Page 2 of Dark Shadows
Savanah abandoned the chair and went to her mom’s side. “Momma.”
Her plea went ignored.
“Mom,” she said louder, finally getting attention. Both her mom and the female cop stared down with disapproving looks.
“Sorry, but I have to use the bathroom,” Savanah said, flashing her dimpled smile, the one that matched her daddy’s.
The lady cop pointed down the hall. “Last door on the left, sweetie.”
“Be quick, and don’t bother anyone.”
“I won’t.” Savanah would try not to bother anyone, but sometimes it just happened, no matter how good her intentions had been.
Going to the police station was boring.
Detectives had to chase clues, even if the bad guys did their bad stuff in the middle of the night.
Savanah didn’t get it. Who would want a job where you never got to eat dinner on time or sleep in your own bed?
Momma always saved him a plate at dinnertime and warmed it up whenever he wandered in, as if it were normal to eat meatloaf at midnight.
Savanah used the bathroom and froze when she heard giggles drifting in over the sound of the faucet.
As she stepped out, she caught a glimpse of a boy about her age darting into a room down the hall.
His laugh echoed, weird and hollow, kind of like someone talking through an empty paper towel roll.
She knew better than to chase ghosts in public. Momma said it made her look crazy. But that didn’t stop her.
Another ghost flickered in and out, like a TV with bad reception. This girl looked around ten years old. She had a bow in her hair and was wearing a sunflower church dress prettier than Savanah’s.
The only difference was the dark, red-brown stains splattered across the front. They reminded Savanah of spilled juice that wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard you scrubbed.
The girl lifted her hand and motioned for Savanah to follow.
Savanah glanced over her shoulder to make sure Momma wasn’t watching, then slipped after the ghost down the hall. The farther she went, the colder the air felt. It was like standing in front of the open freezer at home, only worse.
The meeting room was full of men and women wearing badges like her dad’s.
He stood at the far end with his back to her, marking an X on a big map. His boss was beside him, pointing at a board covered in photos.
The ghost girl leaned close to Savanah’s ear. Her whisper sent goosebumps racing down Savanah’s arms.
“Tell them they’re looking in the wrong place,” she said.
Savanah blurted it out before she could stop herself.
All heads turned.
“Savanah, what are you doing here?” Her father’s mouth tightened at the corners. Confusion clouded his eyes.
“Momma brought cookies,” she said, her fingers drifting to the birthmark on her ear.
“Sorry, guys, this is my daughter. She has a bad habit of wandering off.” Her father hurried toward her. His eye twitch meant she’d be going to bed without dessert.
Everyone laughed, except for his boss.
“Savanah, where should we look?” he asked, like he actually wanted her to answer.
