down. I played a game on my phone and tried to scroll social media. That often worked to make my eyes get sleepy.
Finally, it worked, but then the moment I closed my eyes to go to sleep, a noise outside the window pulled me back into full wakefulness. Frowning, I got out of bed to look at what in the world could've been outside my house.
The neighborhood looked normal. Streetlights made shadows everywhere, but it was quiet and still.
A flash of a shadow ran across the street from my neighbor’s house. But it was gone before I could get a good look. One of the streetlights flickered a few times. I sighed and rolled my eyes for seeing shadows that didn’t exist.
Scanning the area one more time, I froze and locked gazes with a man standing on the front porch of the house directly across from mine, watching me. He hadn't been there a few seconds ago, nor had I seen movement there to indicate the front door opening.
Narrowing my eyes, I considered sending out a tiny bit of magic to warn whoever it was off. I didn’t, of course, because he was more than likely human. I couldn’t tell from the distance but the odds of him being supernatural were slim.
He sure as hell was staring hard. “Creeper,” I whispered and shut the blinds. I crawled back in bed, deciding that I needed to check around about the disturbing neighbor.
Something was way off about him, and I was going to find out what.
Chapter Three
For the first time, possibly ever, I was awake before the rest of the house. For sure I hadn't been the first one up since Wallie was a little boy. I used to try to get up before him to make sure he didn't get into any trouble around the house.
That had stopped the minute he was old enough to be trusted not to completely burn the house down.
Stretching, I thought about life in Shipton. I’d gotten so used to having Alfred around. He was always up early and had coffee made. I missed my ghoul. Not just because he did all the housekeeping and cooking.
No, really. I enjoyed his quiet company. He made me feel settled and comfortable, even though he never said a word.
Another person I’d grown used to having around was Olivia. At least a few times a week, she’d show up at the house earlier than I liked to get up. I thought she did it on purpose, plotting to one day make me a morning person. Not happening. Ever.
Pulling out my phone, I found the contact for my bestie and pressed it.
Olivia’s perky voice answered on the first ring. “Morning Ava! I was going to call but Sam said to let you adjust. Then, I thought of texting you this morning...but wow, it’s early for you. Are you okay? Do you need bail money?”
I laughed so hard I had to cross my legs. “Why would I need bail money?”
“I don’t know. It’s before seven so I figured… Anyhoo. How are you?”
I narrowed my eyes, though it didn’t do any good because Olivia couldn’t see me. She was flustered about something. I could tell by the way she chatted randomly. And she knew I was too old and boring to do anything that got me arrested. I guessed I could’ve been picked up for raising the dead in a public place. But I only did that the one time. Good thing it had been around Halloween and the residents of Shipton thought we’d been putting on a play in the cemetery. It had worked out.
“What’s wrong?” I asked my BFF.
“Why would anything be wrong?” Her voice shifted from chipper to bitter faster than Snooze when I turned on the can opener. That fat cat was fast when it came to his tuna.
With a sigh, I challenged her. “Your tone tells me there’s something bothering you. Do you need bail money?”
“Just hold on to it. I might need it.” She meant it as a joke, but I heard the serious note in her tone.
Propping my feet up, I settled in for a long talk. “Spill.”
There was a pause before Olivia spoke. “I just got off the phone with Jess.”
I waited. When it was clear she wasn’t going to volunteer any information, I decided to drag it out of her. She couldn’t leave me hanging like that. “And? Is she coming to visit? What about Devan?”
I hadn’t ever seen either kid. All I knew