The Dead And Buried Part 23

"You tell me. What keeps you up at night?" The prospect of finally getting the truth emboldened me.

"Is this some kind of game?" He shook his head. "You're loonier than I thought."

"I know all about Kayla," I blurted. "How she cheated on Donovan with you."

Kane's eyes narrowed. "It wasn't cheating," he snapped, not even bothering to deny it. "It was the start of a new relationship. She finally realized that I was the guy for her."

"Then why was it a secret?"

He held my gaze for a moment. "Because she wasn't heartless. She had to find a way to break it off with Donovan."

"Here's a way." I heightened my voice an octave and said, "'Hey, Donovan, I'm seeing someone else. We're done.'" I returned to my own tone. "How hard was that?"

Kane's eye twitched. "Maybe she did it that day and that's why she's dead. Did you ever think of that? She dumped Donovan for me and he killed her."

"That would be a great theory, except Faye told Donovan about you guys. And Donovan broke up with Kayla that day. Not the other way around."

"I'm sure that's what he told you," Kane said defensively.

"Actually Faye told me. Last night. But that's not all I learned overnight. I found out the real reason Kayla finally gave in to you."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

I paused to add a moment of drama before I dropped the hammer. I arched one eyebrow and said, "Pity."

He flinched as if I'd slapped him. "Excuse me?"

"She was taking away your future, your dreams. And - like you said - she wasn't completely heartless. So she gave you something in return. Something else you've always wanted. Her."

"What are you talking about, my future?" His defensive tone turned confused.

"I know about the money."

He shrugged, then crossed his arms over his chest. "Clue me in, then."

I swallowed hard. This was the moment. I was ready to drop the bomb and see the guilt on his face. "The a.s.sumption was always that you'd get the Bodiford Scholarship. You were the one who fit the requirements: all-state athlete with the highest cla.s.s rank. But Kayla would have gotten it if her parents' wealth didn't disqualify her."

"Yeah, and ..."

I thought back to the entry in Kayla's diary when she found out her parents' secret. Her father had lost his job. But appearances mattered more than anything to the Sloanes so the spending continued, the lifestyle went on. Until they couldn't hide it from Kayla anymore. They were in debt. Their money was gone.

Suddenly, she had to worry about how she was going to pay for college - something that had never crossed her mind before. But then she realized, with her parents' wealth gone, she qualified for the Bodiford Scholarship. Kane's scholarship. She and Kane were both all-state, but her cla.s.s rank was higher. It was hers now.

"She found out the money wasn't there," I said. "Her parents were broke."

"That's not true." Kane shook his head. "Her parents still have money."

"Have you been to their new address?"

"No, but -"

"It's an act. They pretend everything's the same, they cling to it because it's all they have left. But the money's gone. Kayla suddenly fit the requirements for the scholarship. And she was going to take it. That's why she finally showed you some affection, after all those years, even though she loved Donovan. Because she felt bad for what she was about to do to you. That was how she dealt with her guilt."

His eyes watered as he continued to shake his head. "It's not true. It can't be true. How would you even know this?"

He seemed genuinely surprised, but I wasn't going to fall for the act. "I found what you broke into my house looking for. Kayla's diary. Kayla's own words show your motive."

His face reddened. "You think I killed her?" he asked incredulously.

"That's why I'm here, yeah."

He was absolutely still for a moment and something in his stunned eyes made my stomach tighten.

"Jade, I was playing in a lacrosse game the afternoon Kayla was killed."

I opened my mouth to retort, but my nerve faltered.

He let out a long pained sigh. "I scored three goals. You can look it up."

I stumbled back a step. He had an alibi. A solid one, too. I'd been so sure after I read the diary. It had all clicked into place. It all made sense. But now ...

A concerned female voice behind him called out, "Kane? Who is it? What's going on?"

I started walking backward, my throat dry and my face in flame. "I, um, have to go."

Defeated and hopeless, I came home and went up to my room. The school's website confirmed Kane's alibi. I scrolled down to last season's schedule and, yep, he'd been playing a game that day. His goals were listed right there in the public record. He hadn't killed Kayla. I was back to square one. I knew nothing.

