“I know that, damn it, which is why I worry about you three running around poking your noses in things that could get you killed.”
Della shot up off the sofa. “I know you care about us. But you take it too far. And you’re not nearly as hard on any of the male students. We’re not weaklings. We just proved it to you, and yet you refuse to see the ball of kangaroo as evidence.”
He gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles twitching. But Della saw something in his eyes. Understanding. She might not have won the war with him, but she’d won this battle. And considering she was up against Burnett, that was something to be proud of.
He sighed. “Let’s get you three back to Shadow Falls.”
“No,” Della said. “We’re staying at Kylie’s for the weekend. You’ve already agreed to it.”
His eyes grew bright, but he let out a deep puff of frustrated air. “Fine. But be careful for God’s sake.”
“We will.” Della smiled, feeling rather victorious. “Thank you,” she said, and Miranda and Kylie stood up.
They were almost to the door when Burnett added, “You did good. All of you. This guy, Craig Anthony, has been on the FRU’s radar for several years, but we haven’t been able to connect him with any of the crimes.”
They all turned around and looked at Burnett. He looked as if it cost him to say this. Cost him to admit that three girls had done something the regular FRU agents hadn’t been able to accomplish. And yet he said it anyway. Like Kylie said, Burnett generally came around.
“Thank you,” Della said.
“I love you, man.” Miranda ran up and hugged him. Burnett stiffened, but didn’t stop her.
“Please be safe,” he said to all of them when Miranda finally let him go.
Della started to walk out with Kylie and Miranda, but Burnett said, “Della, can I speak with you a second?”
Oh frack. Was she still in trouble? He motioned for Kylie and Miranda to leave. “Yeah?” Della asked.
“I got some information on the couple who was murdered. Next week, I’ll send you out to do some legwork on the case.”
Della nodded. Pride made her smile. “I appreciate it. Should I come on back now?”
“No, it can wait until tomorrow.”
She stood there smiling, realizing that today had not only given her some information about her uncle, but gained back Burnett’s confidence in her.
“You can go now.”
“Yes.” She started out, but looked back. “Thank you.”
He nodded.
As Della got in Kylie’s car, Burnett stood at the curb, watching them like a worried father.
When they stopped at the first red light, Miranda, who’d taken the backseat this time, leaned forward. “Do you know any more bad guys we could take out? I think I could get into this whole catching-criminals routine. Did you see how shocked that warlock was that I turned all five of those guys at the same time? Am I good or what?”
Della shot the witch a smile. She deserved to gloat a little. “You were,” Della said.
“Your mother would have been proud,” Kylie added.
Miranda gleamed. “She would, wouldn’t she? I wish I could do this at the competitions.”
Kylie started talking about running by the mall Della’s thoughts turned to getting a second chance to work on the FRU case. To get Lorraine justice.
While Della mentally mulled over the details of the case, Kylie turned to her. “Here.”
“What?” Della asked, looking at the chameleon driving one-handed and holding something out.
“You’ve got a bloody nose. Take the tissue.”
Before Della got the paper to her nose, a couple of feathers floated in front of her face and stuck on her upper lip.
When she pulled them off, they were bloody. And that looked extra freaky.
A chill ran up her spine.
All of a sudden, Kylie slammed on the brakes. The car swerved, then came to a jolting stop.
“What?” Della said, looking up, not seeing a car or any other reason for her to brake.
“The ghost.” Kylie sounded panicked.
“You saw it?” Della held her breath.
“I … ran over it.” Kylie bit down on her lip. “I don’t like running over things, even ghosts.”
They all turned in their seats and looked back. Nothing was in the road. Of course nothing was in the road. A blue car pulled up behind them.
“But you saw it?” Della turned back to Kylie.
“I didn’t get a good look, it appeared right before … I ran over it.” Kylie started driving, but her hands shook on the wheel.
The chameleon took a deep breath, then glanced at Della. “I don’t know if it was male or female, but … I saw black.”
“Black?”
“Black hair. Really black. And shiny.”
“Like they might be Asian?”
Kylie nodded. “I’m sorry, Della, but it has to be either your aunt or your uncle.”
Della stared out the window, watching the businesses pass in a blur, her emotions as distorted. Was it stupid to feel grief for someone she didn’t know?
“How do we get the ghost to talk to us?”
“You don’t,” Kylie said. “They talk when they’re ready. You can talk to them when you feel them, or in your case, when feathers show up, but this one isn’t hanging around long enough to let you talk.”
“So I can’t do shit to find out what the hell it wants or who it is?”
“Pretty much,” Kylie said. “Sorry.”
Chapter Twenty-one
That night, Della lay in Kylie’s bed sandwiched between Miranda and Kylie.
Earlier, they’d stopped by a mall and walked in and out, so Kylie could tell her mom they’d gone. When they got home, Kylie’s mom took them out to eat. Della ordered French onion soup, her favorite human food. While they ate, Ms. Galen peppered Miranda and Della with questions about their parents. The woman’s intent wasn’t to be hurtful, but talking about her mom and dad and her sister made it hard to even swallow the soup past the lump in her throat.
“I’m surprised your mom hasn’t called to check in,” she’d told Della. “I mean, since I spoke with her that once.”
Della wasn’t surprised.
When they’d gotten home, Ms. Galen retired to her room. “Sorry about the interrogation,” Kylie had said.
“All parents do that,” Miranda said.
“It’s nothing,” Della lied, and then they grabbed sodas and went to Kylie’s room and watched an old movie, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. A movie with some advice Della should probably pay attention to. Then again, she didn’t want to lose Steve, did she?