamrocks on them.

  “Mallory disappeared. She may have crossed over now that he’s dead.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she sat on the couch beside Nathan.

  He knew how attached she had become to Mallory and today would be a big blow if Mallory was simply gone now. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Yeah. Is it weird that my best friend—my only friend—is a ghost?”

  “I don’t know if weird is the right word. It’s definitely different.” Nathan chose his words carefully. Making her feel bad would be a shitty move. “And I’m your friend, aren’t I?”

  “Now that this case is over. I’m sure you’ll have no reason to talk to me anymore.”

  He reached over and patted her hand. “I won’t disappear. I’m your friend.”

  She gave a weak smile. “Thank you.”

  “Sure. I’ll make you some tea and we can talk some more.”

  CAROLINA WOKE WITH a start. Her eyes popped open and she jerked back, almost falling off the edge of the bed.

  Mallory lay facing her, a smile on her face. “Morning, sweetheart.”

  Carolina touched her forehead. “Jesus. If I wasn’t so glad to see you, I’d cuss you out for scaring me.” She shifted in bed and every muscle in her body screamed. “Damn. I feel like somebody hit me with a baseball bat. I guess that’s what it feels like to tumble down the stairs.”

  “Are you really okay?” Mallory asked. Her smile faded to a frown.

  Carolina rubbed her arm. “Yeah. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the time. “God. I slept all day and night.”

  “You must’ve needed it.” Mallory pushed a stray lock of hair off her face.

  “Yesterday feels like a bad dream now.”

  “I hope when it’s time for me to go, the shadows don’t come for me.”

  “Oh, Mal. Don’t’ even think like that. There’s no way.”

  “I knew what was happening. I’m not sure how I knew but I did and it scared me.”

  “I’ve never seen that before. I mean, I’ve always seen the shadows, but I never knew that’s what they did. Everyone I’ve ever seen has crossed over into the light, not the dark.” Carolina shuddered involuntarily and pulled the soft blanket up around her neck.

  “I can only imagine what fate awaits him. Someone like him.”

  “He was evil. There has to be some kind of justice for that.”

  Mallory’s eyes watered. “Yes, I suppose so.”

  “What’s wrong? Aren’t you glad he’s gone?” Carolina wished she could touch Mallory’s shoulder or offer some sort of physical comfort to her friend.

  “Of course, I’m glad he’s gone. But what happens now? What happens to me, Carolina?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t get premonitions. I just see what unfolds as it happens. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I’m sure you’ll be crossing over soon.”

  “I don’t think I want to go.”

  “I don’t want you to go either. But we can’t control that. It has to happen.”

  “Will you give that painting to my mom before I go?” Mallory wiped a tear from her cheek.

  “Yes. I’ll take it to her today if you want me to.”

  “I do. If you feel up to it. It can wait if you’re feeling too bad.”

  “I’ll be okay. I’m just a little shaky. I’ll ask Nathan to drive me. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

  “Thank you. For everything.”

  “You’re welcome. And thank you.”

  Mallory laughed without mirth. “For what? I’ve been a pain in your ass for years and even more so since I’ve been dead.”

  Carolina shook her head and smiled. “No. The past is the past. I’ve forgotten all that. You’ve been my best friend these last weeks. So, I thank you for showing me what that feels like.”

  “I wish we’d had this when I was alive. I really do.”

  “Me too. But let’s be grateful for what we did have. Deal?”

  Mallory smiled wistfully. “Deal.”

  “I need to get up. I need some coffee.”

  Carolina padded down the stairs with Mallory and started the coffee. She walked through the living room and stood in the foyer where everything had gone down the day before. Her mind replayed the scenario and she flinched when the vase hit the floor. Nathan must have cleaned up the mess.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Mallory said, sitting on the stairs.

  “Just thinking how you’re going to be gone, and I’ll be alone. Just when I’ve gotten used to you being around.”

  “Well, Mr. State Policeman looks pretty comfortable here.” Mallory pointed to Nathan sleeping on the couch. He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday and had pulled the throw from the back of the sofa down to cover his arms.

  She was glad he’d stayed. Back in the kitchen, Carolina poured coffee into two mugs and made her way back to the living room.

  Nathan was just sitting up when Carolina set the coffee on the end table beside his gun. “Is Mallory here?” he asked.

  “Yes. Why?”

  “I heard you talking to someone.” He yawned. “I guess you got the answer to your question.”

  “What question?”

  “About if she had crossed over yet or not.”

  “Oh. Yeah. She’s still here. I just don’t know for how long.”

  Carolina sat on the couch by his feet and sipped her coffee.

  “I have to leave for a while.” Mallory sauntered across the room and stood by the window. “I’ll be back later.”

  “Don’t go without saying goodbye, okay?” Carolina said.

  Mallory smiled. “Never.” She faded out and disappeared.

  “She had to leave just now.”

