Oh wow.
She points a finger in my face. "If you tell anyone…"
I hold up my hand. "I won't. I promise."
We watch the rain splatter across the windshield for a few moments.
"I'm sorry I told my dad," I say.
She takes a deep breath. "I knew owning something so nice was too good to be true."
Darn, I feel awful. "What happens to Linzy's acting money now that she's dead?"
Shayla turns and stares at me. She widens her eyes. "I don't know."
"Maybe you'll be able to keep it."
"Yeah. Hey I didn't mean to scare you. I just didn't know how to ask."
I nod. "I get it." She just apologized. I should've taped this moment.
"I should go in," she says and turns off the engine.
"Sure." I grab the handle and brace myself. "See ya," I say and open the door.
One leg out and I'm already drenched again. Geez, this is crazy.
I run to my house without falling or almost destroying personal property. A bolt of lightning lights up the front of my house and even down my hall. I left the door open. That was bright, Piper. If Dad saw this, he'd be pissed.
I leap up the steps and charge inside, trying to make it before the thunder. I'm too late. I yelp and laugh then slam the door shut. The floor is soaked. I need to clean up before Dad gets home.
I flip on the upstairs hall light and run up. I peel off my shirt and open the linen closet to grab a couple of towels.
Lightning flashes, brightening my room.
I thought I left my lamp on.
Suddenly a shadow moves.
"Dad?"
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
My heart slams against my chest.
The shadow moves toward me but remains in my room, far enough from the hall light that I can't make out who it is. But the tall, slender figure is definitely a person. And it's not Dad.
Ohmigod, maybe there are robberies in this neighborhood. And here I am, dripping on the floor, in my shorts and sports bra.
Run!
I drop the towels and take off for the stairs. I'm barely on the third step when the figure grabs my shoulder to yank me back. I lean forward and gravity takes hold.
That falling sensation fills my belly, and I reach out to brace myself, but it's no use. I roll down the stairs and land in a heap at the bottom. I uncurl myself like a cat and glance upstairs.
The intruder has followed me down, just on the second to last step, and still in the shadows. I can just make out black pants and hoodie, but his face is hiding under that hood, and even with the crackling lightning, I can't make out the details. I get the feeling I know this person though, and that makes my pulse race faster.
I scramble to my feet. Everything tilts for a second but soon rights itself back up. There's no time for dizziness or aches and pains. I turn to the door, even though I know I won't make it.
Once again, he grabs my shoulder and pushes me away, shoving me into the wall.
Stay on your feet. Stay alert. Stay alive.
I repeat the words as I stumble into Dad's office. I race for the desk, as if its barrier will prevent my death. Like a child hiding under a blanket. This is why people get killed in horror movies. There's no common sense when you're panicked and running for your life.
My brain isn't total mush because I angle Dad's lamp toward the door, so when my own, personal Buffalo Bill enters I see his face.
Except it's not a he.
It's Bridget.
What the…?
She must realize I know it's her because she smiles. Her mouth may appear friendly, but her eyes are wide and dazed. "Why are you running from me? I'm not going to hurt you."
"Why are you breaking into my house? Why were you in my room?"
She holds up a key. "I'm not breaking in, silly. Although I didn't need to use my key since the door was wide open. I told your Dad I'd stop by and check in on you."
That's right. She's the realtor. She'd have a key. She could walk in and out of any property she leases. There's a thread of logic in there. But it doesn't fit well either, like a bent puzzle piece. Now that I know he's seeing the chief, Dad has no connection to Bridget. Why would he ask her to look in on me and not the Abbotts or even Gabi?
"He didn't mention that."
"I spoke with him just before he left."
That's possible, especially if it was an afterthought and he saw her on his way out. Maybe she came by to ask how things were going. But why did she try to grab me twice? I ask her.
"I figured I'd scared you by how fast you ran and didn't want you to hurt yourself. Are you okay? That must've been some fall."
I don't respond, just stare at her.
