Ghost of a Shadow Read online

  Once outside the door, Finn leaned against the wall, his hands on his knees. He was pretty certain that anyone who came around the corner would be able to see the steam coming out of his nostrils. Someone will pay for this.

  Ben’s timing was impeccable, if not serendipitous for Finn. The boy rounded the corner and soon found himself on the floor after a body slam smashed him into the wall. Finn didn’t wait to see the outcome and was soon back in his room.

  ❄❄❄❄❄❄❄

  Another season was on its way out, but it already had done its damage. The Voice had told Finn about the meetings and grumblings of his men not once but four times over the past four months.

  “Men?” Finn laughed. “Do call them what they are.”

  I wouldn’t blow this off if I were you. There’s danger out there if you’re not careful.

  “Sure, sure. I don’t buy it. They’re mine. In my pocket so to speak.”

  Finn wanted to be free of the Voice yet still have all its knowledge. He waited for more words; nothing but silence followed. The Voice had wisdom, though Finn felt loath to admit it to anyone, including himself.

  He decided to heed its advice for once. He changed course to go through the kitchen and see what his lackeys were up to this morning in the dining room. Ignoring the disapproving expression on the cook’s ruddy face, Finn positioned himself near the dining-room door, tucked behind the doorframe—hidden but well within earshot. Even with the ruckus of food preparation, he tuned in to the voices in the next room.

  “This has gone on long enough,” griped Patrick.

  “We do everything he says, yet what do we receive but abuse for our troubles?” Ben chimed in.

  “He’s the only one who knows where our stash is located. In what universe is that fair? We all put our butts on the line, yet he claims to be the ‘sole caretaker’? I don’t know about you guys, but when we get out next month, I’m done,” bleated Patrick.

  “Guys, I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off. Finn’s got reach. You remember Tray Boy, don’t you? The one who beat up Beagle? I heard he had an ‘accident’ going down the stairs. We could be next,” Alistair reminded them.

  “Yeah, we’ll have to disappear all right…if we decide to leave, I mean. Tray Boy is dead. No more Tray Boy. Kaput. Buried. Gone. I’m too young to wear a toe tag,” whined Carl.

  Finn could see that Beagle squirmed in his seat, while the others leaned forward, arms on the table. After all this talk, Beagle whispered more vehemently than the others.

  “Guys, you’re missing the point. Have you forgotten all that Finn’s done for us? He’s set us up for when we get out of here. He’s the one who thought of daytime house invasions as a good stream of income. Think about how our heists have increased our skills. He takes care of us. We’re completely protected but only as long as we’re with him. Think about it some more before we talk again.”

  “I agree with Beagle and sort of with Patrick on this, guys. Once we’re out of here, we can see what happens, but for now? In this little house? We need to stick together. We’re the Golden Boys after all!” bragged Fred.

  “Hello there, my loyal crew of men. How goes it today?” asked Finn, strolling through the door. Looking around he noticed there never was a more bloodless pack of specters at their dining-room table. Alistair actually backed up into space and fell on the tan linoleum. They were all pale except for his loyal Beagle, rosy cheeked as ever. He was also the only one who didn’t jump like a guilty schoolboy when Finn arrived.

  The others recovered from their alarm pretty quickly, as Finn was in one of his more reassuring moods. They glanced from one to another yet refrained from catching his eye.

  Finn clenched his jaw. His smile froze on his face. His eyes flared. As soon as this happened, he turned toward Beagle and winked. A small wink but unmistakable.

  Finn watched as Beagle did everything he could not to breathe, swallow, or move any bone in his body, trying not to show a reaction.

  Good boy. Good, loyal Beagle. You’ll live. With you serving at my side, we’ll go far. You’ll see. You might even grow a few feet taller. Anything’s possible.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Dawn on the Rocks

  Sadie spent Saturday morning reading her latest mystery, Killer Looks Can Kill When You’re Not Looking. With school and trips through the woods to visit Banyan, she hadn’t had much time for this favorite activity.

