I Spy Dead People by Jennifer Fischetto Read Free Book Online

mine on vibrate. Call me any time, even after eight. I want all the details, okay?" She hands it back.
    "Will do."
    She walks off as Dad and the chief step onto our walkway.
    "Let's go inside. I'll put on a pot of coffee." Dad leads the way.
    The chief sits across from me at the table and pulls a notepad and pen from her bag. I wring my hands in my lap, but that hurts after half a dozen times, so I grab a paper plate and a slice of pizza and start to nibble. Dad offers a slice to the chief, but she declines. It smells amazing. Dad got sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, and mushrooms. My faves. But it slides down my throat, bypassing my taste buds, and lands in a heap in my stomach.
    "Piper, your father says you saw Linzy in your house earlier tonight?"
    I nod and swallow hard, a bite of mushroom catching in my throat. "Yes, at the top of our stairs."
    "What did she say?"
    "Nothing. By time I got up there, she was gone."
    Lines punctuate between her brows. "As in vanished?"
    "Well not like poof. That's silly. I couldn't find her. She must've run back out while I was looking in the rooms."
    "Are you sure it was Linzy Quinn?"
    I stare down at my slice. Grease has spilled onto the thin, white plate, making a huge translucent stain. "Not exactly. I've never seen Linzy up close, but it looked like her."
    The chief gives one of those tightlipped smiles that says she hears me but doesn't quite believe.
    "But I definitely saw her last night."
    She leans forward in her chair. "Tell me about that."
    I relay all of last night except the Kinley parts, and I don't bother mentioning the charm, since I've lost it. I don't want her to not believe me. Maybe it wasn't Linzy in my house, but she definitely argued with that person last night.
    "And you couldn't see the driver or make out the car at all?"
    I shake my head. "Just that it looked black, and it may have had four doors."
    Dad sets a mug of coffee, the sugar, and carton of half-and-half on the table.
    "And have you seen her since? Besides this evening?" the chief asks.
    "No. I was with Troy most of the day. I met her sister, Shayla." Hopefully the chief won't want me to repeat that conversation.
    She stirs sugar into her coffee and sips it before asking, "How did she seem?"
    I shrug. "Fine, I guess. I don't have anything to compare it to. She was flirting with Troy."
    His mom purses her lips for a moment then brings the cup back up to them.
    Okay, so I said that on purpose to gauge her reaction. I guess she doesn't care for Willowy and Blonde either.
    "She was kinda snotty to me. Is that normal?" I can't stop the smirk that lifts the left side of my mouth, so I bite off a large chunk of pizza.
    The chief flips her book shut. "Sounds about right."
    Oblivious to our innuendo, Dad sits between us and asks, "How long has she been missing?"
    The chief glances at me before answering. "Since last night."
    As in, I'm the last person to see her? Well, me and the driver.
    "And they've only called you now?"
    "They assumed she'd be back this morning, that she was with friends."
    Dad's color deepens. "At fourteen?"
    The chief drinks more of her coffee, then stands. "Celebrities live different lives than us, Mr. Grimaldi. It's not my job to judge, only help."
    I know Dad is thinking, in other words, they're irresponsible parents , but he doesn't say it. Maybe we're all thinking it.
    As the chief reaches the doorframe, Dad asks, "Do you suspect foul play?"
    She narrows her eyes, as if not sure how to answer.
    "For my daughter. Do I need to keep her locked up?"
    Her expression softens, and she gives me a small smile. "No. Hollow Ridge is a quiet, safe community. I'm sure Ms. Quinn is being dramatic, like girls her age can be, and will return soon."
    I wonder if the police said the same to the parents of Buffalo Bill's victims.
    Â 
    * * *
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    Sleep is futile.
    Kinley and I stayed up, on the phone, until midnight, going over every detail of the past two days. The only reason I hung up was because she