Ronan gathered Jude and Fitz more closely around him so no one else would hear what he was saying. “When the kids started the concert, Everly was her usual self, but halfway through the first song, her gaze caught on Principal Preston. She looked scared of him. There was no sign of distress from Ten or Cope, but Everly’s gift is stronger than either of theirs, and I thought she might know something they didn’t, so I walked over and introduced myself. That’s when she started to cry. I was going up there when Preston took my arm and held me in place, saying that she just had a case of stage fright.”
“I’ve known that little girl since the day she was born, and this isn’t stage fright. If that fucker did anything to hurt or scare our little miss, I’ll knock him into next week.” Jude cracked his knuckles as if he were looking forward to hitting the principal.
As an officer of the law, it was up to Ronan to keep the public safe, and he would do that very thingafterJude knocked the fucking principal out.
While Ronan was contemplating his next move, Ten had turned back to the kids and was asking them to shout out the next song they wanted to sing. There were several shouts of Bingo, which Ten started to sing with the kids. His eye was on Everly, who mouthed the words but wasn’t singing. She also wasn’t making eye contact with him or Tennyson. She knew where they were but was staring down at her feet. “I’m going to grab her after this song.” Ronan had enough of standing by and watching Everly suffer.
“What the hell are you going to do? Hurdle over five rows of elementary school kids and scoop her up like a fumbled football?” Jude asked. He looked ready, willing, and able to assist in whatever plan Ronan had come up with.
“I saw the stage door from the hallway when the principal was introducing the kids. I’ll walk through there and motion to Everly. If she doesn’t see me, I’ll get her attention somehow, even if I need to shimmy on my stomach like a snake to reach her.”
Ronan headed for the cafeteria exit when the final song ended.
“Let’s hear it for the Salem, Massachusetts, kindergarten choir!” Ten shouted. He clapped loudly, as did the kids in the audience.
Instead of applauding, Ronan headed for the exit. When he reached the hallway, he ran for the stage door. Thankfully, it wasn’t locked. He called for Everly, who turned and saw him. She jumped down from the small rise she’d been standing on and ran to Ronan, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Ronan got her out of the backstage area and into the hall, where Jude and Fitz were waiting for him. “Are you okay?” Ronan asked, panting. Everly was safe and in his arms. He wasn’t going to let go of her for a long time.
Everly shook her head against Ronan’s throat. “I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again.”
Ronan pulled back from his daughter’s strong embrace. “What do you mean you won’t be okay?” An icy hand wrapped around his heart and squeezed tightly. He was going to solve his little girl’s problem come hell or high water.
“There were kids in there.” With a shaking hand, Everly pointed to the cafeteria. Her blue eyes filled with tears, which spilled down her cheeks.
“I don’t understand. You knew the entire school would be in the cafeteria for the concert.” Ronan turned to Jude and Fitz, who looked just as confused as he felt.
Everly shook her head, sending her tears flying. “I knewthosekids would be there, but it was theotherkids.”
“Whatotherkids?” Tennyson asked from behind Ronan.
“The dead ones.” Everly tightened her grip around Ronan’s neck and cried her heart out.
Ronan could feel her pain shoot through his soul. He’d never get over seeing his child in this much pain. He was so upset over Everly’s distress that it had taken a moment for the impact of her words to hit him.
There were dead kids in the elementary school, and his daughter had seen them. What the hell was going on here?
6
Tennyson
Ten couldn’t believe what Everly said. He hadn’t seen or sensed any spirits at the school. Not that he’d looked. Why would he? If kids had died while in school, the story would have made national news, and he would have known what he and Everly would be up against. What he needed to do was get Everly someplace quiet where they could talk without scaring her. “Jude, go grab Cope, and then we’ll try to find an empty classroom to figure this out.”
Nodding, Jude headed off.
“I need to use the bathroom,” Everly said, pointing across the hall to the restrooms.
“Okay. Do you want me to come with you?” Ten asked. If he had his way, he’d call an Uber and take his daughter home, but he needed to be here with the rest of the kindergarten class. Following the concert was lunch in the cafeteria, and then they’d all pile back on the bus and head for home. It was going to be a long afternoon.
“I’ll be okay.” Everly let go of Ronan and walked through the door marked “Girls.”
“Is Everly okay?” Cope asked, rushing into the hall ahead of Jude.
Ten shook his head. “Did you see or sense any spirits in the cafeteria?” he asked.
“I didn’t.” Cope paused. “Did Everly?”
“Yeah, she said she saw kids.” It broke Ten’s heart saying those words out loud.
