Page 51 of A Step You Shouldn't Take

Or perhaps I could just jump off a bridge?

“Why are you still here?” I asked Reed.

“We need to talk.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ve had a think about things, and you were absolutely right before. I should forget the case and carry on with my life.”

“I’ve been thinking too, and you shouldn’t forget the case.”

“Is it the money? I gave you cash last night, right? Do I owe you more? I can wire you any amount that’s outstanding.”

“It’s not the money. About what you said. The ghosts…”

I forced a laugh. “Oh, just ignore me. I talk complete garbage when I’ve been drinking.”

“You hadn’t actually drunk anything at that point.”

“I hadn’t? I guess I was just tired. Maybe I saw a movie on TV, and—”

“Kimberly, stop talking. I think… I mean, it all sounds insane, but I think I believe you. Either that or you’re in cahoots with Tim and I’m the biggest idiot that ever lived.”

“And sometimes movies can seem really real, and— What?”

“Yesterday evening, after you passed out, I did some research on Georgette Riley and Jacqueline Springer. A black Mercedes was seen nearby at the time of both their disappearances, and the driver’s never been identified.”

“Even Jacqueline’s? I was hoping it wasn’t true, but…”

“I put a call in to an acquaintance in Falls Church, and he got back to me late last night. A witness claimed she saw a black Mercedes drive out of the parking lot after Jacqueline went missing, but the witness had been drinking and was considered unreliable.” Reed sat on the edge of my bed, and the mattress dipped towards him. “I don’t know how or why you can see ghosts, but I do believe there’s something going on with you that doesn’t have a rational explanation.” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Okay? Please don’t hit the vodka again.”

All my life, I’d wished for one person, just one person other than my mom to believe in my weird abilities, but now I’d heard those very words come out of Reed’s mouth, I was the one left struggling to believe.

“Are you winding me up? Pretending? Because if you are, it’s not funny.”

My father had played along with my mom at first, encouraging her to tell stories of what she saw and heard before he called the men in white coats. The only thing worse than people’s disbelief was a betrayal of trust.

“I swear I’m being straight with you. Kim, will you tell me more? More about what you saw in the car yesterday?”

I tried to speak, but no words would come out, only tears. When Momma was in the treatment centre, she’d told me I’d find somebody to talk to about the gift—even after all the misery it caused her, she still called it our gift—but until now, I’d always doubted her. Could Reed really be that person? I’d spent so long holding the world at arm’s length that I didn’t know if I had it in me to let him get close.

What if this was a game to him? I’d get hurt.

But what if it wasn’t?

I’d lose the one chance I had to ease the horrible burden I’d carried for years.

“Kimberly, what’s wrong? What did I say? I thought you wanted to get to the bottom of this?”

“I did, I mean, I do, but… I’m just so confused. The only person I could ever speak to was my mom, and now she’s gone, and… Why can’t I stop crying?”

“How about I go downstairs and make us both breakfast while you take a shower? You didn’t eat dinner last night, and trying to deal with this on an empty stomach can’t be good.”

“Breakfast?”

“Toast, cereal, coffee. Whatever you want.” He put a hand over his mouth as he yawned. “Sorry. I was up for half the night looking into this.”

“Okay.” This was weird. “I’m not fussy. Anything you want to make is fine.”

“Then I’ll meet you downstairs.”

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