had to dissect the frog in Biology lab. Heidi tripped and spilled her lunch tray when some freshman ran into her. Skye had been kind enough to share her lunch with her friend and vowed revenge on the freshman scum who’d caused the accident. Lisa had a bad hair day nearly every day.
There wasn’t anything juicy in the diary until a month before the murder. Ten read the entry quickly and then again more slowly when he realized how important the words were.
Dear Diary. I’m in love. Not puppy love or whatever lame-ass thing adults say about teenagers in love. If I could run away with Kyle tonight, I would. He’s so awesome with his dark hair and eyes and the way he looks in his football pants. I want him to be my first, and I know he wants me too.
They were going to have to find out who this Kyle person was. It shouldn’t be too hard with the clue that he was a football player. Unless of course Kyle didn’t play for Salem High School. Ten shook his head. He had one clue. That was enough for now.
Turning the page, Ten went back to reading.
“Pretty nice house you’ve got here,” a voice said out of nowhere.
“Skye, is that you?” Tennyson asked. He looked around the room, but saw no trace of her.
“What do you want with me? After all this time. What could you possibly want?” With those words, an older woman materialized in front of Tennyson.
If he had to guess, Ten would say Skye was in her forties, not that it mattered. She looked as if Ten’s bedroom was the last place she wanted to be. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but your murder is still unsolved.”
Skye sighed and looked as if she might vanish again.
“Wait! Please, don’t go!” Ten held his hand up, hoping to stop the spirit from leaving. “I know it’s been three and a half decades since your death. You might have moved on, but your parents haven’t. I was in your childhood bedroom today, and it looks just like it did the last time you saw it.”
The hard look on Skye’s face softened. She took a seat on the high-backed chair near the closet. “I’m not angry or vengeful. I’ve just moved on.”
Tennyson had expected Skye to say something like this. “Let me ask you this, do you know who killed you?”
Skye was silent for a few minutes. Ten let her have all the time she needed. “I’m not sure I do. It was so traumatic and unexpected. That I do remember.”
Ten wasn’t sure if he believed her or not. He had a gut feeling Skye knew more than she was telling. “Have you spent any time around your family since your passing?” He figured this would be a good question to start with. The answer would tell him a lot.
“No, none at all.” Skye smiled at him. “When I died, my grandmother was waiting for me. She took me away from the scene of the crime and made sure I walked into the light. She told me there was nothing left for me here and set about making sure I found my way into heaven.”
Tennyson sat with that information for a few seconds. Skye had been brutally murdered, and she’d had someone there for her to take her away from the madness of the situation. Ten thought the idea of it was lovely, but it didn’t do so much to help with their case. “I have to tell you how torn I am at the moment.”
“What do you mean?” Skye looked as if she were fully engaged in what Ten was saying.
“I’ve had this gift since I was thirteen years old. I can’t tell you how many times spirits have come to me looking for help reuniting them with family or getting revenge on the person who killed them. This is the first time I’ve ever spoken to someone with your story. I was expecting you to be full of rage over your murder, or ready to tell me who did it.”
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think it matters. If my parents are still grieving for me, they need to get over it. I’m fine.” Skye stood up and did a slow turn. “I’m whole again. You tell my parents what I’ve said. It’s been nice chatting with you, Tennyson. I wish you all the very best, but I don’t want to see or speak with you