My heart heaved, equal parts anguish and fear burning in my chest.

The diary lay open on the bed beside me, almost mocking me. I thought it would have the answers but it only gave me more questions.

Almost everyone in Kayla's life had a reason to kill her. She'd bullied Alexa. Used a giant lie to ruin Faye and Kane's chance at a relationship. Cheated on Donovan. Plus countless other pranks and random hazings. It was like a manual for mean girls. No wonder she didn't want anyone reading it.

I turned onto my side and curled up, closing my eyes. I'd been tired plenty of times in my life. But this was an exhaustion I'd never felt before. Full body depletion. Gauge on empty. I had nothing left. I didn't even dream.

Something woke me, hours later. I gazed around the room through half-lidded eyes. My shade was up but the sky was already turning gray. I'd slept through most of the day. I pushed myself up into a sitting position, wondering what had woken me from a hard sleep. As my senses came to life, I realized what it was.

A chill slowly crept into the room. I felt Kayla's now familiar energy sweeping around me. I didn't have to see her to know she was angry and impatient. I could feel it in the air. She wanted me to talk.

I closed my eyes and pressed the palms of my hands into them, hoping she'd just go away. That if I ignored her, she'd disappear. But a rush of energy blasted at my face and swirled all around me like concentrated wind. With it came an instantaneous deep freeze that I felt through my skin and into my bones.

My eyes snapped open at the sounds of shuffling paper. The diary was still on the bed next to me, but its pages were being flipped back and forth by an angry unseen hand.

I knew what she wanted to ask. What did you find out? Where did you go? Who did this to me?

"I don't know!" I shouted. "I thought it was Kane. He had the biggest motive, but I was wrong. It wasn't him. And I'm no closer to finding the truth than I was at the beginning."

The pages stopped flipping.

I inched back on the bed, away from the diary, the silence scaring me more than anything. My back hit the headboard and I pulled my knees up to my chest. My whole body trembled.

The diary rose up by itself and flew across the room, smashing into the mirror on my vanity.

My eyes watered and I squeezed them shut, not allowing the tears to spill down my cheeks. "You'll never know who did it and you have to accept that," I said, forcing a stern, confident tone. "Release the house. Leave my brother alone!" I opened my eyes. "It's time to move on, Kayla."

I sat in silence for several beats, waiting for whatever she'd try next, but nothing happened. My senses were so jacked up that I couldn't tell if her energy was still with me or not. Sweat beaded on my forehead. I tentatively stretched my legs out and slipped off the side of the bed. Stood in the center of the room. Waited.

Nothing.

Tears flowed freely from my eyes. Tears of fear and disappointment. I'd failed. I was desperate. There was only one thing left I could do, no matter the consequences.

My feet pounded down the hall. Colby called out from his room, "Jade?" But I kept going, down the stairs, into the living room where Dad and Marie were watching TV.

Dad sat up straighter in his spot on the sofa. "What's wrong?"

"What was that bang?" Marie asked.

"It was her," I spat, more angry than frightened now. "She's haunting this house. She's been threatening Colby. You didn't believe me before, and I tried to handle this myself. Tried to give her what she wanted to save Colby. But I failed, so now I need you to believe me. We have to get out of here!"

Marie crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, immediately on the defensive. She wasn't going to believe me. Again. Dad looked back and forth between us in confusion. Hot, angry tears burned my eyes.

"You have to believe me," I repeated. "We have to leave."

Small, slow footsteps sounded behind me. Colby was coming downstairs. I was about to open my mouth and continue the fight right in front of him, but something in Dad's eyes made me stop. His expression was uneasy and that frightened me more than anything else had.

Colby plodded forward with awkward jerky steps, his head tilted to the side. No one said a word. All eyes followed him as he came up beside me. His lips curled slowly into a disturbing and decidedly un-Colby-like smile.

"No one's leaving." Colby's sweet childlike voice was gone, replaced with an older, knowing voice that was familiar only to me.

Marie pressed her fist to her mouth, suppressing a scream.

Dad stood quickly, arms stretched out toward his son.

