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“Oh, it’s that easy? You’ll actually tell me? You do have a habit of keeping secrets from me.”
Cassie hated that Laura had a point. “Ha, ha, ha. You’re freakin’ hilarious.”
“Thank you.” Laura curtsied. After her smile faded, she went back to avoiding Cassie’s gaze. “Why do you work as a consultant for the police? Why do you feel such a strong need to stare death in the face every day?”
Cassie opened her mouth and then closed it. She thought it’d be an easy answer, but like most things in life, it was far from it. This would be the perfect opportunity to tell Laura everything. The floor was hers, and if she wanted to, she could confide in Laura about her abilities and the ghosts, about Novak and Sarah Lennox, and about the ghost of Robert Shapiro and the man he’d killed.
But she couldn’t do it.
An invisible fist closed around her throat, and suddenly her mouth went dry. She was scared—truly frightened to the core—that her sister would reject her. Would she believe Cassie could see ghosts? If she didn’t, would she recommend she spend some time in a psych ward? Even if she believed her, would Laura understand she couldn’t ignore the people reaching out for help?
“I guess I do it because it makes me feel in control.” A half-truth was still a truth, right? “I’ve helped a lot of people over the years. Saved countless victims from untimely deaths. Helped families move on after a tragedy. And brought justice to people who think they can play God. It makes me feel good.”
“But does that goodness outweigh the danger? Is it worth it?”
“Yes.” Cassie’s voice was firm. Definitive. “Every time. I know it sounds cheesy, but this is my calling. This makes me feel like I can change the world around me. I can save people’s lives. I can help people move on. I’m not hanging onto a past that frightens me. I’m trying to make a future where everyone can feel safe.”
A slow smile crept across Laura’s face, and her eyes looked watery. “That was beautiful.”
Cassie blushed. “It’s just the truth.”
“You were always my hero, Cassie. I always wanted to be like you. I’m glad that hasn’t changed.”
Cassie’s blush deepened. Emotion clogged her throat. “That means a lot coming from you.”
Someone tapped Cassie on the shoulder.
“Excuse me?” The sisters turned to find a middle-aged gentleman with large, round glasses staring at them. “I can see you’re having a moment, but I was wondering if I could get a peek at that Remington behind you?”
Cassie turned and realized they were still standing in front of the typewriters. “Sorry. We’ll, uh, have our moment somewhere else.”
“Thank you.”
Cassie and Laura scurried off, giggling. For the first time since they were teenagers, it felt like they were best friends again. No matter what was between them, they would always be sisters, but she hadn’t felt this close to Laura in a long, long time. And she wanted to hold on to that feeling for as long as possible.
But the shrill sound of her ringtone broke the moment when it sang out from the bottom of her purse.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!” Laura was still laughing. “Oh God, it’s so loud.”
Cassie dug around in her purse until she felt her cell and immediately answered it without even looking at who was calling. She couldn’t keep the laughter out of her voice. “Hello?”
David’s voice felt warm and welcoming on the other end. “Are you giggling?”
“Maybe I am.”
“Are you drunk? High? In extreme duress?”
“I’m happy, David. I know it’s a shocking concept, but it happens from time to time.”
Laura mouthed the name David and waggled her eyebrows. Cassie laughed again.
“It sounds good on you.” He hesitated, and Cassie could tell he was weighing his next words carefully. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not really. Laura and I were just at the Paris Market trying to find a gift for our mom. We’ll head out soon. Maybe grab something to eat. Why, what’s up?”
“How do you think your sister would feel about putting her degree to the test?”
Cassie looked up at Laura, who still had a smile on her face. She looked years younger with the glow of happiness around her. “As long as she doesn’t have to look at another dead body, I’d say she’d be down for anything.”