  Someone knocked on the door. Dad was working, as usual, so that left Mom.

  “Come in.”

  “I’m heading out now to pick up some groceries and do a few errands, but I should be back by three. Is there anything you need from the store?”

  “I’m good. Nothing I can think of right now. Thanks. See you then. I might go out for a walk, but I should be home by dinner at the latest.”

  “How’s that new friend of yours? Are you going to see her today?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ll report in later.” Sadie wanted to get back to her novel.

  “Bye, Sadie.” Mom waved and closed her door.

  She spent another hour reading until it was time for a stretch. She grabbed a snack and decided it was time to see Banyan. Making sure she had her keys and some money, she locked the door behind her.

  Thank goodness it’s the weekend. Too bad it didn’t work out with Jennifer. That whole situation was like icing on my life’s cake o’ crap. I’m grateful for Banyan and Barnaby time. What else do I have to look forward to really?

  Sadie hoped she could get past Jennifer’s house without running into her. That was the last thing she wanted after seeing how awful she had behaved. She was almost in the safety zone when she heard that grating voice.

  “Hey, Sadie! Where you been?”

  Sadie kept walking, head down. For all Jennifer knew, she might not have heard her.

  “Come on, Sadie! Don’t be that way!”

  All right. There was nothing to do but talk to her. I have to sooner or later. Might as well do it here than at school. She turned to face the voice.

  Jennifer was hunkered down at the end of her driveway, her hands covered in suds on the far side of the family sedan.

  Sadie ventured a monotone. “Hey, Jennifer. How you been?”

  Jennifer stood up and smiled. “Doing okay. Wanna hang out today?”

  “Nah, I’m just going for a walk, and then I need to be back to help my mom.”

  “Oh, come on, Sadie. I’m sorry about the other day. Really, I am.”

  Sadie looked in the direction she’d been heading a moment earlier then back at Jennifer. Something inside told her to keep on walking, but she thought it might be worth giving this friendship another shot. “Well…I guess an hour or so would be okay.”

  “I just have to finish up the car. You can help if you want. It’s actually fun.”

  They wound up chasing each other around the car, doubling back to avoid getting hit with each other’s wet sponges. Once they’d settled into a rhythm of focusing on the car instead of each other, it was done and rinsed in no time.

  “That looks pretty good, don’t you think?” Sadie asked.

  “It really does. Thanks for the help.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Soon they were sitting and laughing together by the car, as if they hadn’t been estranged for the last week.

  The little girl who lived next door to Jennifer played in her yard while they worked, but once they finished, she came over to Jennifer’s house.

  “What are you guys doing?”

  “Hi, Dawn.” Jennifer grinned. “We’re just hanging out.”

  “Oh. Can I hang out too?”

  Sadie patted the ground beside her.

  Jennifer leaned over and whispered, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get her a snack.”

  “Okay,” Sadie replied, and turned her attention to Dawn.

  “How old are you, and what grade are you in, Dawn?” Sadie asked.

  “I’ll be seven next Tuesday,”
she answered with obvious glee. “I’m in first grade!”

  “How fun! Do you like school? Do you like your teacher?” But before Dawn could answer, Jennifer was back with a plastic bag in her hands. Tousling Dawn’s short hair, she handed her the bag of raisins.

  “Thank you,” Dawn said, and tossed a couple into her mouth. A strange, pained look came over her face, and she spat them out. “You hurt my mouth!” the girl cried, her hand covering her frown. She dropped the bag and ran away. Jennifer bent to pick it up, but Sadie snatched the bag from Jennifer and took a closer look. More than half the “raisins” were actually pebbles.

  “Jennifer, how could you do such a horrible thing to a little girl like that? To anyone?!”

  “Calm down, Pollyanna! She’ll get over it, and besides, it’ll teach her a valuable lesson: don’t take food from strangers.”

  In that moment, Sadie realized Jennifer didn’t even know she had done anything wrong. She took no responsibility and showed no remorse.

  Forget this. Being alone is better than being in this kind of friendship.

