by Kasi Blake
“Why are we here?” Bay-Lee asked.
They were in Nick’s former bedroom in the castle. It was the morning after the funeral and he wanted her to pick something up from his room, but he was being extremely secretive. She wasn’t used to the situation yet, talking to a dead person. Sometimes she wished he would disappear. Losing him was hard. His daily presence only made it worse. He was a constant reminder of what she’d lost.
Nick pointed at the dresser. “Pull the middle drawer out.” She instantly obeyed because it was easier than arguing. “Feel underneath it. There’s an envelope taped to the bottom.”
She pulled the thing free, another manila envelope. Holding it up, she asked, “Is this what I think it is?”
“I kept a copy. When you destroyed the first, I decided to go after the pack myself. I planned to kill the werewolves for you, give you your revenge as a gift all tied up in a shiny bow.” He shrugged, looking frustrated again. “I can’t do it now. If you want them dead, you’ll have to do it yourself.”
She’d been prepared to give up revenge for love, but that option was gone. Since she couldn’t have Nick, she may as well have justice. Smiling at him, she opened the envelope and memorized the address in case something happened to it. “Thank you.”
“Promise me you won’t go after them alone.”
She gave the demand some thought before responding. “I don’t think I have a choice. I am alone.”
“Keisha would be glad to help you, and the girl is good in a fight. You won’t have to beg. She lives for killing monsters.”
“You’re right.”
“Or you can ask Mike.”
“I don’t want to ask your friends for help. That would be an awkward conversation since they blame me for killing you.”
“You didn’t kill me.”
“I was driving.”
“So? The accident still would have happened even if I was behind the wheel. I would have swerved to miss a person in the road.”
“But it wasn’t you driving. It was me. No matter what you say, I’ll never forgive myself for killing you. It should have been me. I should have died instead of you.”
A burst of temper made Nick reach for her shoulders. Perhaps he was going to shake her while repeating the mantra that she wasn’t to blame for his death. His hands passed through her. Frustrated, Nick grabbed the sides of his head and stomped across the room. He tried to kick the wall. His foot went through it without cracking the plaster. It was a good thing it wasn’t like the movies and things didn’t fly through the air or break when he got angry.
He growled deep in his throat. “I can’t even do yoga anymore to calm myself. Being dead is not cool.”
“Why are you here?” she asked, broaching the subject with caution. “I mean, shouldn’t you be in the Spirit Realm?”
Bay-Lee leaned against the dresser and Nick stood next to her. “I went to the Realm when it first happened.”
“Aren’t reapers supposed to cross souls over as soon as they arrive?”
“The reaper tried to cross me over to wherever it is dead people go, but I didn’t want to leave you. I found my way to the hospital and stayed with you, and I’m not leaving you now. Promise. I won’t leave you until you want me to.”
It was a weird situation, but Bay-Lee was feeling better about it by the second. At least she hadn’t totally lost Nick. “Thank you for staying.”
“You’re welcome.” He started to reach out to her. Then the expression on his face changed as he remembered he couldn’t touch her. It was happening less often. Someday he would stop trying. “I can still train you, somehow. I’ll figure out something. I want to teach you.”
“Van will probably assign me to another mentor.” Once the words were out and she heard them, her heart dropped to her stomach. She didn’t want another mentor. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be at the school anymore. Maybe she should buy her boat early and sail away.
Her mind returned to another mystery unsolved. Gavin was dead, but he wasn’t to blame for the murders. She was sure of it. Someone had set him up. They’d done a great job of creating the perfect illusion. A memory sliced into her brain. Not long ago someone had told her how to do just that.
“I know who did it.”
Nick blinked. “Who?”
“I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.” Pacing in front of Nick, she asked, “Who do we know that can pick a pocket without getting caught?”
Looking stunned, he shook his head. “You think Keisha did it? She doesn’t have any more power than Gavin did.”
“Not Keisha.” Bay-Lee explained while her muscles tightened, yearning for action. “I think Maxx hypnotized her to steal things for him so he could do the spell. Then he had her plant the stuff in Gavin’s room so the wraith would kill him and Maxx would be free to continue on. He hated Gavin.” Remembering the party, Bay-Lee said, “You should have seen Gavin’s face when I pulled my necklace from his pocket. I didn’t believe him, but I clearly remember Keisha bumping into him first. That’s why he stumbled into me. She planted the necklace on him. It’s just like picking a pocket in reverse. I know she did it, and Maxx put her up to it. It has to be him.”
Slowly a light dawned in Nick’s eyes. “You’re right. You need to go to Van’s office and tell him.”
“No. I’m going to confront that monster myself.”
“Have you lost your mind? If it is Maxx, you can’t take him on by yourself.”
Ignoring Nick’s warning, she ran out the door, down the stairs and out the front of the castle. Nick was a ghost. If he wanted to, he could pop into Maxx’s office. She was going to confront the teacher. It didn’t occur to her to be frightened. Maxx wouldn’t dare attack her inside of the school, not with three dozen plus hunters nearby.
What if she was wrong about him? She needed evidence, proof, or maybe even a confession.
Besides, she had the feeling Maxx didn’t want her dead. She dashed across the ten acres between castle and school. Excitement drove her. This was it, the moment of truth. She was going to trap a killer.