She steps closer, and my blood practically cements, like a statue.
"Um, did he tell you where he was going?" I ask. If she knows, then I can relax…and add another item to my biggest embarrassments list.
She cocks her head. "Of course. He went to see Olivia. You do know they've been sneaking around, right?" There's something mischievous about the way she says that last line, like she wants to hurt me.
I nod. Did Dad lie to me? "He told you that? I didn't know you were so close."
"We bonded when he rented this place."
She pushes the hoodie off her head and shakes out her hair, like an actress on a shampoo commercial.
My spine stiffens. I narrow my eyes. "Why are you dressed like that? Where are your red pumps and fancy clothes?"
She giggles, and it sounds as fake as her acrylic nails. "Laundry day."
Yeah, right. There's no way Bridget would be caught dead in jeans and a hoodie, especially drab, black ones. No, she's lying.
My entire body shifts to red alert again. I need to leave, but she's blocking the only way out.
I glance down at the desk. I need a weapon, but all I see is another paper mess. Dad's gonna wish he was neater if I end up dead.
She steps closer, tentative ones because she knows I want to flee.
I inch to my right, closer to the lamp. Maybe if she's close enough I can use it, but I don't want her that close. I need to get out of here.
"What do you want?" I ask.
"I told you…"
"No. Stop. We both know you aren't here to check up on me for my dad. He's with the reporter, not the chief."
Her left eye twitches. "What reporter?"
I jut out my chin. "The one who interviewed Cameron." I glance at his picture on Dad's bulletin board, his smiling, blue eyes and shiny, blonde hair.
"What for?" Bridget asks.
I stare at her, making sure she isn't closer. She glances at Cameron's photo too, and the corner of her mouth droops. Just for a second. But it's long enough for me to realize.
"You're a cougar." That's what Kinley said.
"What?" Her tone is snappy, and I realize I'm making the same mistake movie heroines make—confessing what they know to the crazed, sociopath, just minutes before the final showdown.
"Nothing."
But it's not nothing. Bridget was seeing Cameron. He gave her the charm. Then she killed him, Linzy witnessed it, and Bridget killed Linzy. It was Bridget's car I saw when I spied on Linzy, and it was her car that hit me last night. It has to be. There's no other reason she's here.
Wait. Why is she here if she already has the charm?
I take a step around the desk. "I should be resting. My father will be home soon."
She steps in front of me, and I catch a strong whiff of her perfume. The same one I smelled on Dad the other day. Or I thought it was on him. The lipstick on his collar must've been the chief's, but the perfume?
Ohmigod!
That's the missing piece from last night. When she wrenched the charm from my hand, I smelled her perfume.
I must show something on my face because she narrows her eyes. "None of this would've happened if you hadn't played 'I Spy' and followed that little bitch around."
So she admits it. Sorta. I guess
Linzy and I had more in common than I knew.
I ransack my memories, trying to find all the pieces that don't fit neatly. Instead of my smelling the perfume on Dad, it must've been in the area. She must've been in the area. Which means she was hiding in the garage? No, Dad was just there. Oh crap. She must've been in the basement.
Chills race one another down my back and arms.
The night with the wind gusts, that was Linzy, but what about the fallen chair, the swaying safety chain on the back door? The night Linzy disappeared I heard footsteps on the stairs. I thought it was Dad. Was it? And Linzy swore she didn't tear up the house after Shayla and I got back from seeing April. Was that all Bridget? But doing what?
I mentally gasp. She's been trying to find the charm.
"This isn't your first time sneaking in, is it?" I ask.
Without warning, she shoves me hard.
I stumble back and fall onto Dad's desk.
Before I get a chance to stand back up, she rushes me. I slap her, but it doesn't stop her.
She wraps her hands around my neck and squeezes.
Oh God, this is how she killed Linzy. I don't want to die.
I flail my arms around, trying to reach the lamp, but it's just beyond my grip.
"You stupid children always get in the way."
