Dead Is a State of Mind (6 page)

Chapter Twelve

The next day at school, I yawned my way through my classes.

At the prom committee meeting after school, Samantha reminded me that I still had to apply for the permit to have the after party in the park, so I stopped by the police station on my way home and talked to Chief Mendez.

"Are you sure the park is the best place for the party?" he asked, looking over the application.

"Why not?" I said. "You said yourself that the citizens of Nightshade are perfectly safe. And I'm sure you'll have your investigation into Mr. Davis's murder all squared away by the time prom rolls around."

Chief Mendez smiled. "You're right, Daisy," he said, but his smile seemed forced. "Even so, I'll put some extra officers on duty in the park that night."

He handed me our approved permit for the party.

It was getting dark by the time I headed home, but I decided to cut through the park anyway. I wanted to check out the layout and try to envision how we would set things up on prom night. Plus, maybe I'd find something to give me a clue about Mr. Davis.

I walked to the fountain at the center of the park. The diamond in the crown.

I avoided a dark splotch on the path near the fountain. It looked like blood. I bent down to examine the area. It turned out to be nothing more than melted chocolate from an icecream cone. Gross. I was about to get up when I spotted a couple on a bench several feet away from me.

I saw the back of a tall guy's head. It was Ryan, sitting with Elise. They were engrossed in conversation and didn't notice me.

The tight, miserable feeling in my chest didn't leave me. My legs were shaky, so I sat down on the ground and leaned against the fountain. The last time I'd had this sensation had been in sixth grade, when Kyle Vendajas, a boy I had a mad crush on, picked me last in dodgeball.

I put my head down on the cold, smooth surface of the fountain and just sat there. I wanted to cry, but forced the tears back. I don't know how long I stayed like that, but when I finally looked again, they were gone. Who was Elise to Ryan, and why had he been spending so much time with her?

It was getting darker, and I needed to get home. Ever since Mr. Davis's murder, rumors had been flying around about wolves roaming the park in packs.

When I stood up, I felt a tingle and I realized my foot was asleep. I stomped it once to get the circulation going, and that's when I heard a noise coming from the bushes. I moved closer.

Meow.
A tiny face peered out of the leaves. A black kitten stared up at me, still meowing plaintively. She took a hesitant step forward and then batted something toward me. It was a bit of greenery covered with pink blossoms. I knew some plants were harmful to animals, so I took it away from her and put it in my pocket.

She seemed miffed at being deprived of her plaything and let out a plaintive meow.

The kitten wasn't wearing a collar. I inched closer, not wanting to startle her. She edged back toward the shelter of the bush.

I looked at the darkening sky. Definitely time to head home, but I couldn't just leave her there. I remembered that the remains of my lunch were stuffed into my backpack. I hadn't felt much like eating, and the bell had rung before I could dump it.

I dug through my pack and found the untouched roast beef sandwich. I gutted the sandwich and waved a slice of meat in front of her enticingly. Somehow I was sure the kitten was a she.

"Here, kitty, kitty."

She moved forward cautiously. I dropped the roast beef a few feet in front of her and then stepped back. Cats didn't like to be crowded, I knew. Or picked up by strangers. I didn't relish getting scratched, but if the roast beef didn't work, I'd have to grab her and scoot out of the park.

The kitten used a claw to hook the meat and drag it closer to herself. I dropped another, smaller piece a few feet down the path. She froze and stared at me with huge sapphire eyes. At this rate, we'd be here all night.

I tried again. She inched forward slowly, on her belly. I dropped a tiny piece of roast beef for her every few feet. I thought she'd gulp it down, but instead she ate daintily.

When she was through, she meowed again, as if to say "More, please." She wound herself around my legs. We'd become friends, but we'd run out of time. I heard a far-off howl. " Time to leave, kitten."

I took off at a brisk pace. The howling grew closer. The kitten bristled, all her fur standing on end, and then trotted after me.

I wondered exactly how many werewolves there were in Nightshade. I didn't want to find out tonight. Evidently, neither did the kitten. We practically ran the rest of the way home.

I didn't stop until we reached the white picket fence that enclosed our yard. I opened the gate. "Are you coming in?" I asked.

The kitten walked through the gate with a swish of her tail. She paused on the front porch and meowed. Suddenly, I had a cat, or she had me.

