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When Max finally reached us, a deep crease had formed in his brow over his chocolate colored eyes as he asked, “Have you seen Wayde?”
I shook my head and felt sick to my stomach at the deep concern etched into his features. “No one has since last—”
An ear-splitting noise cut me off and had every head, including mine, turning toward the direction of the forest to our left. After which, three things happened simultaneously.
I recognized the deafening sound as a gunshot.
Loud masculine yells surrounded me.
I ate dirt.
Chapter Two
After my full-out face plant, I spat out what I hoped was a few pieces of grass and not some type of bug. Loud yells continued to roar all around me and I groaned under the weight pressing me into the moist ground. I noticed a cold body against my back, and a heavier one, too.
A moment passed that was probably quick, but seemed like too long to be squished into the dirt, and then the weight finally lifted away, as did the coldness. That’s when I realized, not only had Kipp taken me to the ground, since the bite of frost from his body leaving mine hurt like a bitch, but I spotted Max shifting off me, too.
With that realization, my mind snapped into focus and I recalled what had happened. I lurched to my feet, running my hands over my body. “Oh my god, am I shot?”
Kipp’s eyes blazed. “Turn around.”
I spun in a circle, all the while running my hands over my arms, head, chest, and anywhere I could reach. “Is my back bleeding?”
Kipp sighed. “You’re fine.”
“You look good, kid,” Max stated, since of course, he wouldn’t hear Kipp’s response.
I turned to my ghost and noted the relief on his face. Hell, I felt it, too. Then I scanned the others around me, who were all presently picking themselves off the ground. “Is anyone hurt?”
The answers of, “no,” eased the concern in my chest.
Max finally rose to his feet and glanced over his shoulder at the dozen or so cops standing by the edge of the forest. “Sounds like the gunshot came from a distance.”
Zach, who peeled himself off Caley, said, “Yeah.”
I understood his need to pounce on my best friend, and actually, I was glad he did. Even if Caley wasn’t in that body now, it was his girlfriend’s body. I thought it sweet he protected her, even in her current condition. Especially since he presently looked at her with such a confused expression. Apparently, even he could tell it wasn’t Caley in her body.
Once everyone was on their feet, Max turned to me. “Where’s Kipp?”
I gave Gretchen a quick look over to make sure she wasn’t injured and her blue-gray eyes were clear and focused as she smoothed out her cinnamon-colored hair. “Still trapped in the Netherworld.”
Max gave a firm nod. “All right.”
He didn’t even flinch in his response, and to the outsider, Max accepted that as truth. But I saw the little arch in his mouth, indicating he knew I had lied to him. I’d already told him, Zach, and Eddie that Kipp had returned to me. Truth was, the ghost business was all very hush-hush when it came to Dane’s wife, Amelia, who happened to be watching our exchange now.
She didn’t know Kipp was back, and she certainly didn’t know her father, Alexander, was in Caley’s body. Dane wanted his wife out of the trouble, and well, I could understand the need to protect the one you loved.
Not only had her father been murdered, but he hadn’t peacefully crossed over and the crime against him might never be solved. Until we had a way to solve Alexander’s murder, or help him cross over, I had agreed to keep my mouth shut.
I looked out to the White Castle PD and noticed they were still talking near the edge of the forest. Max said the gunshot wasn’t a concern, and that was enough for me, but I was curious. “Any idea who made that shot?”
Zach brushed off his pants, his blue eyes searching mine. “My guess, probably a hunter.”
Fair enough answer, since even I knew some people enjoyed hunting at a night. Again, it rubbed me wrong. “Yeah, but what’s the coincidence of that—a shitload of cops show up here, and then a gun sh
ot.”
Kipp’s eyebrow arched. “Is anyone dead?”
