Page 20 of Ghost Girl

‘And how do you propose we do that?’ she retorted.

‘We’ll figure it out.’

‘That’s not good enough. We can’t just go in half-cocked and rely on luck. People aredying, Chance,’ she pointed out hotly.

‘Exactly. We’re the only ones who have any possible idea what’s going on. If we don’t do anything about it, who will?’

‘Okay, that’s enough,’ Ashe cut in, glancing between me and Gloria as much as she could while still focusing on the road. ‘You’ve both brought up very valid points, but there’s nothing we can do right now. I agree that we should head back to the campsite and think things over. Chance is right that we’re the only ones who will be either willing or capable of doing anything to fix things. Plus, when our priest arrives, we’ll have another weapon in our arsenal. However, Gloria is also right. We need to seriously consider the implications of staying and continuing the investigation. This is serious.’

‘To the campsite, then,’ I agreed, and Gloria grumbled her acquiescence while biting her nails. The sound was grating, but her nerves were more frayed than my own, so I didn’t make a fuss about it. I couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like to witness the entities the way she did, let alone ones that were suffering. Usually, she avoided them as much as she could and asking her to stick around to face horrors only she was privy to was a big ask.

But at the end of the day, if there was something paranormal killing the folks of Klamath County, didn’t we have a moral obligation to do something about it? We dealt with death every day, but typically not when it was so fresh. Yet, death was still death, and we were still paranormal investigators. If we could help, shouldn’t we?

Except, these people surrounding me, my friends, my chosen family, they didn’t have the same mindset as me. They had something more to live for, whereas my reason for existence was torn from me seven long years ago. I was barely hanging on as it was, but could I drag these people into danger with me if it came down to it?

I didn’t know.

I already knew in my heart that I was staying, but I wouldn’t begrudge the others if they decided it was too much for them. I didn’t want them getting hurt. The decision was theirs, and whatever their choice, I would respect it.

My phone buzzed again inside my pants pocket, jolting me from my thoughts. I groaned as I pulled it out, dreading the name I would find flashing on the small screen. My eyebrows shot up when I saw who was calling, however, and I tentatively answered, my curiosity winning out.

‘Dakota?’

‘Chance, thank fuck. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you forages,’ my sister-in-law’s voice came through harried and a little nervous.

‘Is everything okay? Has something happened?’ I asked, my thoughts immediately drifting to Kali’s cold case, but I quickly pushed those hopes down.

‘Yes. Well, sort of. I’m so sorry, Chance. I tried to stop them, but I couldn’t.’

I frowned. ‘Stop who? What’s going on?’

But as we pulled into the campsite, my question was already answered. There they stood, Dakota with Blake, Calvin on his other side. And standing right next to my mother?

Fucking Florence.

Dakota turned at the sound of our wheels crunching over the stones, her expression anxious and apologetic. Into the phone, she whispered low so the others wouldn’t hear her. ‘I’m sorry, Chance. I tried.’

My forehead smacked against the back of Ashe’s headrest as I sagged in my seat, already exhausted from this new development, but it was Ashe who vocalised what we were all thinking.

‘Well, that’s just fucking great.’

Chapter 8

Dakota

Chance’s expression was withdrawn and tired when he exited the van, and I caught my lip between my teeth as I watched him approach. We’d never been close, but I still cared for him. I wanted to change our relationship for the better, but Blake told me he’d taken his late wife’s disappearance a lot harder than anyone, including him. Something about them being childhood friends.

I knew not to take it personally, so I’ve been patient. Recently, however, since the wedding, I decided it was time to finally push a bit harder to close that gap. Being ambushed by the very people he was so eager to run from, family or not, was not the best way to begin those efforts.

I might have succeeded in holding Mallory back, and consequently Calvin and Florence, if it weren’t for Blake’s unusual eagerness to join. I hadn’t had a moment to ask him why he was so adamant that we join everyone for the impromptu camping trip, but I intended to as soon as we found a moment alone.

‘What are you doing here?’ Chance asked as soon as he was close enough, but kept himself at a distance, refusing to welcomeus. I didn’t blame him, especially when his eyes flickered briefly to where Florence was batting her oversized fake lashes at him.

‘We just wanted to support you in your… hobby,’ Mallory finished lamely, the sincerity completely lacking in her tone. I never liked the woman. She was just as fake as the other society women. I fully believed she had once been a woman of kindness and morals until her induction into wealth. Now, however, she was constantly searching for some means to control and micro-manage every aspect of the lives around her. I had become quite adept at giving her what she wanted without actually giving her anything, but, like now, I couldn’t win every battle.

‘Mycareer,’ he stressed with a sneer, ‘has never been of any interest to you so far. Why now?’

‘Chance, don’t go making a scene. We’ve come to support you. You should be grateful. Why are you not happy to see us?’ Mallory simpered, laying her trap.

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