somehow.
"No," I told Chad casually, "I wasn't lying about the vampires." I thought I wouldn't mention I'd received it last night if he didn't think of that himself.
He didn't need to be worrying about vampires as well as ghosts.
"I shouldn't have told you about it," I said.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell your folks.
The vampires like it better if no one knows they're around.
And they take measures to ensure that is true." He looked at me for a moment.
Then he zipped an imaginary zipper across his lips, locked an invisible lock, and threw the key behind his back: some things are universal.
"Thank you." I put the cap on my toothbrush and packed up my bathroom kit.
"Any more trouble last night?" He shook his head and wiped a wrist across his forehead to wipe off imaginary sweat.
"Good.
Do you get much activity from your ghost during the day?" He shrugged, waited a moment, then nodded.
"So I'll talk to your mom and maybe go for a jog." No running in coyote form in the city, especially when my efforts to stay out of James Blackwood's way had already failed so spectacularly.
But if I didn't run most days, I started to get cranky.
"And then we can stake out your room for a while.
Is there anywhere else the ghost visits?" He nodded and mimed eating and cooking.
"Just the kitchen, or the dining room, too?" He held up two fingers.
"Fine." I checked my watch.
"Meet you here at eight sharp." I went back to my room, but I didn't catch Stefan's scent or anything out of the ordinary.
Nor was there any sign of my necklace.
Without it, I had no protection against vampires.
Not that it had done me much good last night.
RUNNING IN THE CITY IS NOT MY FAVORITE THING.
STILL, the sun was shining, making it unlikely that I'd run into a vampire for a while.
I ran for about a half hour, then made a beeline for Amber's house.
Her car was gone from the driveway.
She had things to do, she'd told me--a hair appointment, errands to run, and some shopping.
I'd told her Chad and I would amuse ourselves on our own.
Still, I'd expected her to wait for me to return.
I wasn't sure I'd have left my ten-year- old son alone in a haunted house.