Lost Bird by Tymber Dalton Read Free Book Online Page B

fireflies. They weren’t people. I’m telling you, I think it’s Herbert or Charlie. Or maybe both. They loved gardening.” For the first time, she looked sad. “We spent a lot of time when Charlie was growing up outside in the garden.”
    “Does there seem to be a pattern to when or how they appear?” Mandaline asked.
    The woman thought for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”
    “I need you to start keeping a detailed journal of what and when you see it, all right?”
    “I can do that.”
    “And nothing happening inside the house?” Mandaline asked.
    “No. Just outside in the garden.”
    Mandaline looked through her notes. “Why don’t we head on out there then, and you can show us around.”
    “Of course.” Tammy stood. “I realize you might find other explanations for what I’m seeing, but I can’t help but think something wonderful will come of all this.”
    Sachi had started to rise when Mandaline met her gaze, grinning ear-to-ear with a smile that would have put the Cheshire cat to shame. “I’m sure you’re right about that,” Mandaline said.
    Sachi reached up to scratch the side of her face with her left hand, where Tammy and the two men couldn’t see, flipping Mandaline a bird as she did.
    Mandaline clamped her lips together to stifle her laughter as she winked at Sachi.
    Damn witch.
     
    * * * *
     
    John tried to hang back behind everyone else. He was sure once he saw Sachi again that he wouldn’t feel the same way about her.
    Wrong.
    He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her. Even if he wasn’t looking at her, it was like something visceral inside him felt attuned to wherever she was, following her.
    And he definitely didn’t believe in love at first sight. He sure as hell didn’t believe in ghosts.
    He appreciated that everyone seemed determined to not make his aunt look crazy, but he also felt badly that they were wasting their time on all this nonsense.
    Then again, he didn’t mind spending the time in Sachi’s presence.
    She’s not only a customer, now she’s working to help out Aunt Tammy. I damn sure don’t want to do anything to screw that up.
    No, better to watch from afar. Then he wouldn’t have anything at risk other than his time.
    He damn sure wouldn’t risk his heart.
    It never hurt to look, however.
    I’m pathetic, not dead.
     
    * * * *
     
    It turned out most of the property’s twenty acres were wooded, and butted up against a portion of the Croom Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest. At one time, the Evans’ property had been partially cleared pastureland, but had grown up in the more than three decades since they’d last owned horses. Tammy and her husband had owned the property for over forty years. Only the front three acres, containing the house and her garden area, were kept up.
    Long shadows, punctuated by dark pockets of underbrush, were visible in the quickly waning light. Sachi and the others stood at the fence and looked out onto the back acreage.
    “We’re not hiking through that tonight,” Brad said. “It’s almost dark. I don’t want to be hunting through that when we have no idea what’s out there. Last thing we need is someone stepping on a snake or something.”
    “Agreed,” Mandaline said. “We’ll have to come back earlier in the day to go through it when we can see better.”
    “But I’ve only seen the lights at night,” Tammy said. “And I can see them from here.” She pointed off into the deepening gloom. “They’re out there. Greenish lights. Not like flashlights. I’ve tried taking pictures and video of them with my cell phone, but nothing shows up. It’s not made for night pictures.”
    “Any noises?”
    “Nothing other than voices sometimes, but I can’t understand what they say, and they sound like men’s voices.”
    “We can try observing from here first,” Mandaline said. “Also, we can set up some trail cameras. If there’s something out there not supernatural, those will