I wondered what Mom would say about having a pet. I unlocked the door and opened it wide. The cat entered with the regal walk of a queen deigning to receive her subjects.

"Guess what I found today?" I called out. No time like the present to find out Mom's current stance on pets.

There was no answer.

"Poppy? Mom? Rose?" I checked my watch. It was past seven. Where was everyone? "It looks like it's just you and me, kitten."

We didn't have any cat food, of course, so I opened a can of tuna. Who knew how long it had been since the kitten had had a good meal? She was more than sleek, she was skinny. I would take her to the vet as soon as I could, but in the meantime I needed to run to the store for cat food and a litter box, maybe even a few cat toys, but I didn't want to leave my new friend alone.

The phone rang while I was watching the cat eat. I checked the caller ID but didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?" I said. I was hoping it was Ryan. It wasn't.

"May I speak to Daizee?"

It was Duke Sherrad. I could tell by the way he kind of stretched out my name when he said it.

"Hi, Duke."

"You recognized me." He sounded pleased.

It didn't take a detective to figure it out. No one else in Nightshade had that accent. "What's up?"

"What is up?" Now he sounded puzzled. He had to be playing, right?

I'd forgotten Duke might not be familiar with some slang. Where exactly was he from, anyway?

I tried again. "I was just asking why you were calling." I was waiting for him to get to the point, but he seemed to be taking his time.

"I was calling to ask you if you would do me the honor of accompanying me to the upcoming ball?" He sounded really nervous now, and I took pity on him.

"The ball? You mean
prom?"

"Yes, yes. This is it. The prom. Penny Edwards indicated that I would require formal wear. I have a tuxedo already."

Somehow I doubted that Penny was encouraging Duke to ask me out. "Does Penny know you are asking me to prom?"

"Why, no. Should I have informed her of this?"

"No, of course not. I was just curious." Penny was definitely interested in Duke. If she thought I was competition, there's no telling what she was capable of doing.

"You will go with me, yes?"

I'd never been in the position of letting someone down, gently or otherwise. Where was Poppy when I needed her? I gave the cat an entreating look, but she just licked a bit of tuna off her face. "You're no help," I whispered.

"I am afraid I did not hear what you said," Duke responded.

"It wasn't important," I said. I took a deep breath. "Duke, I'm flattered, and under other circumstances, I'd be delighted to go with you, but I'm already seeing someone."

" This Ryan you introduced to me?"

"Yes."

"And he has already asked you to this prom?"

"Not yet," I said. My mind flashed to a picture of Ryan and Elise huddled together on the park bench. "But he will," I said, with more confidence than I was feeling.

"If he does not extend an invitation, I would be happy to escort you," Duke said.

"Thank you, Duke, but that won't be necessary." At least I hoped it wouldn't.

After a few more fulsome compliments, Duke finally hung up. I caught myself smiling at the phone. I have to admit my ego was soothed by his obvious interest.

My family still wasn't home, so I scrounged leftovers for dinner, then remembered I still needed cat supplies. Poppy had the car, so I'd have to ask her to stop on her way home.

I dialed her cell, but it went right to voice mail. "Hey, where are you?" I said. "Can you stop at the store and pick up a litter box and some cat litter? I'll explain later."

After I hung up the phone, I grabbed Mom's old copy of
The Big Book of Fortune-Telling
and curled up on the couch. The kitten jumped up and purred approvingly before settling in next to me.

I became engrossed in my reading and lost track of the time. I raised my head only when I heard a car pulling into the driveway.

Poppy rushed in with a huge smile on her face. "Daisy? Where are you?" She was carrying a huge bag of cat litter, so I knew she'd gotten my message.

"Thanks for stopping at the store," I said. I gestured toward the kitten. "Look who I found tonight. Think Mom will let us keep her?"

"Oh, she's adorable, how could Mom refuse?" Poppy said. "There's another bag of stuff in the car."

"I'll get it."

I left Poppy and the kitten playing happily.

I was half in and half out of the car, rummaging around in the back seat for the bag Poppy had mentioned, when I got the feeling someone was watching me.

"Is someone there?"

There wasn't an answer, but I could hear someone breathing.

I grabbed the bag, slammed the car door, and headed for my front porch. A figure stepped out of the shadows.

"I didn't mean to scare you. It's me."