  Nathan nodded. “How are you this morning? Did you sleep okay?” He picked up the coffee and blew on it before taking a drink.

  “I slept like a rock. I don’t think I even dreamed.”

  “Thanks for the coffee.” He took another drink and sat it back down. “You look rested. That’s good. You needed it.”

  “I need a favor.”

  “Sure,” he said. “What is it?”

  “Will you take me to Mallory’s parents’ house? I have something for her mom.”

  “Sure. When do you want to go?”

  “I need to pull myself together first.” She stood.

  “What do you have for her?” he asked.

  “Come on.” She motioned for him to follow her up the stairs to her art room. She pulled the drop cloth off the painting she’d done of Mallory sitting in the library.

  “Wow. Carolina ...”

  “You think she’ll like it?”

  “I think she’ll love it. It’s beautiful.”

  Chapter 13

  The Kra
mer house was more of a mansion than a house, two stories of beige brick with expertly shaped shrubs and colorful flowers on either side of the large cement porch. This house exuded class and sophistication, the place where big parties, hosting important people, took place.

  Nathan drove up the long entrance road and pulled into the circular driveway. In the center, a three-tiered fountain bubbled water over its ledges. He parked behind a new-looking white BMW.

  Carolina climbed the steep steps and knocked on the tall double doors. Looking over her shoulder at Nathan, she thought maybe she should have called first.

  He stood behind her holding the painting, covered with brown paper and smiled. “Knock again.”

  Her hands shook, but she managed to rap on the door once more.

  A young man smartly dressed in khakis and a polo shirt opened the door. He looked at Carolina and then to Nathan. “Yes?”

  She tried to smile and keep her voice even. “Hi. I’m Carolina Sinclair. I’m a friend of Mallory’s. Is Mrs. Kramer here?”

  “Yeah. She’s here. Just a second.” He closed the door.

  A moment later, Mallory’s mother appeared in the doorway and smiled weakly. Her hair was flat, and she wore no makeup but still bore a striking resemblance to her beautiful daughter. “Hello, Carolina.” She stepped aside, pulling the door open farther. “Please, come in.”

  “Thank you.” Carolina stepped inside with Nathan in tow. “I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced, Mrs. Kramer.”

  She shook her head. “Not to worry, honey.” Mrs. Kramer looked at Nathan and pushed up the sleeves of her brown cardigan. “Nice to see you, Detective Claiborne.”

  “Likewise, ma’am.” They followed her into a dynamic sitting room.

  The space was done in dark reds and greens. Two overstuffed chairs framed a stone fireplace. She motioned for them to sit on the overstuffed couch.

  “Can I offer you something to drink?” Mrs. Kramer looked back and forth between the two of them.

  Carolina looked at Nathan and smoothed her skirt over her knees. “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Nathan put his hand up. “I’m good.”

  “Okay. So, what brings you over?” Mrs. Kramer sat in one of the chairs by the fireplace and crossed her legs at the ankles.

  “I have something for you,” Carolina began. She looked down and tried to think about how to best present the painting.

  The woman smiled warmly. “You do?”

  “Yes. I’m kind of an amateur artist, and I painted something I thought you might like to have.”

  Nathan slid the wrapped canvas to Mrs. Kramer.

  She sat up in her chair and carefully picked at the taped corners and pulled off the paper. Her mouth opened but no words came out. She held the painting in place with one hand, and her other hand rested on her chest where her fingers fondled a gold cross pendant. “Oh, my word.”

  She swallowed hard and looked up at Carolina. “You painted this? Of Mallory?”

  “I know it’s not much, but I thought you might like to have it. I paint in my spare time. It’s just a hobby.”

  Tears welled up in the woman’s eyes. “It’s beautiful.” She touched the picture. “It looks so real. And where is this? I don’t recognize the background.”

  “Thank you. It’s in my library.”

  “Did Mallory visit you before she ...? When did you paint this?”

  Mallory knelt beside the painting and smiled at her mother. “Tell her I’m here.”

  Carolina pulled at the hem of her dress nervously and shook her head.

  “Please, Carolina. I need you to tell her something for me. Something about this.” Mallory reached inside her shirt and pulled out a cross pendant, just like the one her mother wore.

  “Um ... Mrs. Kramer?”

  “Yes?”

  “I know this is going to sound weird, but Mallory is here. She’s sitting beside the painting.” Carolina glanced at Nathan who looked down at his shoes.

  Mrs. Kramer blinked and pursed her lips. “Honey ...”

  Mallory turned to Carolina. “Tell her I didn’t hate the necklace she gave me on my fourteenth birthday, and I’m sorry I made her cry.”

  Carolina relayed the message.

  Mrs. Kramer shifted in her seat. “How do you know about that?”

  “Mallory just told me.”

  Mallory inched closer to her mother. “Tell her I’m sorry I lost her diamond ring on prom night. I didn’t put it back in her jewelry box like I said I did.”

