Page 46 of The Body in the Backyard

“If you ask your spirit guides who wishes him harm, the answer may be overwhelming,” he warned.

“So I should be more specific, like, ‘Who shot at Griffin?’”

“I believe that will be the most effective approach.” Gabe produced an elegant crystal pendant on a long silver chain from under his tank top. “We shall work together.”

“What’s that for?” she asked.

“This is a pendulum for divination. While you discuss the situation with your spirit guides, I will see if this crystal stops above any names on the list.” He laid out the pages side-by-side between them.

“Okay. Here goes nothing,” she said, closing her eyes. Together they breathed in the dusty air. “Hey, spirit guides. It’s me. I’ve got a job for you.”

Cotton candy–colored clouds were just beginning to drift into the edges of her vision when someone began blasting a big band playlist on the second floor.

It was immediately followed by distant shouting.

“Maybe we should have done this anywhere but here,” Riley said through clenched teeth.

“Distractions are everywhere. It is best to learn to work through them rather than only away from them.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears with her hands. “I need to know who tried to shoot Griffin Gentry yesterday morning.”

Everything behind her eyelids wavered for a moment. The clouds peeked through again, only more muted this time. She doubled down on her focus, grasping for the vision. Finally, the murky clouds began to part.

“What is it that you see?” Gabe asked.

“I’m seeing someone’s legs. Ew. I’m seeing Griffin’s legs. His calves. The trainer said yesterday was leg day. Does that mean it’s Chupacabra Jones?”

The floor under her butt trembled when a door slammed beneath her. The vision legs disappeared.

“Crap,” she muttered.

“Find your focus,” Gabe directed.

“Any tips on how?” she grumbled irritably. “Wait. I’m seeing something else now. Glitter. Or sparkles?” A wave of elation rushed through her. “It’s bright and…happy. The sparkle makes me feel happy.”

“The pendulum is moving,” Gabe reported.

Riley could hear the thud of a fist on a door followed by bits of a muffled conversation beneath her.

The sparkles wavered, and a bead of sweat slid down her back as she fought to keep them.

The music shut off abruptly, and the sparkles vanished.

“Damn it,” she said.

“The pendulum appears to like a name.”

“Who?” Riley asked, still trying to focus. But the feelings were starting to spin out of control. “Uh-oh.”

“What is wrong?” Gabe asked.

Happy, scared, surprised. The visions followed in blurred chaos. Griffin’s legs. Sparkle. Someone was shouting. Was that Ingram Theodoric or one of their roommates? She couldn’t focus. Suddenly she found herself zoomed in on Gabe. And Riley’s sister Wander. Oh shit, they were naked. She’d accidentally fallen into Gabe’s head.

Pull up! Pull up!

The naked couple disappeared behind a frantic blur of clouds. She caught a glimpse of a room. There were too many people in the room, all of them scowling at Griffin. Then Nick.Bang!

Riley’s eyes flew open. “Whoa,” she said. And then she keeled over.