My vision goes in and out of focus. I pull at her fingers, trying to pry them off. My chest tightens. I try to breathe through my nose, but it's difficult.
A groan sounds behind her, and suddenly she's lifted off me.
I'm lightheaded and gravity wins. As I crumble to the floor, I swipe Dad's paper with me. I take big, chest-rising breaths and cough and sputter.
Crashing sounds explode around me. A low growl mixed with a high-pitched scream adds to the commotion.
What's happening?
I focus on the room and see Linzy on her blue, magic blanket ride on Bridget's back.
Bridget is more determined to get free than Eli, thrashing and knocking into everything.
Linzy won't be able to hold on forever. I crawl toward the back of the desk, suddenly wishing we had a landline. Upstairs is too far away, and, after last night, Dad most likely has his on him.
Another crash sounds. I flinch but don't turn around.
Suddenly Bridget grabs my ankle and drags me toward her.
I dig my stubbly finger nails into the throw rug, but it does little good. Then I notice Dad's letter opener amongst the papers. I wrap a firm grip around its handle and turn, sitting up in the process.
Bridget lunges for me.
I push the pointy blade into her stomach.
Her eyes widen, and she looks down.
I do too and pull the blade out. Thick, dark blood oozes from a hole in her hoodie.
She cups her side, trying to stop the bleeding.
I stagger to my feet and head to the door, but the world keeps tilting. Gravity wins again, and I fall to my knees. I close my eyes. I just need a minute. That's all.
Tingling threads of electricity crawl through my hand and up my arm.
I look over.
Linzy is beside me, holding my hand.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Early morning sunlight streams through my windows. The rays are soft and gentle, and the humidity is gone, as if Mother Nature knows I need a break. Last night was the first time I slept without the air conditioner running, just my blanket and the fan. That and the sleeping pill Dad gave me, which he got from the chief, have me feeling physically fine, even if I'm mentally wiped-out.
"Thanks for saving my life." I sit with Linzy on my bed. She's leaving soon. It's a feeling, she says. Plus, she sees the glimpse of the light again.
She scoffs. "Thanks for ending mine."
I look up, startled. "Hey. It's not my fault Bridget broke in and wanted to kill me in case I remembered she tried to mow me down. I was perfectly fine being ignorant."
After those a few electrifying moments on the floor of Dad's office with Linzy, I'd gone upstairs and called 911. As it turns out, the stab wound wasn't that deep, and Bridget will be fine. And on her way to prison. I guess she thought she was dying, so she confessed on the way to the hospital. To having an affair with Cameron and being devastated when he didn't want to see her anymore. She thought he was "the one," despite their secret relationship and his girlfriend. Even old people make stupid mistakes when it comes to love.
She also confessed to killing him, being blackmailed by Linzy, strangling her, and then hitting me with her car. Just as I suspected. As it turns out, Dad came home from his meeting with the reporter with the proof that she's guilty anyway. There's a photo of Cameron during some party, with Bridget in the background. She's sipping a martini and around her wrist is a bracelet with the dangling silver, star charm. It wouldn't have been enough to convict her in court, but it could've been the beginning of finding more proof.
Linzy shrugs. "I guess I can't hang out here forever. I'll eventually get bored. Besides, your room totally lacks in interior design. Plus, no parties, a dad who's home all the time, and nerdy friends? That's not my life."
"No, your life was glamorous and exciting."
She bows her head and smirks. "Yes, but you're luckier."
Seriously? I shrug. A habit I hope to break soon.
Several car doors slam consecutively outside. I get up and go to the window. Mr. Friedman and Miguel pull out of their driveways at the same time, both going to work. I look down the street to Bridget's house. Where does your stuff go when you're imprisoned? All those beautiful clothes. I should inherit them considering she tried to kill me, but I guess I wouldn't want them. Too much bad juju. Who will take over the houses she rents?
