"He choked her when she fought him."

Her hands flew to her neck. "That sounds like him."

"What happened next? Did you tell anyone?"

"No, I didn't tell," she said. "I didn't think anyone would believe me. Not my parents, for sure. Everyone loves him, he's a big-wig in the community."

"You should have told."

"Doesn't matter. I got my revenge. I used his dirty secret against him and threatened to drag his name through the mud. It worked, too. He gave me money and sent me to Europe and Mexico on school trips. He bought me a car on my 16th birthday. He treated me like a princess and I deserved it after what he tried to do." Her tone carried an unmistakable sense of ent.i.tlement.

"How did you end up in the hospital?"

"Just because I had the upper-hand doesn't mean I'm not messed up. Drugs and s.e.x became an easy way to feel good and get attention. My parents got tired of spending lawyer fees at juvenile court and the judge was fed up from seeing me in his courtroom. Ninety days residential treatment." She gave me a smug smile. "That's where I met Connor. Handsome, optimistic Connor. He has a soft spot though for girls in trouble."

"I can't argue that."

"Don't worry, I never tainted your precious Connor. He was too weak for me then. When I got out, things had changed. My parents used my time away to enter therapy and decided to push some kind of 'tough love' c.r.a.p on me. Part of that included forcing Parker to stay away from me and shutting off the gifts and money." She looked at her fingernails, acting bored. "I wanted my money. I went to him and tried to blackmail him. It didn't work. While I was in the hospital, he'd told my parents about that night but changed the story, making me the bad guy."

"What? How?"

"He told them I came on to him and then blackmailed him. He told them he was only trying to protect me by spoiling me. He turned this whole thing back on me, like I wasn't the victim. Like he was the one hurt by all of this."

"Oh my G.o.d, Charlotte. I'm so sorry." I watched as her tough veneer faltered a little.

"I went to Connor's to talk to him about it, but he didn't care. He was wrapped up in you. Telling me about how perfect and wonderful and beautiful you are, and how you understand him," she took a deep breath. "As though I didn't."

"I'm sure he didn't realize..."

"Save it," she said. "I went home that night and plotted my next escape. I was 17 and could go out on my own. I loaded up my suitcase with all the jewelry and clothing I could sell. I was leaving for good. There was no reason to stay. Everyone thought I was a liar. Connor didn't care. He had you. I was on my own. Why not be on my own somewhere new?"

"I was halfway through packing when Parker showed up at my house. He was drunk. Again. Imagine that," she snorted. "He tried to talk me out of leaving and I told him he was a pathetic, disgusting pervert, and to go to h.e.l.l. He lunged at me and I slapped him. He slapped me back and we fought one another until he had me on the ground. I bit his hand and he pressed his arm across my throat to hold me down and to shut me up. His red, angry face was the last thing I remember."

"He killed you?"

"I'm a freaking ghost, aren't I?"

We stare at one another for a moment. "I'm so sorry," I said, again "Too little too late, Jane."

Even at her most vulnerable, she was unbearable.

She fixed me with a cold stare and said, "That's it. Everything you wanted to know. What do we do now?"

"I figure out how to put the jerk in jail. You go on to wherever you guys go. You and Tonya should both be free to pa.s.s over. The rest is up to me."

"That's it?"

I stood up and walked to my desk, writing a couple of notes before I forgot. "Should be. This thing seems to be about righting wrongs. I can do this for you both."

"I don't know if it's that easy. Just walking away."

This time I held her gaze, refusing to back off. "You don't have a choice. It's time. You and Tonya both need to go. This isn't about me or Connor. It's about you."

"I guess," she said.

"There's no guessing."

Charlotte lets out a dramatic sigh. Even after her whole story, she's still caught up in her self-absorption.

"Ugh. You're right." She grimaced as though the words hurt her. "I apologize for being such a b.i.t.c.h. I was just confused and lost, I guess. Jealous of Connor. Not because I loved him really, but because you two had what I couldn't seem to figure out. A healthy relationship."

