Skeleton Key (30 page)

Jasper became a new man. He was the realtor who brokered the sale of the Depot. With his six percent commission of over three hundred thousand dollars, he became the most generous man in Durand, showing special generosity for children, and even more special generosity for the Gomez girls. He became the family’s closest personal friend. Jasper’s co-careers as an attorney and as a realtor both took off, and the more prosperous he became, the more generous he was as well.

Chief Luke Hopper ended up getting an accommodation for the “Adrian Payne Case,” but he knew that he could have never solved it without Clay, and Clay knew he could have never solved it without Tanner. Luke and Clay became good friends, and Clay took to calling him Copper. It was the perfect nickname for the copper-headed police officer, and soon Luke gave up and accepted the nickname from all of his friends.

What happened to Adrian, no one knows for sure. There are still stories and rumors of ghosts haunting the Depot, but Clay never went back and neither did Erika. He certainly was instrumental in solving the puzzle of what happened on the train that night. What other purpose he might have in roaming the earth as a ghost was unknown.

The prosecuting attorney reviewed Logan’s case and determined that it would simply be a waste of the county’s money to try Logan for any crime. Andi Nickel was prepared to argue self-defense, but it was never even necessary. Logan ended up getting honorable mention all-conference in basketball, and was doing very well on the varsity baseball team as well. His new coach loved Logan’s attitude, which was becoming more and more outgoing and friendly. He smiled a lot and had put all signs of depression behind him. Every time Clay looked at him, he felt immense pride in the fact that he had used his powers for the good this time. He had helped Logan, the Gomezes, Erika, and Jasper, without hurting any of them.

A light rain began to fall. Tanner looked to his dad and smiled. It had become a tradition for the father and son to sit on the porch and think of Jessie Thomas during a rain. “I love a good spring rain,” Erika said. “It smells good. It’s so refreshing. I think when I’m sitting here with you, it’s kind of romantic.”

Tanner and Logan walked over and sat on the porch with their parents. “Mom loved the rain too, Erika. Dad and I always think of her when it rains.”

“
You know when the sun shines and it’s still raining somehow? We like to say that she’s smiling down on us.”

“
I know she was special, Clay and Tanner. I hope she approves of me.”

Just then the clouds separated, and though it was still raining, the sun began to shine. A rainbow of colors appeared in the heavens, and the beauty of nature was exposed in a way that was awe inspiring to each of the persons sitting on the porch.

Tanner, who always seemed to know just the right words, said, “It looks to me that she’s smiling down on you right now. Mom approves. If you ask me, it was a match made in Heaven.”

Erika, with tears misting up her eyes, snuggled just a little closer to Clay. It was as if the line was choreographed when all four people said at the same time, “I love the rain.”

About the
Author

Jeff LaFerney has been a language arts teacher and coach for more than twenty years. He earned his English and teaching degrees from the University of Michigan-Flint and his master's degree in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University. He and his wife of twenty-five years live in Davison, Michigan. Torey and Teryn are their two children.
Skeleton Key
is his second novel. His first,
Loving the Rain
, is also available.