Soul Insurance Read online

  "Open the garage door," Brooke said. "I'll drive."

  It took a moment for him to find the panel. He opened the door just enough for them to drive out, and climbed in next to Brooke. They passed the squad car in the driveway, and she even waved to someone cutting the grass.

  "Something isn't adding up," Connor said as they drove away from Isabel's house.

  "And what would that be?" Brooke asked. "Maybe the fact that we're wanted for my own murder? Or how about the fact yesterday at this time I woke up a completely different person?"

  "How do they know who you even are? They got me on camera, fine, but you?"

  "Okay, well, what do we do now? Where do we go? I would say go talk to Wesley, but I don't think walking into Soul-Ful is the best idea right now."

  He glanced down at their bare feet and sleepwear they borrowed from Isabel. "We need clothes. We'll need someone to give us a hand."

  "Who do you want to call? You said I'm your only friend?"

  He thought for a moment. "Sadly, yes. You're my only living friend. But I can think of someone."

  Brooke recognized the guilt on his face, and her expression darkened. "No way. I'm not calling her."

  "I'm not sure if we have a choice."

  CHAPTER 17

  Brooke crossed her arms tightly as they sat parked outside a local restaurant, just three blocks away from Soul-Ful. Connor was saying something, but she wasn't listening. She could only think about how much she dreaded what was coming, and what she'd say and do.

  Her old life was gone, and her new life was in danger. The woman rounding the corner was a huge part of the reason why.

  Amber wore a low-cut shirt and tight jeans with high heels. Brooke fought the urge to leave the Lexus and slap her across the face. She couldn't look her in the eye as Connor leaned out the window and waved for her. Amber climbed in the back.

  "Hi," she said quietly. "I have to say, I'm surprised you called me. I didn't think you'd ever talk to me again. I had to tell Wesley I was sick."

  Brooke glanced at her once in the mirror before averting her eyes. "Someone tried to kill us last night."

  Amber covered her mouth. "Oh my God."

  "Who was it? Who's the boss at your other job?"

  "I already told Connor. I don't know. I've never met the guy, don't even know his name. Is that how you got your new body? You followed me from work?"

  "You never met the guy. How convenient."

  "I'm serious, Brooke. I'll go to the police right now if you want. I never meant—"

  "The police are involved, you idiot."

  "Hey," Connor cut in. "This isn't helping. Amber, listen, we're wanted by the police. Did you see the news?"

  She shook her head.

  "All we need is some clothes. We've got some money. Can you help us out?"

  "Only if you model them for me."

  "Amber," Brooke said. "If you flirt with him one more time, bat your eyes, flip your hair, whatever, I will choke you."

  Amber smiled slightly. "Finally. It only took a new body to get the fight going." She pointed out the window. "I hope you don't mind Target clothes. Brooke, do you know your size?"

  "No."

  "No problem. I'll figure it out."

  An hour later the three of them walked down a deserted alley, each carrying a shopping bag. Brooke rummaged through her new clothes, and had to admit Amber still had her good sense of taste. A pair of leggings with a blue blouse and cheap sandals.

  Amber gestured to a large dumpster in the middle of the alley.

  "Boys' dressing room on one side, girls' on the other."

  Connor had a look of fear on his face before sighing and ducking behind the dumpster.

  "No peeking," he said.

  "I'll try not to," Brooke said quickly, before Amber could say anything.

  Brooke searched for any people wandering near the ends of the alley, or any souls lingering about. Confident they were alone, she quickly stripped her borrowed sleepwear off. Amber stood behind her. They had seen each other naked before, but she couldn't help feeling Amber was examining her. She caught her expression as she held up a black thong.

  "Cute, Amber."

  "I thought you'd laugh at that."

  "I don't think I've ever seen you look at me with jealousy in your eyes before."

  Amber crossed her arms and shook her head. "There you go again. Always comparing yourself to me."

  Brooke was surprised at the attitude in her voice. "Excuse me?"