"Sit down," Not Colby barked.

Dad fell back to the couch, his eyes wide with panic. Marie's olive skin paled in horror.

This was it. My punishment for failing Kayla. The air tightened around me like strong arms across my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Not Colby turned and met my eyes. My heart seized as a wave of chills spread over my body.

"Finish what you started," he/she said, calmly, but with underlying menace. "Get me what I want."

I fought against the fear, reached out, and planted two strong hands on his shoulders. "You've made your point," I hissed. "Get out of him."

Not Colby gave me one last evil grin, then his eyes rolled up. I caught him as he collapsed and Kayla's spirit left. I wrapped him in my arms and pulled him close, putting my ear to his mouth. He was breathing, but his body was already heating up with the fever.

Dad sat motionless, hands on his knees. Marie's body trembled, but at the same time she seemed frozen, her unblinking eyes glued to Colby. Then they both looked at me, seemingly for answers, like I was the parent and they were my children, huddling on the couch.

"Dad," I said. "Take Colby, put him in the car." I stood, scooping Colby up into my arms and handed him off.

"Marie," I ordered. "Pack a bag. Quickly. Bring the Children's Tylenol."

Tears rolled down her face as she nodded.

I glanced at the walls one more time and said to the air, "We're getting out of here."

I grabbed Kayla's diary, my mother's jewelry box, and nothing else. I called Alexa on the way and asked if it was cool if we spent the night. Not wanting to go into details, I said the house had a gas leak that was being worked on.

I'd figured we could sleep in an extra bedroom but Alexa's family actually had a separate guesthouse in the back. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room slash kitchenette. Alexa's parents offered to cook us a big dinner, but we explained that Colby wasn't feeling well so they left us to tend to him. Which was good. We needed privacy.

Night fell and Colby slept peacefully in one of the bedrooms, Tylenol in his system and cold cloths on his forehead. Dad, Marie, and I settled around a little table in the kitchenette. They each sipped from mugs as I told them everything. What Colby had been through. What I'd been through.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Dad asked.

"I told her." I pointed at Marie. "I tried talking to her about Colby seeing a ghost. Not only did she not believe me, she threatened me. And then I was supposed to tell her Colby had been possessed? She would've had me committed."

Dad looked to Marie, possibly for her to defend herself, but she didn't. She sat still and quiet, eyes on her clasped hands.

"Well then why didn't you tell me?" he asked, returning his eyes to mine.

"You would have taken her side and you know it," I said softly.

"That's not fair, Jade," he snapped.

"Leave her alone," Marie said, lifting her face. "Don't you see? It's our job to protect the children and we failed. Jade came to me and I pushed her away. None of this is her fault."

Dad pulled his hands through his hair and groaned. "You're right. I'm sorry. All that matters is that we're safe now. We'll figure something out. Sell the house. I don't know." The chair screeched against the floor as he stood. "I'm going to check on Colby."

He closed the bedroom door behind him, leaving Marie and me alone in the tiny kitchen. I didn't know what to say. I was surprised that she'd stood up for me. Seeing Colby change in front of her own eyes must have shocked her into believing.

Marie smeared a tear off her cheek. "I want to tell you how grateful I am for all you did to try to save my little boy."

"He's not just your son, you know," I muttered. "He's my brother. I'd do anything for him."

"I realize that and I'm sorry for the things I said." She gave me a long look. "I know I've made mistakes since we became a family, but you didn't exactly come with a manual."

"You didn't come with a stepmom instruction booklet, either." I waited a beat and admitted, "I suppose we both could've been easier on each other."

I glanced at the wall clock. It was getting late. I figured it was time for us to both head to bed, but Marie quietly said, "You don't call me Mom."

I was surprised at the pain in her voice. It had never been my intention to hurt her. I twisted my hands as I struggled to explain. "I already have a mother. I felt like it would be betraying her if I called you that. I don't call you by your first name out of disrespect. I just can't do Mom."

"I understand," she said, nodding lightly. "It just felt like you never accepted me."

"But it's not like you accepted me, either. You barely look at me."

Her eyes slid to mine. "Because you're the image of her."