  “Dawn might be able to get over it…if you didn’t damage any of her teeth,” Sadie snarled, “but I’ll never forget. You did something awful…again. I’m done.”

  “Oooh, Shmadie’s done. Run on home. I’m so upset.” Jennifer made an overly dramatic sad face then smirked. “Take it easy, Polly. Enjoy your boring life.”

  Sadie ignored Jennifer’s continuing taunts and resumed her original plan for the day. She started to walk in Banyan’s direction when Music box chimed in her mind, and she listened. Jennifer’s obvious plea for attention continued. Sadie hurried across the street to grab Gramma’s gift before heading toward the Fletcher house.

  Before stepping onto her lawn, Sadie took one last look across the street. It might have been the sun, but she thought she saw a glint of tears in the corners of Jennifer’s eyes.

  Well, there’s another friendship down the toilet, Sadie thought. I don’t think it’s me, but maybe I’m missing something. She noticed her own tears only when they were halfway down her face.

  Not even being near Banyan could make her feel better. Sadie cried as she nestled into her favorite spot between Banyan’s roots. She tried to calm herself and connect with his warm, comforting energy, but not much changed.

  She thought she heard a whisper nearby. She stopped crying and listened closely. She heard it again.

  “Try not to worry. Everything is going to be okay.”

  Sadie sat straight up and turned toward the sound. She didn’t hear anything. Nothing at all. It must have been my imagination.

  “Everything is going to be okay.”

  There it is again. “Is someone here?” she called out, but the only sound she heard was the breeze. A prickling sensation crept up her arms, and she huddled closer to Banyan’s roots.

  Flashes of red sprang up in front of her. She pressed back against Banyan, looking around for more. They were gone, but her fear remained.

  Still unnerved, Sadie stood up and walked around Banyan, looking for signs. After a few minutes passed without incident, she turned to her music box for comfort. She held it in her hands and lovingly admired its unique facade. After turning it over, she wound the tiny key beneath then opened the lid. The harp-like music soothed her. She relaxed, listening to the song and staring up into Banyan’s swaying branches. After a few moments, she closed her eyes, and a soft smile reached her face.

  Flashes of bright green sparkled in her mind, and her eyes opened hesitantly. Heavy, they closed again.

  Flashes of blue. “Okay. What’s going on?” She braced herself against Banyan’s roots. “I’m starting to freak out a little here.” No answers came.

  Her body tingled. Colorful lights flashed, now visible even with her eyes open.

  “Everything is going to be okay,” she heard again.

  “Something very weird is definitely going on here, and it’s not my imagination. Who’s out there?” Sadie scanned her surroundings. Then she spied him.

  Near the stream stood a man wearing a long, shimmering coat over a navy suit. His black hat sat low over his brow, making it difficult for her to see his face in full. He was lean, tall, and his wingtip shoes were polished to a high shine. In his left hand, he carried a walking stick with a bright-blue stone at the end.

  Sadie’s heart pounded. She jumped to her feet and hightailed it around the back of Banyan for some imagined distance and safety.

  I thought this was my place, Banyan. How does HE know about it?

  “Your friend, Banyan, is a friend of mine too.”

  Whoa! What the what? He read my mind!

  Sadie pressed a hand against Banyan’s smooth trunk. Banyan, if you’ve got anything to say, now would be the time.

  “Don’t worry, Sadie. You have nothing to fear.” The man’s voice sounded familiar.

  “Wait, it was you back at that old woman’s house, wasn’t it? The voice, telling me I was better than stooping to Jennifer’s level? I thought I was losing my mind. Now you’re here? Is it too much for me to ask what’s going on? How do you know my name? Who are you?”

  The stranger maintained his distance. “Forgive me if I intruded. It is only fair that you should know my name as well. I am Mr. Felix, and I have come to visit my friend, Banyan. It is Thursday after all.”

  A tenor, his voice was neither deep nor piercing. “You call him Banyan too? And what do you mean, ‘It’s Thursday’? It’s Saturday.”

