“Everly doesn’t think she did anything to help, but we’ve got several new leads we wouldn’t otherwise have had.” Ronan took one last look around the room. “Any chance you’re in touch with Principal Whittaker?”
Max grinned. “As a matter of fact, we all get together once a month for a principals’ lunch at a local diner.”
“Well, that sounds like as much fun as a barrel full of algebra books.” Jude rolled his eyes. “When’s the next meeting of this fascinating group?”
“You’re not going to believe it, but it’s tomorrow.” Max grinned brightly.
Ronan snorted. “Think anyone will mind if three non-principals show up for grilled cheese and key lime pie?”
“Not one bit.” Max shivered. “Now, let’s get the hell out of here.” He and Jude headed for the door.
“If you can hear me, Marie, all we want to do is help you rest in peace. We don’t think you hurt those kids. Please, let us help you.” Ronan passed into the corridor between the classrooms and left the plywood door open. When he reached the classroom, he asked Max to leave that door open as well so that Marie could leave her prison when she felt safe enough to do so.
Ronan didn’t often hope spirits visited Everly, but he was willing to make an exception in the case of Marie Fairbanks. He had a feeling she would be able to tell them exactly what happened on her last day alive.
16
Tennyson
Lunch at the Olive Garden had been a lot of fun once Ronan pulled Everly to the side and had a private word with her. She’d been down in the mouth since they’d left the elementary school, and whatever Ronan said had perked their daughter right up. Of all the issues Ten thought he’d have to handle when it came to having a psychically gifted daughter, dealing with her ideas of failure was one Ten hadn’t anticipated.
When they’d gotten back to Salem, everyone had gone home to get ready for a slumber party at Wolf’s house. Ezra had been invited to spend the night as well. It would be his first sleepover, and Ten was worried even though he’d seen nothing but smooth sailing. Ezzie was an easy little boy, unless he was hungry. He reminded Ten of the Incredible Hulk, mild-mannered one minute and in a rage the next. The little boy gave a whole new definition to the word “hangry.”
Ten was in Ezra’s bedroom, trying to find his son’s favorite giraffe stuffie. He’d looked all over the living room, laundry room, and the master bedroom, but Riff Raff was nowhere to be found. The animal had been a gift from Nana Kaye on Ezra’s first birthday. He’d fallen instantly in love with the toy and carried it with him everywhere, by the neck.
There was no way Ten could send Ezra to Cope’s house without the treasured toy. “Ronan?” Ten shouted. “Have you seen Riff Raff?” Ten heard a snort from downstairs. Ronan had been the one to name the animal after watchingAladdinwith the kids. One of the songs featured the palace guards calling Al by that particular moniker. Every time Ronan heard the word, he broke into a warbling version of the song.
“Why did you do that, Daddy?” Everly walked into Ezra’s room with her hands over her ears. She shut the door with her foot. “You know he can’t sing. He sounds like Dixie that time she puked on your bedroom floor.”
“I know! That’s why I do it.” Ten laughed. Ronan had a lot of professional skills and personal talents, but singing wasnotone of them.
“Did you use your gift to find Riff Raff?” Everly asked.
Ten nodded. “No dice. How about you?”
Everly shook her head no. “I didn’t try. My gift is broken, so I don’t want to use it.” She took a seat on the floor in front of Ezra’s bookshelf. She pulled a picture book out and started to flip through it. Ten could see her lips move as she read the words.
Feeling his heart break for Everly again, he took a seat next to her on the floor. “Your gift isn’t broken, honey.”
“It is! I couldn’t see or speak to Miss Marie.” Everly leaned against Ten’s side.
“Neither could I.” Ten wrapped his arm around Everly and gave her a squeeze. “I’d been trying to reach out to her from the moment we pulled into the parking lot. I didn’t see or sense her either, and I’m guessing it was the same for Bertha, or she would have told us she’d spoken with Marie.”
Everly perked up. “Mimi told me she was going to be with Miss Marie at the school. She said that when she came to visit me last night. I didn’t see her in the classroom, did you?”
“No, which is why I brought it up. If Bertha wasn’t at the school, then maybe Marie wasn’t either.” Ten had been bothered by the fact that Bertha hadn’t been in the classroom. He’d tried reaching out to her but hadn’t been able to make contact. If she didn’t pop up in the next few hours, he’d reach out to Carson and see if he knew what was going on. Ten didn’t want to admit it, but he was a bit worried about Bertha. Maybe she’d been sucked up into whatever spiritual black hole Miss Fairbanks was caught in.
“I don’t understand,” Everly said, her voice just above a whisper.
“Just because you have one superpower doesn’t mean you have them all.” Ten wasn’t entirely sure how to make Everly feel better, but maybe talking about superheroes would help. She loved watching those Marvel movies with Ronan.
“What do you mean?” Everly set the book aside and gave Ten her full attention.
“Well, think about Spider-Man. He can shoot webs and swing through the city on them. None of the other Avengers can do that, right?” Thankfully, Ten had sat through a few of the movies and was pretty sure he had the details straight.
Everly nodded. “And no one else can pick up Thor’s hammer or turn into the ’Credible Hulk.”
“Exactly,” Ten said. “They all work with the abilities they do have. You and I need to do the same thing. There are spirits and visions you see that I don’t. I’m not jealous or angry that your gift is stronger than mine. I accept it and move on.” Ten had been envious of Everly at times, but the thing that upset him the most was that since he couldn’t see or hear what she had, Ten didn’t know how much danger she was in or how to protect her from it.
