Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Author:Mary Lindsey [Lindsey, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 2011-12-07T23:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

I made Alden stay downstairs by telling him I needed to change clothes, but I really wanted to straighten my room before he came up. I slipped on some jeans and a tight, red cashmere sweater I thought he’d like before scrambling around shoving things under the bed and into drawers. His room looked like an antique showroom, and mine resembled a Dumpster. Rose was probably perfect and tidy.

“Do you need help?” he called up the stairs. “It’s taking you a long time to change clothes. It’s not a prom, you know—it’s a resolution.”

“Come on up,” I said as I stuffed a pile of clean clothes in my closet.

He sat on my bed. “Ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s get this resolution over with.” I sat next to him. “Why is this one worth more points?”

“Because restitution is usually more complicated. Call the Hindered. We have to close this one before the meeting tomorrow—which reminds me, we have to be in Galveston by noon. What will it take to get your mother to call you in sick?”

My mom had already made an excuse for me this week. “It would take my death.”

“We’re trying to avoid that.” He pulled out his wallet and removed a slip of paper. “How about a doctor’s note?” He scribbled on it with a pen from my desk. “I’ll pick you up at ten o’clock. Bring a change of clothes if you don’t want to wear the uniform.” He placed the note in my hand. It was an appointment slip to a doctor I’d never heard of.

“It’s an IC front,” he explained. “They actually have someone who poses as a front desk receptionist at a doctor’s office to cover in situations where Speakers and Protectors have to miss work or school.”

“So, this is a super-secret society, this ghost-busting business?”

He slipped his wallet back into his jeans. “As much as possible. If it got out as general knowledge, it might cause panic because ghosts tend to freak people out. We share our existence with people on a need-to-know basis. Like, there may come a time when your mom or your boyfriend needs to know, but the fewer, the better.”

“Yeah, I can understand that.” I stuffed the note in my pocket, wondering what Zak’s reaction would be if I told him I could talk to bogeymen. “Zak’s not my boyfriend anymore, Alden.”

His strange silver eyes met mine, and I felt as if frozen in place. “Your soul is troubled by that.”

“I haven’t really talked to him about it yet.”

“Well, that would certainly trouble a soul.” He shrugged and a hint of a smile touched his lips. “Call the Hindered, Lenzi.”

I wasn’t as nervous as I’d been with Suzanne, but I was anxious to get the ghost stuff over with so we could be alone. I gave Alden a big smile and then cupped my hands around my mouth. “Here, Hindered, Hindered, Hindered. Come out, come out, wherever you are!” I called.

I was immediately flooded with voices calling for help from all around me.

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