You're Not Alone

  ***

  “Chaz, it was the freakiest thing I ever experienced. At first, I thought she was just playing me. I mean, really, if you contact someone like this, it’s because you want to communicate with the dead. Makes sense, right?”

  “Sure does. In fact, I still don’t believe in psychics even if Mr. Princeton is so adamant about it.”

  “Yeah, I totally agreed with you until this morning. Now I’m just not sure. Chaz, she asked what I was holding in my hand.”

  “Were you holding something?”

  “Yes, Matthew’s locket. The one I found yesterday on the end table in the living room after I threw the answering machine. The one he gave me on our anniversary.”

  “The one you thought you put in Matthew’s coffin.”

  “That’s the one. I didn’t press the subject with you because I figured you already thought all this is a bunch of malarkey. But, Chaz, I know that locket wasn’t there before because I am positive I laid it in his coffin.”

  “Honey, I don’t remember you putting it in there. Besides, I don’t believe the Shikmans would have let you put it in his coffin. They had their eye on you the whole time. It was kind of eerie.”

  “I did put it in his coffin, Chaz. I put it in there when you were talking to the Shikmans. I made sure they weren’t watching me. I went up to the coffin and tucked it in beside him so they wouldn’t see it.” I paused and recalled the unnerving feeling I felt during the phone call when Andjela asked what I was holding. “I really believe Andjela knew I had it in my hand.”

  “Andjela?”

  “Yeah, that’s her name.”

  “Interesting name,” he commented, then added, “I don’t know, Quinn, it still could be a good guess.”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but she also told me there was a picture of Matthew in it.”

  “Another good guess. Most lockets have pictures in them and usually of someone special. Of course yours would have a picture of Matthew in it.” Chaz paused. “Wait, I remember that

  locket. Wasn’t there a picture of the both of you in it?”

  My heart stopped a few seconds when I realized I needed to quickly explain to Chaz why there was a picture of just Matthew in the locket instead of the one of the both of us that he remembered. It probably wasn’t the best time to tell him the locket was morphing throughout my apartment and changing pictures every time.

  “When I found the locket the other night, I exchanged the picture for one of Matthew,” I lied. Then I added, hoping to keep him from asking any other questions about it, “It’ll take something pretty out there for you to even begin to believe this, won’t it?”

  “Honey, I never did take credence in this stuff, but I will admit that with everything going on with you, it’s put a little crack in my beliefs.”

  “She also told me not to be scared. She didn’t think they meant me any harm.”

  “Well, that’s good. I can’t wait to hear about your meeting with her. Can I be there?”

  “I don’t know. I guess you can. She’s coming at ten tomorrow morning.”

  “Awesome. I’ll be there. Till then girlfriend.”

  “Till then.”

  “And Quinn?”

  “Yes?”

  “If you need anything, you call. Got it?”

  “Got it.”