Page 82 of Within These County Lines

I shake my head. “That’s obviously not him.”

“Right,” she continues. “Then there’s a funnel ghost, but they’re basically swirling vortices that make a place cold.”

I scoff. “It’s been ninety degrees every day around him. You can scratch that one.”

She lifts a brow. “I already scratched it. I did a lot of research, and I want to walk you through it.”

I nod, folding my arms. “Sorry. Go ahead.”

“We always talk about how boring this place is,” she adds. “Might as well embrace something exciting when it comes along.”

“I don’t know if I would call it exciting.” I take a deep breath, thinking about the possibility of permanent invisibility. I don’t think I’ve wrapped my head around what might happen if we don’t break this curse.

“The third one is an ectoplasm or ectomist.”

I peer over her phone. “That sounds like something we learned about in biology class.”

“It’s basically just a fast-moving cloud of mist.”

“Like that Stephen King movie The Mist? Where everyone goes insane in a grocery store?”

“Exactly like that. We’re lucky Xander isn’t the mist. If Penango got trapped in a supermarket together, half the town wouldn’t make it out.”

“Fair point.”

She takes a breath. “That leaves us with two options. He’s either a poltergeist or an interactive spirit.”

I sit up straighter. “Like the Poltergeist movie?” My fingers shake. “I hate that movie more than The Mist.”

“You’re safe. I don’t think he’s a poltergeist.” She waves it off. “They’re destructive. They slam doors, break dishes, and throw furniture around. Has Xander tossed any pool chairs?”

“No. He’s so friendly.”

She nods. “Which means . . .” She hands me her phone. “He fits this.”

I read:

An interactive ghost is usually of a deceased person, someone you know, a family member, or local figure. These ghosts can make themselves known to you in a variety of ways through speech, touch, and scent. Experts say this type of ghost retains its personality and can feel emotion.

I swallow. “I mean . . . there are some similarities here, but he’s not dead.”

“Keep reading.” she scrolls down.

I read aloud this time:

“Interactive ghosts remain tied to their site for a number of reasons including being killed through a traumatic event such as a murder. The spirit may have died suddenly and not realized he/she died.” I pause and make eye contact with Whitley. “Or the spirit cannot rest due to unfinished business. These spirits can interact with the living world and cast curses on those around—”

I stop. The words blur together as I lock the phone and slam it face down on the desk. “Okay. I’ve read enough.” My voice is tight.

“I’m not trying to upset you,” Whitley says. “This might be why he disappeared at the pool.”

“There’s so much more going on,” I say. “What about me? The Ardor Tree? And Dara?”

Whitley swallows. “There’s something else.”

I lift my head slowly. “What?”

“I asked Amanda for Robbie’s last name and did some digging on Dara’s case.”