  "I've been jealous of you since we first met," Amber said. "You're my best friend, but sometimes you're not any better than the guys who chase me around. All they see is this." She gestured to her body. "They don't see anything else. You have so much more to give, and you just never do it. Everyone we meet loves you, but you always think about how much they love me, instead. That's why I get mad at you sometimes."

  Brooke was still stunned at her first sentence. "You're…jealous of me?"

  "God, Brooke, you just don't get it. Guys like me because I'm pretty and fun. But the guy on the other side of the dumpster, he wants nothing to do with me. Believe me, I tried. All he wants is you, and not just because of that slammin' new body of yours. He just sees your soul. And that's what I want."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I know he can talk to souls. I'm not as smart as you, but I figured it all out. He was talking to you outside the bar. He's been hung up on someone. It doesn't take a genius to see it's you."

  "Uh, guys?" Connor said. "I'm right here. I can hear you. Do you want to try whispering or something?"

  Brooke finished getting dressed and glanced at her clothes. She looked at Amber, finally without anger in her eyes.

  "How do I look?"

  Amber smiled and nodded, giving a thumbs-up. Connor slowly peeked around the corner, wearing jeans and a plain black tee-shirt.

  "Is it safe?" he asked.

  "Yeah, I'm dressed."

  "No, I mean a war's not starting over here, right? Are you two gonna at least try to get along?"

  Brooke managed to give Amber a small smile, and her best friend looked relieved. "No wars."

  "Good, good."

  A group of four souls slowly descended from the sky, all circling and dancing around each other. Amber let out a sound of disgust.

  "Peeping Toms," she said. "At least you guys got dressed first."

  Connor looked up and smiled. "He's gonna be upset when he realizes he was a minute late."

  *****

  Connor shook his head at the conversation the souls were having as they floated within earshot.

  "Look at that woman there with the white hair. You know she's resurrected. Hot, though."

  "Check out the blonde. She's not bad herself. You know these people, Ryan?"

  "I do, so stop looking at them like that."

  "Why not? It's not like they can hear us."

  "Still, it offends my delicate ears. Alright, guys, thanks for the help. I appreciate it."

  "Anytime. Glad to see you back in town."

  Three of the souls flew away while one remained.

  "Dude," Ryan said. "I'm back. Why are you hanging out in an alley?"

  "You should have been here a few minutes ago. You would have gotten a nice show."

  "Ah, man, damn. You didn't peel off, did you? I told you, I can't handle that."

  "I did."

  "Okay, then, I got here just in time. Man, hot women just surround you lately."

  "Stop it. You know Brooke, this here is her friend, Amber."

  "Amber? Ain't she the one that caused all this?"

  "Yes. Did you find anything out?"

  Amber leaned close to Brooke. "Does he do this all the time?"

  "Shh."

  "I got you a name. Kara Ervin. She and her daughter live over on Magnolia Street."

  "That's it?"

  "Hey, come on, man. You gotta do the rest. Go talk to her, ask her who you're looking for."

  "We can't ta
lk to her. The cops are after us, me and Brooke."

  "Are you freaking kidding me? Man, I can't leave you alone at all."

  Connor looked at Amber and smiled apologetically. "Amber, would you be up to doing us one more favor?"

  She looked at Brooke with confusion. "Uh, sure, I guess. Is it hard?"

  *****

  Connor and Brooke sat in the Lexus outside the home of Kara Ervin. Amber and Ryan had been inside for the past half hour. Connor drove, and Brooke shifted nervously next to him, constantly staring at the house and the block around her.

  "You're making me nervous," he said.

  She gave him a half smile. "You mean you're not already nervous?"

  "Nah, we're only wanted for murder."

  "What do you think is going on in there?"

  "I don't know. You know Amber, not me. If she can just get us a name, I'll be happy. Or if she can get Kara to agree to talk to us, that's good too."

  "Amber will come through. She can be real charming."

  "I've noticed."

  There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as he smiled at Brooke. Amber's words in the alley were still with him.

  "About what Amber said back there," he said. "I'm not stuck on you. We became friends when you died."

