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After a pause, she said,Yew Street—the corner where it meets Hemlock. There’s an empty lot. My mother told me not to cut through the lot because it’s so overgrown. But it’s so much quicker and I thought it wouldn’t hurt, not just this once.
I turned to Arnie. “She took a shortcut through the empty lot at Yew and Hemlock.” As I turned back to Sarah, her expression was quickly changing. She was looking alarmed now.
I was partway through when…A panicked look crossed her face.He came out from behind one of the trees so fast. I didn’t know what was happening. He grabbed me and I screamed, but then he put something over my nose and I couldn’t breathe. Then I guess I fell asleep.
I relayed to Arnie that the killer might have chloroformed her. To Sarah, I asked, “Do you remember what the man looked like?”
Her eyes wide, she said,He was short—around your height. He was thin but he was strong, and he had short grey hair and light brown eyes. He feltodd, to me. My mom told me if somebody feels scary, even if they haven’t done anything, trust my gut and run away. But I couldn’t run. After I fell asleep, I woke up in the parking lot, in a van, and my hands were tied.
She froze, and I stepped closer. I could tell she was starting to panic. “You say he had a van? What can you tell me about it?”
Yeah, he had a van. He parked near the trail. I saw it when I woke up as he was taking me out of it. It was pale blue. I remember because it was so shimmery. I saw part of the license plate. I remember numbers really well.
I straightened. If we could get a partial plate, it was far more than we’d had before. “Please tell me.”
There were three letters and then the word ‘pig’…I think the first three letters had a ‘k’ in the middle.
I quickly told Arnie. “I have a partial plate for you.”
He wrote down the letters. “If this pans out, it could break open the case.”
“Anything else, sweetie?” I asked. “Did he say anything?”
When I woke up, I was…I was on the ground, and he was standing over me. Only he looked different—he was changing into something else. Into a monster. I was so scared and I tried to cry but he had taped my mouth shut. He said ‘Old Joe’s going to take care of you,realgood.’ I tried to get up but I couldn’t. He tied my feet up.She sniffled, tears tracing down her cheeks.I remember—he turned into a monster—and he had horrible claws, and his teeth were so big and he looked like a scary man with long fur and long arms…
“Honey, listen to me. You’re okay now. You’re fine now. Stop trying to remember?—”
He used his claws and he swung at me and my stomach hurt so bad, and then he was growling and then…everything blurred and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I was floating, after that… I want to go home. I want my Mommy!She threw her arms forward, trying to hug me, and went through me, landing on the ground. As she raised her head, she suddenly cried out.I died, didn’t I? He killed me? I’ll never see my family again!
I was crying now, and I knelt beside her. “Listen to me. I can tell your mommy and your family anything you want me to tell them. I know they love you and they want you to be happy. I can talk to them for you.” My heart ached. I wanted to hug her, to hold her so she would feel safe. Then, I thought of something. “You know something? You’re a heroine. You’ve given me information so that we can catch him and stop him from doing this to anybody else.”
She looked so forlorn that I wondered if I’d be able to help her over the Veil.
I am?
She had been such a cute little girl, and what the killer had done to her hit me in the gut. “You helped us so much, Sarah.”
My mommy will be so mad that I disobeyed her…
“No, she won’t be mad at you,” I said, shaking my head. She loves you more than you can imagine. She’s going to miss you, but she’ll be so proud of what you told me. I know this. Do you believe me?” I wiped my eyes, and, using my magic, I stroked the outline of her aura, calming the fear and the sadness.
She took a deep breath.I love her too. I love Daddy. Will you tell them that? And what’s going to happen to my kitty, Sirius? I miss him already!
“Don’t you worry—I’ll make certain Sirius is happy and taken care of, no matter what. And I’ll let your Mommy know you’re okay—” I paused as another figure approached. Another spirit. I stood as the older lady walked toward us. But Sarah turned and she gasped and raced over to the ghost.
Grandma! I thought…you’re here! Did you come to help me?
I stood ready to intervene, not sure if the spirit was malign and trying to disguise herself as someone safe, but then I looked intoGrandma’seyes and they were clear and genuine. There was no deception here. This was Sarah’s grandmother.
Sarah grabbed her grandmother by the hand and dragged her over to me.Grandma, this lady has been helping me. She says I’m a heroine!
Grandma gazed at me for a moment.Thank you,she said.My little Sarah, I’m here to take you to meet your Grandpa and your oldest sister, Lila. And we have a kitty named Tank.To me, she said,I watch over the family and when Sarah…passed…I felt her pain and came looking for her. She couldn’t see me till you started to talk to her.
I let out a long breath, relieved. “What’s your name?”
Adele. And in case she wants proof, will you tell my daughter that I always knew she took the ruby ring—and that it’s okay. And tell her I’m watching over Sarah now, too. That I’ll take care of her.She glanced over her shoulder.We have to go now. Did Sarah tell you everything she needed to?
I licked my lips. “Sarah, you mentioned the man said the name Joe…did he say any other name?”