The Abbotts' driveway is empty too. They left thirty minutes ago for camp. I watched them pack their trunk with Kinley's bags. I didn't rush down to say good-bye. We did that in the hospital. I'll see her next month, and I'm confident we'll have a load of fun this school year.
"I guess this is it."
I turn to see Linzy standing by my door. Her eyes are bright and she's even smiling. She's ready. I'm not.
Two departures in one day. I don't think I can deal.
She steps over the threshold then stops and looks back. "You can have my Hello Kitty tote bag. Just let Shayla know."
My chest tightens. I have to swallow past the lump in my throat. "I don't think she'll believe me."
Linzy nods. "She will now."
I run after her, not wanting to leave her side until I absolutely have to. Whoa, that's different. It dawns on me, and I feel completely blind.
Linzy's been the best friend I've ever had.
We head downstairs and out the front door. Dad's office is taped off with yellow, crime scene tape. The police don't want us in the house at all, but Dad convinced them, a.k.a. his possible-slash-probable new girlfriend, to let us stay. She agreed as long as we didn't step foot in the room.
I have absolutely no problem with that.
Linzy steps off the porch and lifts her face to the sun. Can she feel it? Probably not, but this is the last time she'll see it. How depressing.
"Hey," I call out, not caring if anyone hears me talking to the air. "Whose baby is Devon carrying, Zach's or Ethan's?"
Linzy looks back. Everything about her expression and demeanor is serene. It's the happiest I've ever seen her. Without an answer, she smiles and steps to the curb.
Dude, not cool.
I follow her to the sidewalk and watch her.
She walks into the middle of the street.
Just then Gabi comes out and goes to her mailbox. She cocks her head and smiles. "How are you?" she asks me.
"I'm good."
She just stands there and stares at me with that goofy grin on her face for a moment. Hopefully she realizes I'm still capable of babysitting, and I didn't attract the crazy in my life. Okay, so maybe I did, but it's over now.
She heads inside as the Friedman gardener pulls onto the street. He rides right through Linzy and pul
ls into the Friedman driveway. When he steps from his truck, he shakes, like he has a chill and heads to their backyard.
Did he feel Linzy too?
I stare down the street, hoping to see whatever Linzy's fixated on, but all I can make out are houses and trees.
She continues her journey, stopping for a moment in front of her house.
Shayla steps outside and picks up the newspaper carelessly thrown onto their lawn. She spots me and gives a half nod before going back in.
I have no idea where we stand. We'll figure it out. Or not. I'm not sure how I feel about her knowing my secret. And for once, I don't need to know.
Linzy moves forward.
Mrs. Jackson's door opens, and Cujo runs out to the edge of their curb. He barks three times at Linzy but then trots over to where our yards meet. He sits and watches me, doesn't bark or act excited like usual. It's as if he senses my sadness and wants me to know he's there.
I chuckle. He's kinda cute when not yappy.
Mrs. Jackson waves.
I wave back.
Linzy gets to the corner, and I hold my breath waiting to see if she'll be thrown back.
She looks over her shoulder at me and smiles. Then she steps past that imaginary line and fades away.
I sigh deeply and blink away my tears.
"What are you staring at?"
I flinch and turn. Troy and Chief Williams are standing beside me. Her car is parked in our driveway. I hadn't even heard them pull up.
I shrug. "Um, nothing. Just, uh…enjoying the weather."
The chief grips my shoulders and pulls me in for a hug. "I'm so glad you're alright."
I rest my cheek against her shoulder and breathe in the scent of baby powder. I'm not sure how I feel about Dad dating the chief, but she's definitely on my side. That I'm sure of. Last night, she was the first one to arrive at the house, and when she saw me, she cried.
When I pull back, I can't help but feel a bit awkward, so I say, "Dad has coffee brewing."
"Just what I need." She pats Troy's arm then goes inside.
Troy and I walk to my porch and sit on the steps. I'm not ready to go inside yet.
"Tell me how in two weeks you managed to catch a killer and solve two murders?" Troy asks.
I Spy Dead People Page 22