  The more information Carolina related to Mrs. Kramer, the more her demeanor softened. She lifted a trembling hand to her mouth. “You really can see her?”

  Carolina nodded. “Yes, I really can.”

  “I painted this picture of her in my library a week ago. She was wearing the pendant.”

  The woman looked at the picture and her breath hitched. “Oh ... Oh, my goodness. And she’s really here? Right now?” Her eyebrows rose, and she smiled.

  “Yes. She’s right there.” Carolina pointed.

  Mrs. Kramer looked around, searching the space where Mallory sat. “Tell her I love her, please.”

  “Mallory can hear you.”

  Mrs. Kramer leaned the painting against the coffee table and got down on her knees. “Baby.” She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. “I miss you so much. I want you back.”

  “I miss you, too, Momma.”

  Carolina acted as an interpreter—so to speak—relaying Mallory’s words to her mother.

  “I’m so sorry this happened. Are you okay now?”

  “I’m okay. I miss you. But I’m okay,” Mallory said and leaned forward. She kissed her mother’s cheek.

  Her mother gasped and touched her face. “Did she touch me? I felt her.” She inhaled sharply. “Oh, my God. I can smell her.” The tears flowed down her cheeks, and she looked at Carolina. She fisted her hands and smiled through her tears. “I can smell her.”

  Carolina fought to hold her composure, but tears welled up in her eyes, too. “She kissed you.”

  “I have to go now, Momma. I want you to know I’m sorry for all the heartache I caused you. If I could take it all back, I would. I love you. Kiss Daddy for me.” Mallory crawled to her mother as if to embrace her and fell right through her and disappeared.

  Her mother sat back hard and hugged herself and cried. “She’s gone, isn’t she?”

  Carolina wiped her eyes. “Yes.” She turned to Nathan. “I think we should go.”

  He nodded and stood.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Kramer, for seeing me.”

  The woman scrambled to her feet and wrung her hands. “Carolina. Dear God. I don’t know what to say. I’m at a loss.”

  “You don’t have to say anything, ma’am.”

  She crossed the room and drew Carolina into her arms. “You are special. Very special and I thank you. So much.”

  Carolina embraced her. “Thank you. Thank you for saying that.”

  “You are welcome in my home anytime. Please, remember that.”

  “I will.” Carolina smiled.

  On the drive back, Carolina couldn’t stop smiling. Finally, someone who didn’t think she was crazy. She was able to do something good from all this madness.

  “Are you hungry?” Nathan asked.

  “Actually, I am. Very hungry.”

  “Let’s stop and get some food then. What do you want?”

  “IHOP?”

  “You got it.” He laughed. “Where is that?”

  She gave him directions and stared out the window as the scenery sped by. “She believed me.”

  “I know. That was really amazing. I could almost feel Mallory myself.”

  “I’ve never had that kind of interaction. I don’t know most of the ghosts who show up. Mallory was different. She was closer.”

  “I can see that.”

  “I’ve never had a friend like her before.”

  Nathan’s cell phone rang. “Hang on. I need to take this.” He
picked up the call and mostly listened. Interjecting a “Are you sure?” here and an “okay” there. The call lasted all of two minutes before he disconnected.

  “That was Singleton. They searched the flower guy’s apartment. He’s definitely our perp.”

  Carolina turned in her seat. “Really? What did they find?”

  “I can’t tell you that. You’ll just have to trust me that he’s the guy, and the DNA tests will confirm it. Then we can close this godforsaken case.”

  Back at her house, they sat on the couch and tried to watch a movie.

  “What you did today was amazing,” Nathan said. “You gave Mallory’s mother something completely priceless. You gave her a second chance.”

  “It felt good, to help them both find closure. Do you think she really liked the painting?”

  “Are you kidding? Did you see her face? She was in awe.”

  Carolina smiled. “That makes me happy. I’d like to keep in touch with her.”

  “You should. I think she’d like that very much.”

  “I have an idea of how Mallory felt right before he killed her.” Carolina swallowed hard. “I’ve never been so afraid and felt so hopeless as I did at that moment.”

  “Do you want to tell me more about what happened? Sometimes it helps to talk it out.”

  “There’s nothing more to tell. But thanks. I’m tired. I think I need to sleep.”

  With Douglas cuddled up against her hip, Carolina wondered if maybe there could be something between her and Nathan. She wouldn’t be disappointed if there were.

  Chapter 14

  Mallory stood in front of the marble marker. How odd it must feel to stand before her own headstone.

  “Mallory’s here,” Carolina said to Nathan. She’d asked him to drive her to the cemetery. Mallory had told her she thought it would be today. That she’d be crossing over.

  “Do you want me to wait in the car?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Give me a minute.” Carolina’s eyes welled up. “She’s not alone. I think this is it.”

  Nathan reached out and squeezed her hand. “Are you going to be okay?”

  She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I don’t have a choice. I have to be.”