Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1) by Nellie Steele (best books for 7th graders .TXT) 📕

Before she received a response, she left. She spent the first half of her jog setting her mind to deal with Gray. She had to remain steadfast in her long-term goal, which was to remain far away from the drama of Buckley life. As she approached the end of the road, she spotted Gray’s familiar form, leaning against his car. She steeled her nerves for the encounter and pushed ahead, jogging up to him.

“Good morning, Celine,” he said, still leaning against the car, arms crossed.

“What do you want, Gray? I already told you I can’t help you.”

“I know what you said, I don’t accept it.”

“Well, that’s too bad for you. Soon there’ll be no choice. So either accept it now, then or not at all. Either way, the result is the same.”

“No, Celine. It’s not. You’ve still got time to change your mind and you’ve got to.”

“I will not continue having this argument with you. I’m not changing my mind; nothing will make me change my mind. Go home, Gray.”

“I can’t. I can’t go back without you, we need you too much.”

“How did you find me, anyway?” Josie asked, curious how he tracked her down after the events twenty-five years ago.

“Your sister, Celeste, she’s back, she helped us.”

“Oh, well now I’m sure I’m not going back. Whatever problems Celeste has brought to your doorstep you can handle yourselves,” Josie said, holding a hand up.

“Damn it, Celine, we don’t have time for your stubbornness,” he exclaimed. “You’ve got to come back.”

“I told you no, I meant it, stop asking me, stop texting me, go home.” Josie turned to leave; finished with the conversation.

“Celine,” he called as she started to jog away, “it’s serious. It’s the Duke. He’s back.”

Josie came to a stop, processing the information. She shook her head after a moment; she couldn’t let herself become involved. “Sorry, Gray, I can’t help you,” she said and resumed jogging home. She forced her mind to stop dwelling on the conversation. She could not afford to become involved. She had one chance at a normal life; she had to take it. She had to walk away.

When she returned home, the house was abuzz with activity. Michael and Damien were getting ready to go to work. She would be alone in the house today; that would make things much easier. By 7 a.m., everyone was heading out of the house, leaving her to enjoy her cup of tea alone on the porch. Josie watched them both head off down the driveway. It was the first day of her new life and she planned to enjoy it.

Michael and Damien both pulled down the drive, with Michael trailing behind Damien. Within minutes of getting on the main road, they both turned off into a small parking lot outside of a now-abandoned pizza shop. Damien pulled his car around the back of the building. Michael followed him. Damien got out of his car, locked the doors and hopped into the passenger side of Michael’s.

“She still at home?”

“Yep,” Damien said, checking the phone tracking app.

“All right, well, let’s double back and get this stakeout started.”

“Cool. I brought snacks this time,” Damien said, grabbing his backpack. “We got soda, chips and candy, all kinds of stuff.” Damien eyed Michael for a moment, “You seriously going to stay in dress clothes all day?”

“No, I brought a change of clothes, I’ll change when we get there.”

“I can’t believe we’re doing this. She’ll be so mad if she catches us.”

“Yeah, she will, but,” Michael said, easing the car back onto the road, “the complete one-eighty yesterday didn’t sit well with me.”

“Oh, I totally agree. I’ve known Josie all my life, she was acting nothing like Josie. I just can’t figure out why she’d lie. I mean I get not wanting her mom upset, but why lie to me?”

“Well,” Michael answered, pulling back onto the road the house was on, “we’ll soon find out.” He pulled the car past the driveway of the house before easing it off the road into a clearing of trees. The car was hidden from the house but they could keep tabs on Josie’s location, follow her if needed and watch the house. After parking, Michael hopped out to change clothes then climbed back in behind the wheel. “Okay,” he said, “let’s get this party started.”

They didn’t have long to wait. By mid-morning, Josie had a visitor; a car pulled into the driveway and headed for the house. “Let’s check it out,” Michael said, opening his door.

The pair crept through the woods closer to the house. Michael took out a pair of binoculars and trained them onto the house.

“Seriously?” Damien asked.

“What? I want a clear view,” Michael retorted. “Okay, who do we have?” A figure exited the car.

“Well?” Damien asked, “who is it?”

“It’s the guy from the motel. Here, check it out. Good thing I brought these, huh?”

Damien looked through the binoculars. “Yeah, good thing. Yep, that’s him all right. What’s he doing there, I wonder?”

“Yeah, she said it was over. Doesn’t look over to me.”

They watched as the man rang the doorbell then knocked on the door and waited a few minutes before Josie opened it. They stood talking for a moment or two before he disappeared inside the house.

“I wish we could hear what they are saying,” Michael said.

“Yeah, should have bugged the place.”

“Wait, can you do that?”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Well, it’d be useful at a time like this.”

“I mean, yeah, but I’ve never done it. I imagine she might figure it out if we’re setting up bugs all over the place.”

“True, but if this continues it may be something to consider. Well, get comfortable I guess, let’s see how long he’s here.”

Josie heard the doorbell ring, then a knock. She hoped it was a delivery person, but she had a sneaking suspicion it wasn’t. She headed downstairs, leaving her office. She peered out of the window next to the