I recognized the voice and stopped in my tracks. "Ryan, you scared me half to death. What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry," he said. "I just wanted to talk to you. Here, let me carry that." I handed him the litter box.

He stared at it, puzzled. "I didn't know you had a cat."

"Well, a lot can happen in a few days." My voice was arctic in its chilliness. I stomped up the steps.

He trailed after me uncertainly. I opened the door and he hesitated.

"You may as well come in." I didn't look behind me to see if he was coming.

"Hi, Ryan," Poppy said.

He put down the cat box and sat on the couch. The kitten, traitor that she was, immediately jumped into his lap and began to purr.

I didn't meet his eyes, but instead spent a few minutes checking out everything Poppy had bought. Cat food, litter, a couple of toys, even an adorable cat bed. She'd thought of everything.

"Where'd you get her?" Ryan said. At least, that's what he said out loud. But I heard his thoughts, which were jumbled and chaotic.
I can't tell her the truth.

My powers seemed to always tune in at the worst possible time. I glared at him.

Poppy yawned widely and unconvincingly. "Time for me and the kitten to head for bed." She stood, and the kitten jumped down from Ryan's lap.

I didn't say anything after she left the room. I was still trying to process what I'd heard.

I tried to focus on his thoughts again, but all I got was a jumbled mess.

"The cat? Where'd you get her?" Ryan repeated.

"I found her in the park tonight," I said, watching him closely to see if he squirmed.

He did. Deeply.

Chapter Thirteen

We sat staring at each other for a moment. I cleared my throat. "Where were you tonight?" I tried to sound casual, but it came out like an accusation.

"Why do you want to know?" Ryan asked. He stared at his hands.

I was sick of the games. "Where were you last weekend? And why have you been avoiding me?"

He didn't know what to say, what lies to tell me.

"Ryan, just tell me the truth. I can take it."

His thought jumped into my mind.
No, you can't.

It was as bad as I had anticipated. He was going to dump me for that girl. I braced myself for the breakup, but it never came.

"I can't tell you right now, Daisy. It's ... complicated." His hands were shaking.

"Then tell me what's going on between you and Elise Wilder," I said.

"I can't tell you that, either," he replied. "Daisy, you have to trust me, I—"

"I don't have to do anything," I snapped. "It's late. I think it's time you went home."

Ryan didn't argue, which, although it was completely illogical, upset me even more.

I walked him to the door. He didn't try to kiss me.

After he left, I leaned back against the door and tried to still my whirling thoughts. What was going on in Nightshade? Why would anyone want to hurt Mr. Davis? And most importantly, what was going on with Ryan?

Poppy came galloping down the stairs seconds later. "What was that all about?" she asked.

From her tone of voice, it was clear that she had probably been perched at the top of the stairs, listening the whole time.

"Nothing," I muttered. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV with the volume up loud to avoid any further conversation with my busybody sister. Poppy shrugged and flopped down on the couch next to me.

Our eyes were glued to the tube when Mom came home. Time to break the news about my new pet. There were deep lines on her face, and she was frowning. Maybe not the best time to introduce the topic.

"Mom, I found a kitten tonight. Can I keep her?"

Her expression softened. "A pet is a lot of responsibility," she said. "You can't just go haring off whenever it pleases you. A kitten needs attention and care. And what's going to happen to it when you leave for college?"

Poppy and I exchanged looks. "We're sorry, Mom," she said.

"Yeah, but I just couldn't leave her in the park," I said.

"I'm not changing the litter box, and you girls have to feed her in the morning before school."

"Does that mean we can keep her?" I asked.

As if on cue, the kitten strolled into the room, looking completely adorable.

"Mom, please?" Poppy said. "She's so cute!"

"We'll take care of her," I said. "I promise."

"Well, okay," Mom said. "Since your birthday is coming up, I suppose you can keep her. Consider this an early birthday present."

"Thanks, Mom!" I reached down and picked up the kitten, thrilled that she would be staying with us after all.

"You've got to give her a name, Daisy," Poppy said. "We can't keep calling her 'kitten' forever."

I studied the cat for a moment. "I'll call her Midnight." I cradled my kitten in my arms, glad to have a new little friend to comfort me, especially since things seemed to be going down the tubes with me and Ryan. But something Mom had said gave me a faint glimmer of hope. My birthday was only days away. Maybe Ryan would surprise me. Maybe things could be turned around after all. Seventeen was a brand new year.