It was also the one place I was guaranteed privacy. I sat on the stone bench by the pond, set my bucket aside, and burst into tears. My body still ached from the torture Ida Mavity had gone through before being murdered. My throat was raw and dry no matter how much hot tea I drank. We’d both done a lot of screaming before we’d died.
More than that, my heart was grieved. There was no other way to describe this looming shadow, this pit of hopelessness. After that horrible torture, I’d been given a taste of eternal peace...only to be forced to return to this living hell. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I often wished I wouldn’t come back to life. I wouldn’t be able to feel anything if I stayed dead. I’d be free then, truly free from my curse. The only motivation to live was my brother. I couldn’t stand the thought of him suffering alone.
I sniffled and wiped my face with the too-long sleeve of my sweater. A pale, gangly creature with a curtain of dark hair covering half of her face grimaced at me from the surface of the pond. How I envied the girls on the streets with long, tan legs, bodacious curves and big curly hair. Beautiful girls like Vanessa Burkley, who was free to pine after Uncle Victor, free to have a career and hobbies and dream about the future. It wasn’t fair.
I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. My half hour of self-pity now over, it was time to go back to being Charlie’s cheerleader.
I practiced my smile until it looked genuine. I sang along with the birds and admired the view through the glass walls until my mood improved. Only then did I retreat into the precinct. I pranced down the stairs, swinging my bucket back and forth. Men and women in uniform nodded respectfully as they passed, but never held my gaze. I didn’t bother with contacts here and my purple eyes unnerved people. Well, that and the rumors of my “psychic powers.” Charlie was moody and antisocial, but at least he could pull off sane and semi-normal.
He really had no idea how lucky he was.
I shook off my melancholy before it could take over and forced a smile. Zigzagging through the maze of desks on the first floor, I finally found my uncle.
Detective Campbell pounded away at his computer’s keyboard while Vanessa chattered at his side. He occasionally nodded and grunted to beguile her into believing he was paying attention to what she was saying. Any other girl would have seen right through this and been offended, but Vanessa didn’t seem to care.
Her eyes were brown with flecks of gold which stood out against her black hair and skin. She was tall, curvy and youthful, but anyone who knew her well knew better than to underestimate her. She’d graduated from the academy with honors, was the youngest officer to be recommended for detective, and was the first person our uncle had given permission to shadow him. Because of mine and my brother’s peculiar gifts, Uncle Victor had been hesitant to take on a partner but apparently he was comfortable with the aspiring detective studying his methods.
Vanessa paused in her monologue to give me a smile. “Hey, girl. Love the outfit.”
Her only flaw was her determination to be friends with us.
I knew I had a wacky sense of fashion. As a child, my mother had only ever gotten me outfits matching either in color scheme, cut, or style. Being older now, I found myself favoring the opposite. Today, I wore my classic gray knit sweater that was two sizes too big with a knee-length plaid skirt and some black Mary Jane shoes. From afar, I might’ve looked like a girl from a private Catholic school or something. I wasn’t trying to look ironically cute (which was a thing now, I guess?). I just wore the clothes that made me feel comfortable, regardless of how they looked to others.
Still, I smiled politely. “Thank you, Ms. Burkley.”
She blew a raspberry and waved a hand at me. “Ms. Burkley is my big sister. Call me Vanessa.”
I set my empty bucket on my uncle’s desk, choosing not to reply.
The sound snapped Uncle Victor out of his research trance. He turned with a start. “Hey, Jazz. How’re you feeling?”
“Better,” I lied. “Just about ready for some food.”
He pushed back his sleeve to glance at his wristwatch. “Is it that time already? Okay. I’ll go pick up some burgers.”
“Make it a veggie burger for me.” I wrinkled my nose. “I’m sick of beef.”
Uncle Victor rose and snagged his coat from the back of his swivel chair. “Sounds good.”
“And a salad for Tony. You know he counts carbs.”
“Mmm-hmm,” my uncle said, patting his pockets. “Where did I leave my wallet?”
Vanessa held up the leather square between her pointer and middle finger.
Uncle Victor took it with a murmured thanks and added, “Why don’t you finish this query for me, Nessie? I’m looking into any incident reports involving Ida Mavity. Charlie thinks this has something to do with the mayor and his wife, but I want to rule out any other possibilities before investigating Mr. Ward.”
“On it,” Vanessa said with a salute.
Uncle Victor snatched his keys from his desk before planting a kiss on my forehead. “Be right back. Check on your brother. He didn’t stop by to see me when he came home from school.”
“He might’ve and you just weren’t paying attention.”
My uncle turned to his shadow. “Nessie—”
“You were right the first time,” she said, already sitting in his chair and typing on his keyboard. “Your nephew didn’t stop by.”
“Good to know I haven’t completely lost it. Be back in a few.”
I watched him go with a fond smile. “Good luck with your research,” I told Vanessa before proceeding underground.
The sound
