Page 17 of Whiskey Reveals

Chapter 9

The next morning,Melody scrolled through the news, shaking her head. There were hundreds of articles about how the world was going to end with all the pain and horrors that encroached on the lives of so many, and while Melody knew there was nothing but truth in most of those stories, she couldn’t help but check out one that had nothing to do with any of that.

She knew her grandmother was an amazing woman. Even if she hadn’t known some of the history behind that, she’d have figured it out. Just by being in the woman’s mere presence. There was nothing usual about Grandma Pearl, and everything about the woman who shared her blood was fascinating. And Melody knew that Fox’s initial story wasn’t even a fraction of what had happened in her grandmother’s life. Her grandma had lived a full and captivating life, and if you asked the woman, she probably would have said that she hadn’t even begun living yet. And that was just one more reason why Melody wanted to be exactly like her grandmother one day.

It had been two days since the story hit the Whiskey Chronicles website, and she couldn’t believe how many shares it already had. People were calling and sending letters already, trying to get to know the fascinating Ms. Pearl better. Melody had been busy working, trying to get everything set up for her dance studio, and she hadn’t been able to figure out exactly how her grandmother felt about the new attention. If Melody hadn’t been feeling so rundown from working as hard as she was, she might’ve been able to find the energy to prod her grandmother and figure out exactly what was going on in that head of hers.

And because Melody was working so hard, she hadn’t really been able to ask Fox how he felt about it either, because they kept missing each other beyond texts. They’d tried to schedule lunch, but it hadn’t happened. Other than when he’d come over to help her with her cable box—she blushed thinking about it—she hadn’t seen him.

He must have been working long hours with his job, though she really didn’t know what an editor and owner of a newspaper did, but adding in the extra attention his single article had been getting, she assumed he was working hours just as long as hers. She didn’t know why she felt as if she were missing him, even though they’d talked over text and seen each other in person less than two days ago.

Shaking her head and trying to put thoughts of Fox’s voice and the feel of him out of her mind like usual, she went to check the mail that had already come earlier that morning. Most were letters to her grandmother, bills, and junk mail. But there was one envelope addressed to her with no return address.

She frowned, wondering who on earth would be sending her a letter. Between both of her email addresses—her personal one and the one for work—she got constant electronic notes, and even texts and phone calls about the upcoming classes and from her contractor…and Fox. But she didn’t know anyone besides her grandmother who would write her a letter.

She set the rest of the mail on the counter in organized piles so her grandmother wouldn’t have to leaf through everything. She still didn’t know what they were going to do with all the letters since it had only been two days. The people who’d written must’ve rushed or lived close in order to send Grandma so many, but she figured her grandmother and she would end up going through each one and making even more piles. Grandma Pearl did love her stationery and receiving letters.

When everything was organized, she set the single letter addressed to her in front of her and ran her finger over her name. She didn’t know why she hesitated, but it felt weird getting something addressed to her. Fox had been very careful not to mention Melody’s name or even her parents in the article. That had been something that he had told her grandmother ahead of time because they hadn’t wanted to get into her family and true personal life until they were ready.

Maybe it was a letter from one of the upcoming dancers. Maybe it was a note from one of her friends from the past. That sent a chill down her spine, however. She wasn’t friends with anyone from back then anymore. She had been the one to cut ties, but she knew they’d have cut them if they had the chance. She didn’t deserve their friendship or their letters.

Melody closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was once again nauseous, but this time, she had a feeling it had nothing to do with the nerves of opening a new dance studio on her own.

Swallowing hard, she flipped the envelope over and quickly opened it using one of her grandmother’s fancy letter openers. Inside, there was a single sheet of paper with a handwritten note. She opened it and blinked.

Found you.

The paper fell from her fingertips, and she tried to catch her breath. Who would’ve sent that? Who would be looking for her? Nobody knew where she had moved to because no one was looking. And why would they say something about finding her? It didn’t make any sense. It had to be a joke from some of the teenagers in the town or something, being weird and welcoming her. Or maybe it was someone who had figured out that she was related to Ms. Pearl and wanted to creep her out. She had no idea what it could mean, but because she had watched way too many detective shows in the past, she put the letter and envelope into a plastic bag and hurriedly hid it in the desk in her room. The letter was just a mistake. Or a joke. It meant nothing. Just like that email had meant nothing.

Her hands shook, and her stomach rolled, but she tried to push the weird feelings out of her mind. There was no cause for worry. No one was looking for her. There was no reason for anyone to look for her.

Because the people she had hurt were dead.

And the dead didn’t stalk you.

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