Ivy licked her lips. “Well … we could drive down to Detroit and question Marcus Simmons’ family members.”
“That sounds like a great way to get shot … again.”
“They’re the ones who will know what happened to his things,” Ivy pointed out. “They’re the ones who know any girlfriends … or friends … who would care about Marcus enough to kill in the name of his memory.”
“Have you considered that one of those family members might be the guilty party?”
“Huh.”
“I didn’t think so,” Felicity said, biting her cheek to keep from laughing. Ivy was a smart girl, but when she decided she didn’t want to do something she was something of a terror. “We can’t go knocking on random people’s doors. Some of those people are in legitimate mourning. No matter what their son did, they weren’t responsible for his actions.”
“Fine.” Ivy crossed her arms over her chest.
“Someone might also know who you are on sight and shoot you,” Felicity added. “They probably won’t miss a second time.”
“I said fine,” Ivy snapped. “It’s just … we haven’t done this since I was fourteen and you chaperoned that sleepover. Do you remember what happened that night?”
Felicity smiled at the memory. “I believe your friends accused me of being a witch and you got angry and kicked them all out,” she said. “Then we ate ice cream and watched The Shining.”
“Yeah, I’ve always loved that movie.”
“It’s a classic,” Felicity agreed. “I remember that night being fun, even if you did have a minor meltdown.”
“According to you I always have a minor meltdown.”
“Oh, sometimes they’re not minor,” Felicity said. “That’s why I think you should probably calm down a little bit and give Jack a chance to get over his own meltdown before you heap more of yours on him.”
“I get it. You love Jack.”
“I don’t think I’m the only one,” Felicity shot back, her eyes twinkling.
“I don’t love Jack,” Ivy protested, flabbergasted. “We’ve only known each other for a month.”
“And yet your hearts have already joined. I find that … refreshing.”
“I think you’re delusional,” Ivy retorted. “I don’t love Jack.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t,” Ivy said. “I’m attracted to him. There’s a difference.”
“Fine,” Felicity conceded. “You don’t love Jack. You’re merely on your way to loving Jack. I stand corrected.”
“I really dislike you sometimes.”
Felicity smiled. “Shall we get this show on the road? If you’re going to freak out, I’d at least like you to see a ghost before you do it.”
“Oh, whatever,” Ivy muttered. “I don’t believe in ghosts.”
Felicity settled herself on the floor across from Ivy, grabbing her niece’s hands and making a circle with their arms. “Did you believe in dream walking before it happened?”
Ivy faltered. “No.”
“You have magic inside of you, Ivy Morgan,” Felicity said. “You just have to let it out. If you didn’t believe in dream walking, but it turned out to be real, isn’t there a chance there’s something else out there after death?”
“I guess,” Ivy conceded. “I really don’t want to meet a murderous ghost, though. It’s going to be really hard to be nice to the guy who shot Jack.”
“Who says you have to be nice to him?”
“I don’t think being mean to him is going to get us anywhere,” Ivy said.
“Oh, good point,” Felicity said, squeezing Ivy’s hands. “Now, close your eyes. Try to relax. Don’t think about anything but Marcus Simmons.”
“Oh, well, great. Now I want to throw up.”
“Zip it, Ivy.”
Ivy sighed, resigned. She did as her aunt asked and closed her eyes, shifting uncomfortably for a few minutes until her mind started to wander. The scent of the candles combined with her aunt’s calming presence allowed her busy mind to relax.
“Marcus Simmons, we’re calling to you,” Felicity intoned. “We command that you cross over to this side.”
Nothing happened.
Felicity tried again. “Marcus Simmons, if you’re out there, you need to come to us,” she said. “We have questions only you can answer. You owe this world something. We’re here to collect.”
Ivy internally snickered. That sounded ominous. She was just about to give up and suggest going for ice cream when the candles around them started flickering. She was supposed to have her eyes closed, but the unmistakable “sizzle” forced her to make sure they weren’t accidentally going to burn her aunt’s apartment to the ground.
“Aunt Felicity?”
“Shh,” Felicity admonished. “He’s here.”
“How do you know that?” Ivy was curious. She didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary in the room.
“I know,” Felicity said. “I … .” She cocked her head to the side, wrinkling her nose. “Do you feel that?”
Ivy decided to completely give herself over to the process. She pressed her eyes shut again, reaching out with her mind until … that was impossible. Ivy’s eyes flew open, fear coursing through her. “Aunt Felicity … .”
“I felt it, too,” Felicity said, calming Ivy with the sound of her voice. “It’s okay.”
It wasn’t okay, though. Ivy felt another presence. Something was in the room. Something was watching them. Without thinking about what she was doing, she jerked her hands away from Felicity and rolled out of the circle, her face ashen.
“Why did you do that?” Felicity chided. “We were getting somewhere.”
“I know we were getting somewhere,” Ivy hissed. “I felt … her.”
Felicity stilled. “Her? I thought Jack’s partner was a man.”
“Marcus Simmons was definitely a man,” Ivy said. “What we just came in contact with was not, though. It was something else.”
“Are you sure?” Felicity was dubious. “I didn’t get close enough to feel a gender. How did you?”
“I have no idea,” Ivy said, pushing herself to her feet. “I just know that I’m done … doing this … and I’m going home.”
“Ivy, we can’t give up now,” Felicity pressed. “That ghost was drawn to us for a reason. She might have the answers we’re looking for.”
“I don’t care,” Ivy said, shaking her head. “I … I’m sorry. I can’t do this. It’s too much.” She turned on her heel and hurried
