Page 81 of The Lady on Esplanade

Instead of responding with something even I wouldn’t believe, I asked, “Why can’t you just be another adolescent girl who’s obsessed with selfies and Instagram likes?”

“Because social media sucks.And if you don’t want to sound even older than you are, call it IG.”

I let the dig about my age slide.I hated social media, too, mostly because I found it to be a time suck filled with curated pictures and inane prattle about things I didn’t care about.Except for accounts about dogs and old houses.Those I followed religiously.“Are girls picking on you again?”Melanie had shared that Sarah had become very low-key about her abilities since letting it slip that a classmate’s deceased grandmother was standing in the classroom.

“Duh.Why do you think I closed my social media accounts?They practically exist only for bullies, and I’ve got better things to do with my time.Not that it stops them from inviting me to slumber parties so I can be the free entertainment.”

“I’m sorry.That stinks.”

She stretched out her legs.“It’s all right.It’s fun to freak them out.Like once, at lunch, when I made a scared face looking behind one girl and wouldn’t tell her what I saw.She had to go home for the rest of the day.”

“Sarah, that’s not nice.”

“I know, and I felt bad.But she’s the one who started the nickname Scary Sarah.”

“Well, in that case, she deserved it.But still.Did you apologize?”

“Yeah.And I told her that one day she was going to be really famous.”

“Wait—you can see the future?”

“No.But she doesn’t know that.And we won’t be in school together anymore when she finds out, and now she’s being nicer to me.So it’s a win-win.”

I didn’t want to encourage her, but I couldn’t help but laugh.“Have you shared this with Melanie?”

“Of course, but not until I figured out how to present it to her so I wouldn’t get in trouble.”She was silent for a moment, and then we both said together, “WWMD?”before bursting out laughing.

We’d lain in silence for long enough that I was beginning to drift to sleep when Sarah spoke again.“There’s one more thing.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask.What?”

“I want to go see the house on Esplanade.After I saw that doll, the lady came to see me after I went to sleep.”

I jerked my head off the pillow.“Here?In this apartment?”

“Yes.I already told you.Dead people are everywhere.”

I pulled my sheets closer under my chin.“What did she say?”

“She needs my help to protect Lynda.”

I was fully awake now.“Lynda?Did she tell you how that’s spelled?”

I felt Sarah sit up.“Uh, no.We weren’t doing a spelling bee.She just said ‘Lynda,’ so however you spell it works, I guess.Why?Do you know who she is?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.I have no idea what it means, but I know two people who might know.We’ll have to find someone to drive us to see the house.I can ask Cooper if he can take us after he gets back on Friday.But only if you’re sure.There’s another spirit in the house who isn’t nice at all.I think he’s the one who wrecked Cooper’s car.”

I felt her steady gaze on me in the darkness.“I know.The lady told me.The man doesn’t like her talking to me.”

That unexpected comment chilled me to the bone.“She saved me, I think.In the crash, I felt someone cushioning me.Did she give you her name?”

“No.I got the feeling that she might not want me to know.But she did say she saved your life.She doesn’t know how much longer she can keep protecting everyone.She’s not getting any stronger, but the bad man is.That’s why I need to help her.There’s no one else.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Sarah.I don’t understand how this works, but I’ve been around Melanie and Beau enough to see how nasty things can get.Maybe we should ask Beau.”

“You don’t think finding out who killed his mom and what happened to his dad is enough for him right now?Maybe I was wrong and you actually don’t like him.”

“I do like him….”