"I'm sorry you had so much pain in your life. I'll make sure Parker pays for what he did to both of you."

Charlotte shimmered in front of me, on the verge of disappearing, but suddenly became visible again. Confused, I simply watched as she lunged at me and her arms were around me in a tight hug. The embrace seemed awkward, even for Charlotte. Not only awkward, I felt something different. My insides tugged, like my soul was being pulled from the inside out.

"What are you doing?" I mumbled into Charlotte's hair. I felt our bodies merge, combined in the s.p.a.ce outside ourselves, just for a second before she looked up at me with a frown. Then she disappeared, not with a shimmer but with a definitive yank to the other side.

I searched the room but Charlotte was gone. I wrapped my arms around my stomach and fell to the floor with a wail. I cried for her and Tonya and the horrible things they went through. I cried because my insides hurt like I'd just been torn in half.

I wailed so loud from the pain that my mother and aunt ran up the attic stairs to my room, rushing in without knocking.

"Jane!" my mother cried. She met me on the floor, gently looking me over for injuries. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"It hurts," I choked out between sobs.

"Where?" she asked.

I released the hold I had on my stomach because I knew there would be no scars. Nothing to prove Charlotte tried something. I'm not even sure she did. My mom poked and prodded, checking every inch of exposed skin and I caught my breath.

Satisfied I wasn't hurt, Mom handed me a towel off my desk chair and I wiped my face.

During all of this, Jeannie roamed around the room, her forehead creased with worry. She waved one hand into the air as if clearing smoke.

I don't read auras, but I could only imagine what kind of negative residue Charlotte left in her wake.

Jeannie stopped in the middle of the room. "Who was here? Charlotte?"

"Yes," I said. "She's gone now."

Jeannie gave me a skeptical look and sniffed the air.

"Who's Charlotte?" my mother asked, ignoring her cousin.

Jeannie and I shared a look. "Tell your mother what's happening."

"Charlotte is Connor's friend. The one that died," I explain. "She's been coming to me. It's why Connor has been such a mess and why he and I have been fighting."

My mother brushed my hair behind my ear. "What does she want? Is it like the other times? Does she just need help?"

"She did and I helped her. She's gone now. Crossing over or whatever."

"That's good, right?" My mother tried her hardest to understand this gift I had inherited from her family. Tried, but often failed.

"Yes, but just before..." I stopped. Just before what? What did she do? How did I explain what it felt like to have my soul ripped from the inside?

"Before what?" Jeannie prompted.

I swallowed and made a fast decision. I lied. Kind of. "Just before you came up here, I found out the truth about Charlotte." I looked at my mother. "Her uncle hurt her. And Ms. Frances' daughter. A long time ago. He needs to go to jail."

Both my mother and Jeannie looked shocked. Jeannie recovered first. "What did he do?"

"He killed her. Well, he killed Tonya, too. But he also hurt her when she was younger." I was too tired and disgusted to explain more. I told my mom, "I need your help to make sure that happens."

"I can do that," she said. "I can make some calls. I still have some friends in the DA's office."

"Thank you," I said.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Mom asked.

"I'm just exhausted and relieved she's gone."

Unconvinced, Jeannie said, "Nothing else? She didn't hurt you did she?" I saw her look me over for injuries.

My mother frowned. "Hurt you? How?"

"No one hurt me," I told them. I stood up and pulled my mother with me. "I'm fine. It was just scary for a minute. And, like I said, exhausting. I'm just hoping Charlotte found peace and we can put her uncle in jail before he hurts anyone else."

My mother gave me a hug, wrapping her arms tight around my neck. "You're doing so many good things with this gift," she said. "I'm proud of you."

Over her shoulder, I saw the disapproval in Jeannie's eyes. She's disappointed I didn't tell her about being shadow bound, but I can't. Not yet.

