Condemned by Christopher Renna (iphone ebook reader txt) 📕

is true, you won't be able to keep people from talking about it or him. But you guys can keep the good things about him alive without being overshadowed by the possession. This is your chance to give Jared a well-rounded story, not just a dark chapter of his life."

"That makes sense," Adam said.

The boys' sentiment that they must honor Jared's memory was Lou's open door. "So, are you guys willing to sit down for an interview and share your thoughts? You help us find out the truth, and we help you keep Jared's memory untainted."

"Right now?" Levi asked. "How long will it take?"

"Oh, no. Not here," Lou replied. "We'll conduct the interviews at the hotel. One on one." He motioned to Dave. "Well, two on one."

Dave smiled. "And the interview will only last as long as you want to talk."

"Maybe tonight. Or tomorrow," Lou said. "We're meeting with Jared's parents this afternoon."

"What?" Adam exclaimed. "You're interviewing his parents?"

Somewhat of a curious reaction. "We'll see how much they want to talk," Lou said. "But we're meeting with them in a couple hours."

The teens exchanged glances as if reading minds. Geese honked at a nearby pond with a blanket of autumn leaves on its murky surface. Then Conner said, "Okay. I'll do the interview."

The others agreed to the sit-down as well.

"Great." Lou lit a cigarette. "All right, stop the recorder."

Dave listened to a moment of the recording with headphones before placing it in his backpack. Then he dropped his butt to the bench and occupied himself with his cell phone.

"Okay, boys," Lou said as he exhaled a puff of smoke. "What do you wanna know about the work Dave and I do?"

ELEVEN

Conner stood on the curb with the others and watched Lou and Dave drive away. Then he said, "Everyone's going to do the interview, right?"

"Sure," Levi said, leaning against his car. "Why not? I don't think there's a lot we can offer anyway."

"No?"

"Well, we can talk about Jared, but we don't know anything about him being possessed by demons." He pulled his car's fob from the pocket of his coat. "Do you? I know I don't."

Conner shook his head. He'd never discussed the possession rumor with Levi, and he didn't want to compare details.

"I never knew anything," Adam said, "until Kayla told us."

"Same," Trevor said. "We heard the rumor just like everyone else. And we didn't know anything about his life after he was kicked outta school."

Levi unlocked his car. "It'll be interesting to hear the whole story."

Trevor gave Levi the one-armed bro-hug, and then they bumped fists. "Let us know how the interview goes. And we'll do the same."

"Sure thing." He bumped fists with Adam, then Conner. "What are you guys doing now?"

Conner said, "Probably go eat somewhere. Wanna go?"

"I gotta pick up Miguel. My parents invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. So he wants to go shopping for his outfit."

"Nice," Adam said. "Let us know if you wanna hang later."

"Not at your house." Levi chuckled as he opened the car door. "I don't think your mom wants any of us around for a while."

They stood on the curb and watched Levi drive away, just as absentmindedly as they'd watched Lou and Dave.

"I'm starving," Adam said.

"You're always hungry," Trevor replied. He stepped toward his car. "C'mon, let's go get something to eat."

Settled in the car, Conner asked, "What are you guys going to talk about during the interview?"

"What do you mean?" Trevor asked. "Just answer his questions."

"But what if he wants to know everything about Jared? When we were friends and everything. Are you going to mention your freaky story about the black eyes?"

Trevor regarded Conner with a hint of curiosity. "Are you going to tell him about the bathroom–at–school thing?"

"I don't know. I kinda feel like I should." He turned toward Adam in the back seat. "What about you? You going to tell Lou about the blood incident?"

Adam shuddered. "Beats me. Should I? Should we?"

For several seconds, no one spoke. Then Trevor steered the car onto the street. "Maybe we should feel it out first."

"You think?" Conner asked.

"Yeah. We don't know what this Lou and Dave are all about. He mentioned that cable show he has in the works. What if he's using us just to get a good, spooky story out of us?"

"Jared's parents could probably tell him creepier stuff."

"Maybe."

Conner took a deep breath. "What about the man?"

"What man?" Trevor asked.

"The one from the camping trip."

Trevor averted his eyes to the street outside his window and then merged into the left lane. "You want to tell Lou about him?"

Adam slouched in the back seat. "Lake Bantam. You think that's where the whole thing started?"

"Jared wasn't the same after that trip," Conner said. "We all know that's where it started."

Neither Trevor nor Adam responded.

Conner sighed out of frustration. "Right?"

"Because of the man?" Adam said in a tone that seemed half-declaration and half-question.

"I don't want to talk about that," Trevor said.

"Why not?" Conner asked.

"Not now anyway."

Conner pulled out his phone and tapped the screen to life. "Okay. But you know we should talk about it before we do these interviews. Maybe Jared mentioned it to someone. He could have told his parents for all we know."

*   *   *

Another Colonial house, Lou thought as he and Dave sat in the car, scoping out the address where Jared Smith's memorial was to be held. They'd arrived early to increase their chances of talking to Jared's parents. Yes, it might seem rude and intrusive. And yes, they were crossing a line by showing up uninvited. But more often than not, paranormal investigators had to chase down their sources. So, that's exactly why they were parked at the curb, staring at the location of a memorial gathering for a teenaged boy who'd died during an exorcism.

Dave finally dragged his eyes from his phone. "It's almost one o'clock. I'd think they'd be here any minute."

"Uh, huh."

"And I bet Stella and Walter are sitting down with the priest just about now too."

"Uh, huh."

"So? We're gonna be