that I could get a good view of the whole area in cause this thing returned. If there was something out there it wouldn’t be able to hide for long.
Elvis had jumped up with me. I had so been enjoying the serenade. Whoever spoiled my fun needed a swift kick in the rear.
“Do you think something is out there?” Elvis asked from over my shoulder.
It was nice having Elvis around the house. His presence made me feel safe.
“Yes, I’m sure something is out there,” I said softly.
“I’ll go check it out.”
I looked at him. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course I would. What are friends for?” He winked.
I followed Elvis to the front of the house and watched as he disappeared through the front door. From the side window, I watched as he moved from tree to tree. After a minute, he looked back at me and shook his head. I stepped out on the porch as he walked up.
“There’s nothing out there. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a stray cat or a raccoon.”
It was an awfully loud cat or raccoon if it had been, but I didn’t mention this to Elvis. I was just thankful that he’d looked for me.
“Thank you,” I said. “Maybe it’s gone for good now.”
He nodded. “Why don’t you get back inside and get some rest? You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”
As I turned to head back into the house, a rustling noise caught my attention and we both whirled around. From behind one of the trees someone moved, then slipped away into the night.
Elvis floated off in pursuit, but I wasn’t sure he’d catch up with her. The person looked just like Karyn, but I knew it couldn’t be her. Well, I supposed it could have been, but why would she be outside my home when she was supposed to be in Texas? The person had moved normally at first, but then it was as if she glided away. Karyn couldn’t glide anywhere as far as I knew. No one could except for the ghosts. But this was no ghost, I sensed it. If anyone knew the difference, I did.
The person I’d seen had long blonde hair and was the same size as Karyn. I’d even gotten a good look at the side of her face, which made me even more confused. It really looked like her. But Karyn wouldn’t have dashed off like that without saying something to me. We’d grown to be friends in the very short time that I’d known her.
Elvis floated back. He furrowed his brow. “I don’t know where she went to. I was sure I could catch up to whoever it was, but she was gone like a rabbit. And I float fast. She was supercharged.”
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “It looked like my friend, but she’s in Texas.”
“Well, like I said, this person just seemed to disappear. You say it looked like your friend. What was her name?”
“Karyn,” I filled in for him.
“Would she come here? What would she be doing here at this time of night?”
“I have no idea, but I’m going to find out.” I ran inside and grabbed my phone from the table.
As I listened to the phone ring, Candy Cherry sidled up next to me. Oh goodie, my favorite ghost. Just the person I wanted to see. I tilted my head in the opposite direction, trying to give her the hint that it was a private conversation and to get lost.
“Would you please stop tapping your fingers on that table? You’re giving me a headache,” she said.
“What is your problem? You’re dead. How can you have a headache?” I snapped while waiting for Karyn to pick up.
Three rings. Four rings. No answer yet.
She huffed. “Now you’re just being mean. Do you think I don’t know I’m dead? I have emotions, you know. I do have feelings.” She gave a fake sniffle.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh no, you don’t. Don’t give me that line of bull.”
Five rings. Six rings. Just when I thought the voice mail would pick up, Karyn answered. Her groggy hello reminded me of the time. I’d temporarily forgotten how rude it was to call at one a.m., but it was kind of an emergency. Besides, if she really had been the one running away, then I knew she would pretend she’d been asleep. But why would she lie to me?