Music of Ghosts by Sallie Bissell

Author:Sallie Bissell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: suspense, myth, North Carolina, music, ghost, ghosts, mystery, cabin, murder, college students
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2013-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Two

Jonathan and Lily pulled into Tulsa just before suppertime. They’d gotten a late start out of Memphis, and most of the day had been an unremitting drive into a glaring summer sun. A headache had begun to flirt around Jonathan’s temples between Little Rock and Fort Smith; by Tulsa it had grown into a full-blown hammer, pounding his forehead.

“Where are we?” Lily sat up and blinked, having slept through most of eastern Oklahoma.

“Tulsa. We’re meeting Alex here.”

“Why aren’t we meeting her in Webbers Falls?”

“The hotel’s nicer here,” Jonathan replied. “They’ve got a big pool and in-room movies.” Actually, Alex was hiding them, or at least Lily, from Fred Moon. She’d told him as much last night, when they’d talked on the phone.

Lily stuck her lower lip out. “I’d like it better in Webbers Falls, with Grandpa Moon.”

He started to tell her that he’d like it better back home, or in Mexico or even on Mars, but he kept silent, ignoring her petulance. She’s only nine, he told himself, with a head full of Fred Moon’s shit. She’s doing the best she can.

“Well, for now we’re in Tulsa,” he told her. “Let’s go see if Alex is here.”

“I don’t even know Alex,” said Lily, still full of complaint.

“She knows you.”

“What does she look like?”

“Tall. Pretty.” Jonathan remembered the first time he’d met the leggy blonde, when she’d strode into Little Jump Off. “She’s smart and brave.”

“As smart and brave as Mary?” Lily asked snidely.

“Yes,” he said, thinking back to the long ago ordeal that had bonded Mary and Alex for life. “They’re probably the two bravest people I know.”

Lily had no response for that. They walked across the parking lot and into the lobby. A blast of cold air instantly chilled them. Jonathan looked around for Alex and found her, sitting on a leather sofa just outside the bar. She wore jeans and dusty cowboy boots, and had a briefcase open beside her.

“Alex?” he called.

“Jonathan!” She looked up and smiled, unfolding long legs as she got to her feet. “Lily! It’s great to see you again!”

She hurried over and gave him a sisterly peck on the cheek. Though the Texas sun had freckled her nose and etched a few faint wrinkles around her deep blue eyes, her grin was still broad, and her voice still exuded a kind of no-shit confidence that made him feel like this might not be the end of the world.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered, then reached down and offered Lily her hand.

“I know how my two boys hate being kissed by strangers,” she said. “So let’s just shake hands.”

Lily shook her hand but didn’t say anything.

“It’s been nearly five years since I’ve seen you,” Alex continued. “You’re growing up to be a very pretty girl.”

“Thank you,” Lily answered stiffly.

“So did you have a good trip?” Alex smiled at Jonathan.

“It was okay,” he said, not bothering to hide the bitterness he felt.

“Well, I think you’ll like it here.” She pulled a key card from the pocket of her jeans.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.