  "And Amber tried to land you?"

  He laughed. "Land me. I guess you could say that."

  She adjusted in her seat, giving him her attention. "You took me to a ballgame."

  "You said you'd never been. I thought it would be fun."

  "You have pictures of us posing all over the place."

  "The pictures were your idea."

  "Was it a date?"

  "Uh, what?"

  She laughed, and Connor was growing to like her new laugh as much as her old one. "How did the night end? What did we do?"

  He thought back to their kiss, and felt the heat in his cheeks. He turned away to avoid embarrassment, and Brooke simply nodded and crossed her arms, pleased with herself.

  "It was a date," she said. "It's a shame I can't remember it."

  He was saved from further humiliation when a soul left Kara's house. It stopped for a moment, hovering over the front lawn, before flying straight for their car. It passed through the windshield and settled over the back seat.

  "Ryan?"

  "Yeah."

  "What's going on in there?"

  "I have to give Amber credit, she's really stepping up. She told Kara everything, about how she's been stealing bodies, and how you two are in trouble."

  "Will she give Amber a name? We have to find out who we're dealing with."

  "Well, we do have a bit of a problem. Kara doesn't want to get involved. She seems to be a cool lady, but she doesn't want to risk any problems with getting her daughter a new body."

  "Damn."

  "What?" Brooke said. "What's going on?"

  "And there's one more serious thing," Ryan said.

  Connor held up a finger to Brooke, asking for quiet. "What's that?"

  "Kara's daughter died overnight. She just got back from the hospital not long ago, and her mood…let's just say it's not great."

  "Oh, man."

  He left the car, Brooke a step behind him. Ryan floated through the roof and followed. Ryan and Brooke both talked at the same time.

  "Dude, what are you doing? It's a little ugly in there."

  "Connor? Where are you going? What did Ryan say?"

  He walked across Kara's lawn and opened the front door, not bothering to knock. Loud voices assaulted his ears as he stepped into the living room. Kara stood in front of a couch, nearly shouting as she waved her hands around. Amber stood across from her, trying to calm her down. Amber reached out to try to touch Kara's shoulder, only to have her hand slapped away. A soul hovered in the doorway to the kitchen.

  "Don't touch me!" Kara shouted. She jumped back in surprise as Connor entered the living room with Brooke and Ryan. He closed the front door behind him. "I asked you to leave, and you bring more people in here? I'm calling the police."

  "You're not calling the police," Amber said quietly. "Not with what you want to do. We talked about this."

  "I want you to leave. All of you. Now."

  "Mrs. Ervin, please," Connor said. "I just need to talk."

  "Miss Ervin. And your friend has done enough talking. I'm really sorry for the trouble you're in, but it has nothing to do with me."

  "Actually, it does. You want to buy a body from the guy who's trying to kill us."

  Kara looked Brooke up and down. "Well, Amber told me you basically stole a body from him, and it looks like it fits her pretty well. So, why shouldn't my daughter and I do the same thing? Except we'll pay for ours." She looked at the soul near the kitchen, who Connor guessed was Kara's daughter. "Honey, please, stay where I can see you. I don't want to lose you."

  "Yeah, we stole a body—"

  "Uh, I don't remember any of that," Brooke said, raising her hand. "I died, and then I woke up. So, I'm gonna play dumb on the whole theft thing."

  Connor rolled his eyes. "Miss Ervin, what you're doing—"

  "Is illegal, I know," she finished. "It's illegal for anyone under twenty-one to be resurrected. Even if she was old enough, we don't have all that money, anyway. You don't think I know this? I just don't care. I only want my daughter back. I've been trying to get in touch with him all day."

  Amber took a step forward. "Kara—"

  "No. I'm done. Please leave. I don't want to talk about this anymore." Kara looked at Brooke with sadness in her eyes. "I'm so sorry you were killed. But…you came back. Legally, illegally, by chance, whatever, you're back now. Don't take that chance away from my daughter. Just move away, find somewhere to hide."

