Page 49 of Little Stolen Memories

“When you say we, are you referring to Aidan, Jackson, Brynn, and Aubree?”

“Yup.”

“Are they here too?”

Owen looked around. “Don’t think so.”

“Can you communicate with them? Can you tell them you’re here, ask them to join us?”

Owen shook his head. “Doesn’t work that way.”

“How does it work, then?”

“I don’t know, to be honest. Sometimes they’re just around. Other times, I don’t see them for days, months even.”

I leaned down and picked up the blanket, spreading it over my legs. “Are you in limbo because your murders haven’t been solved?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Seems we’re all stuck in this town. Tried going somewhere else. Doesn’t work.”

“Where can you go?”

“Here. My house. Places in town. The cabin.”

I leaned back, trying to decide what direction to go in next. Given I was in a dream, I wasn’t even sure it mattered.

“Do you remember what happened that night at the cabin?” I asked.

Owen laced his hands behind his head. “Sorta. The longer it’s been since I died, the more fragmented my memories are from that night. Most of the time I feel like I don’t know what’s true and what isn’t anymore.”

“The investigation into your murders has been reopened.”

He blinked at me, stunned by what I’d just said. “After all this time … Why?”

“Because your murders have never been solved, and they need to be. Are you aware Cora’s back in town?”

He grinned, remaining quiet for a time before he said, “I saw her today. She’s older, but … the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew it was her.”

“You saw her here … at the park, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, right where you’re sitting. I would give anything to have been able to talk to her. I tried, even though I knew it wouldn’t work.”

“I’d like to think she still felt your presence somehow. Her time at the park … well, I think it changed her. When I met her yesterday, she seemed a lot different than she did tonight.”

“How do you know Cora?”

“My name is Georgiana Germaine,” I said. “I am a private investigator. Cora has asked me to investigate the murders again. I talked to some of my friends over at the police department about it, and I found out one of the original detectives who worked the case before had asked to reopen it. Looks like we’re all working together on this one.”

“Guess I don’t understand why everyone is so interested after all this time.”

“It’s been hard on Cora. I don’t think she’ll ever feel safe until the person who attacked you all is caught. Until then, I think a part of her will always live in fear.”

Owen looked away and said, “I miss her.”

“She misses you.”

“Is she married? Kids?”

“No husband, no kids. Were you aware she had feelings for you?”

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