44 Book Four Page 15

  “Abby, I don’t think you’re crazy or lying or anything like that. I promise you. You saved all those kids at the school and that was amazing. And I totally believe that some sort of supernatural something happened.”

  He stopped for a moment, choosing his words carefully.

  “Can’t you just understand that I’m not comfortable with it? Why does that mean we have to break up?”

  We were quiet for another minute and watched as the kayaker squeezed into his boat and paddled out to the calm stretch of the river, before turning into the roar. He sailed down the rapids, avoiding the whirlpool, like he had done the run a hundred times.

  Ty stood up, offered me his hand.

  “Come on,” he said, smiling. “I don’t want you to be late on my account.”

  I took his hand, and as he pulled me up I smiled at those crazy feelings surging through me again. It was nice, having feelings like this.

  “Maybe we can try,” I said, squinting in the sun.

  Ty came closer and gave me a long, long hug.

  CHAPTER 48

  It was those large, empty holes that always chilled me the most in cemeteries. The ones freshly dug out and waiting, the holes that would forever swallow the dead.

  We strolled past one, a shovel thrown next to it on the grass, and I shivered.

  “Damn,” I said, smoke floating up into my face. “I hate those.”

  Mo took another hit.

  “I’ll meet you,” she said and took off down the narrow cement path that led past rows of tombstones.

  I didn’t follow. I knew she wanted to be alone. I could visit Spenser’s grave later.

  She had wanted to come with me when she found out I was stopping by the cemetery after work. I was surprised, but glad for the company, even if she didn’t say too much. It was a cold, gray day, but the rain had stopped and the clouds were breaking up above.

  I walked toward the east, past three angel statues and an enormous Celtic cross.

  It had been a few weeks since the bombing and I was still trying to get my head right. But it was getting better. Lately I thought about all those kids we had saved. They had been in the crosshairs of a killer and hadn’t even known it. And it was a good feeling knowing that they were all still alive, thinking about tests and soccer and homework and football games and friends and kissing and the coming summer. They all had their lives out in front of them and it felt good that I had helped.

  As I walked through the cemetery, past all the gravestones and flat markers in the grass, I smelled the bouquet of flowers I was holding in my hand. I had brought a mix of roses and daisies and irises, and kept the flowers close to my face so they would hide the tears in case he was around, watching me.

  I knew where he was buried. And he was right in mentioning it. There was a reason I hadn’t come before.

  But I was ready now.

  When I walked up, I shivered again.

  Then I placed the flowers on the grave, said a soft prayer, gliding my fingers over the stone.

  Over Jesse’s name.

  THE END

  The adventure continues…

  44 Book Five

  Coming soon

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Like her main character, Jools Sinclair lives in Bend, Oregon. She is currently working on 44 Book Five.

  Learn more about Jools Sinclair

  and the 44 series at…

  JoolsSinclair44