  “Young lady, it is always Thursday somewhere, and of course I call him Banyan. That is his name. Even you know it.”

  Sadie didn’t appreciate his tone. He was too matter-of-fact about too many things. On the other hand, she didn’t have the slightest idea what was going on. When he wouldn’t answer any of her questions, she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Let’s back up a bit and start at the beginning. Where did you come from?”

  The man smiled slowly. It was the only part of his face she could see from beneath his hat. He polished the blue stone with the edge of his sleeve. “I come from a place nearby. It is here but not here exactly.” He leaned forward on his walking stick. “Banyan and I grew up together. He is one of my oldest and dearest friends.”

  Sadie gave him a skeptical look. “You don’t make much sense, do you? It’s Thursday, but it’s not. You’re from here but not exactly. What does it all mean?”

  “You will see, in time.”

  Sadie hesitated then stepped out from behind the tree. “If you and Banyan are such good friends, how come I’ve never seen you before?”

  “You were not ready.”

  Sadie cocked her head. “Ready? Ready for what?”

  “Ready to learn.”

  Her arms tensed with perceived insult. “I don’t need to learn anything from you,” she huffed.

  Mr. Felix smiled again, shook his head, and turned away.

  “Wait, where do you think you’re going?” She took a few steps forward but stopped when he turned back to face her.

  “That is enough for today. I will see you in your dreams.” And then he vanished.

  Sadie rubbed her eyes then scanned the bank of the stream for as far as she could see. “Banyan?” What the heck just happened?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Save the Date

  Mr. Felix came back exactly seven counts after Sadie took off. This time he came in gradually. He saved the instantaneous dissolves and appearances for grand gestures.

  It was a singular time of day. The setting sun hit the stream with glints in the water’s movement, as if a stone of light perpetually skipped from here to there.

  Mr. Felix knew that the sight of the sun on water warmed Banyan’s heart. The glow spread naturally to his roots, branches, and leaves. He was able to look at the impressive old willow and hear meaning inside his own head.

  Barnaby curled up for a catnap in the crook of one of Banyan’s arms. He always chose that one branch. It was level with the ground, and there w
as an easy route up and down. He deserved a nap, even if it was with half an eye open, after all the work he’d done that day.

  Mr. Felix cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention, though it was hardly necessary. It was just one of those weird quirks about being human.

  So, my friend, how do you think that went? Banyan’s voice slid into Mr. Felix’s mind with a smooth timbre.

  You know how these things go, Banyan. It is a delicate process, especially with a strong personality such as hers. It is all necessary. It takes extra care.

  My concern is the timing. I do not want her to feel pushed, as you know.

  Nor do I, of course, and yet, Banyan, we’re working with a limited amount of time.

  What do you propose? Wait, I know. Let’s just call her in. She has embraced me, so that bodes well for her embracing the shift. What do you think?

  Mr. Felix chuckled. She didn’t embrace me too well, though, did she?

  We are on this side after all. And seeing how the connection will be through that box, it should ease any jet lag.

  So the only question is when to issue the invitation.

  You read my mind, Banyan replied.

  It is what I do…and by the way, sir, so do you.

  Ahhh…how true.

  You were talking about the invitation before that bit of fun. Maybe we should move tonight?

  Mr. Felix winked now. I’m sure our old friend will provide a warm welcome.

  Tonight it is then. Sometimes I wish I were able to make popcorn.

  If I didn’t know you were teasing, I would bring some for you myself, Banyan.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Parting Makes a Sweeter Tomorrow

  Finn pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and smoothed it open on the dining-room table. He could sense their nervousness, hear their minds wondering how much of their conversation he’d overheard. Their insolence would not go unpunished, but for now he needed them to focus.

  “Here’s the house we’ll meet at during Choice Time.” Finn pointed on the paper. “The southwest side of the house and the facing side of the house next door have no windows. There’s a door there, and the tree coverage is also excellent. It’s a perfect place for us to meet.”