I STOPPED AT Connor's house on the way to the hospital to tell him about Charlotte. Jeannie called and said Aunt Ruth had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Mom, Bebe and Jeannie were all with her, waiting for the inevitable, I suppose.

"Charlotte's gone."

"Just like that?" He asked, pressing his back against the porch railing. I tried not to feel hurt over the sadness in his eyes. She had been his friend at one time, or so he thought. He should mourn her death.

"Yeah, now that we know the truth, the real truth, she and Tonya should be on their way to the other side, or wherever it is they go."

"You okay?"

"I am now, I guess. I told my mom and aunt everything. I thought maybe my mom could use some of her old contacts to figure out how to deal with Parker."

He laced his fingers with mine. "Good idea," he said. "How did they handle everything you told them?"

"Okay. Mom's dealing with everything. Jeannie being there helped. They're both preoccupied with Ruth, so they feel guilty I slipped under the radar a little."

He leaned down and touched his forehead to mine, kissing me, this time without the anger or tension. Like before all this mess started.

"I should go," I said, not moving. His hands felt nice on my hips and, when I laid my head on his chest, he smelled clean, like soap. "My family is waiting for me at the nursing home."

"Okay," he said, kissing me again. "I'll be around here for a while. I'm supposed to meet Matt at the Ruins later tonight."

I kicked his ankle monitor with my toe. "You think you should be tagging right now?"

He c.o.c.ked that eyebrow and smiled. That one look says everything about the boy I've chosen. He'll always be a risk-taker and an artist. The meds dampened his spirit. This was the last thing that he could truly call his own. I had to accept this side of him even when I wasn't sure it was the smartest choice. "Just don't get caught."

"Approved areas only for right now, I promise." He placed his hands on both sides of my head and kissed me again, still sweet, but this time I felt the fire burning underneath. I missed him and it was like our time apart fast-forwarded us a little. The lines we established before crumbled as he pressed against me. He wasn't desperate this time. More like a man on a mission.

I pulled away. "I've got to meet my family. They're waiting for me."

He nodded in understanding, but kissed me again.

Light hearted for once, I let him continue because I was tired of the bad. I wanted some of the good. And boy, kissing Connor Jacobs was definitely considered part of the good.

Just before noon, I knocked on Aunt Ruth's partially open door and let myself in. To my surprise, she stood by the dresser in a floral dress, brushing her hair. She spotted me in the reflection and said, "I was wondering if you were going to make it."

I glanced around the room, looking for my mother and grandmother. I'm the only one here, but I stupidly asked, "Me?"

"Who else?" She clipped gla.s.sy sliver b.a.l.l.s to her earlobes. "Shut the door."

I followed her curt directions, closing the door with a quiet click. "We don't have much time," she said. "But I see you found the connection between the two girls."

"I did. That man killed them both. We're trying to figure out how to put him in jail now."

"That angel of death won't go so easy." I watched her fold several pieces of clothing and place them in her drawer. Her steps were spry, but her words carried that tone of delusion I heard last time.

"Does she have a choice? Evan would have stayed to say goodbye if he could have. Ellen would have seen her kids once more. Once the issue is resolved, the pa.s.sage happens immediately. I've seen it."

"That angel, she's got the devil on her side. More anger than hope. She won't go peacefully. She's hoping to jump."

I humored her. "Jump?"

"Switch bodies. Jump into yours."

"Umm... what?"

"That girl isn't ready to leave and there's something here she wants. I suspect she's been trying to take whatever it is with her, but really she wants to stay here. She's trying to claim your body. Creep like a shadow."

"What? No. How is that even possible?" But her words rang true. Like I'd heard them before. Read them even.

"There is so much we do not control outside this life, but you have to fight for it every day. Don't let her take that from you. It's not your time." She stared at me with faded blue eyes.

Her crazy talk, combined with the revelations of every ghost in Atlanta that day, forced me to stop listening. I moved to the door. "They're gone. Both of them. Once I found out the truth and agreed on a resolution for the both of them, they left. Like all the others."