  "I'm officially dead. I have no driver's license, no place to live, no job."

  "I can't help you with that."

  "Yes, you can. Just help us catch this guy."

  "I asked you to leave."

  Brooke, Amber, and Kara continued to argue. Their voices trampled over each other, and Ryan hovered to different spots in the room, laughing occasionally.

  "Well, this is going nowhere. But it sure is fun," he said.

  Connor was quiet, unsure of what to say, until a female voice spoke behind him.

  "I guess it's good no one cares what I want."

  He spun to face the soul, and was ashamed he hadn't spoken to her. He was so lost in his own problems, in Brooke's, that he forgot there was another party he hadn't said one word to.

  "Everyone, quiet, please." They didn't hear him, and Connor had to raise his voice. "Shut up!"

  The living room finally went silent. He smiled at the soul and approached.

  "Hi. What's your name?"

  Kara let out a sound of disgust behind him. "Is this how desperate you are? You're gonna pretend to be one of those people on TV?"

  He ignored her, and watched as the soul rose a few feet and moved toward Ryan. "Is pretty-boy here for real?"

  Ryan flew toward the couch and hovered over the end cushion. "Try him."

  "Okay, sure, whatever. I'm Tonya."

  "Tonya, hi." Kara flinched when he said her name. "I'm Connor. These are my friends, Brooke and Amber."

  "You…can hear me? Is this some kind of joke?"

  "No joke. Don't ask me how, but I can hear spirits. Believe me, I've heard enough from that one over there to last a lifetime."

  "You wouldn't know what to do without me," Ryan said.

  Tonya settled back in front of Connor. "He keeps staring at me."

  Connor shook his head and looked at Ryan. "Come on, Ryan."

  "Dude, she's hot. I can't help it she's hot."

  "She's eighteen."

  "And that makes it okay. I was twenty-five two years ago, so all is right in the world."

  "What is he saying?" Kara said. "What is he saying about my daughter?"

  He motioned for her to calm down and returned his attention to Tonya. "Brooke and I are in trouble."

  "Yeah, I know.
I heard the whole story from Amber."

  "Well, what do you think?"

  "Could you say something to my mom for me?"

  "Of course."

  "I didn't want to die, but the pain is gone. I feel so good."

  Connor relayed the message to Kara, who started crying. Tonya rose near the ceiling and flew around the room, laughing.

  "I can fly," she said.

  "You picked that up pretty quick. It took forever for Brooke to fly."

  "I'm scared of—"

  "Heights, I know," he finished with a smile.

  He listened to Tonya, but frowned when it came time to repeat her words. "I'm not sure she's gonna believe that."

  "What?" Kara said, stepping forward to stand next to Connor.

  "She says she wants to help us find whoever tried to kill us."

  "Oh, that's convenient," Kara said.

  "See?" Connor said.

  He listened to her again, and could sense the tension in the room as everyone waited. Kara had a hand on his shoulder and dug in with her nails.

  "She says you never told her the details about what you were doing. You said her new body was a donation, and you had a bunch of lawyers looking for a loophole to resurrect her."

  Kara reached out and tried to run a hand along Tonya. "Oh, honey, I couldn't tell you. I didn't want you to worry."

  "She says she's not getting resurrected by a murderer."

  "Why not? She did." Kara pointed at Brooke.

  "Actually, our situation is a little different—"

  "Please, baby. You won't remember any of this when you have a new body. You can finish school, go to college, fall in love."

  "Are you sure?" Connor asked Tonya.

  "What did she say?"

  "She said no. She also said her father would never go along with something like this."

  "Tonya, I just…don't think I can live without you."

  "So," Tonya said. "You're doing this for yourself?"

  Connor shook his head. "I'm not saying that to her."

  "What?" Kara said.

  He brought his hands to his head. It didn't feel good to be in the middle of whatever argument mother and daughter were having.

  "Mom, I love you. But I'm not gonna let you throw every penny you have to some shady body gangster."

  "Preach it, sister," Ryan called.

  Connor glared at him.