"According to police records, the kills happen every twelve years," he said.

"Makes sense," said Claire. "That's the time Beth's runaway groom took to come back to town."

Alex managed to make her question while chewing a huge mouthful of pie. "Always in July?"

Mark nodded. "July full moon."

"What I don't get is why Ann marked me as well," said Claire, thoughtful. "I mean, Nancy bought the pendant before I did, so Beth already had a couple to target."

"Because it's never been only a couple." Mark chuckled at the way the Corbans gaped. "Every twelve years, a couple dies on the first night of July full moon. And two nights later, when the moon wanes, a girl in her early twenties follows."

"Wait," said Claire. "Why three kills? I get it if Ann brought her sister back, to let her she seek revenge. But that doesn't make sense if the ghost kills three people every time."

Alex waited for Mark's answer with a suspicious frown. He met her eyes with a tight smile.

"There's a repair shop down the road from the motel, and the owner's father happened to be best buddies with Beth's fiancé before he skipped town. Looks like that wasn't the first time he dumped a girl over another. Turns out he started off dating Ann, not Beth."

Claire sat up, fighting to keep her voice down. "You're saying he dumped Ann to date Beth, and then he dumped Beth over some other girl?"

"Yup."

"So the one seeking revenge is Ann, not Beth," said Alex slowly. "And she isn't only getting back at the man who broke her heart, but also at her own sister, who stole him away from her. The couple are surrogates for him and his last affair, and the girl is a surrogate for Beth."

"Oh, boy," muttered Claire.

"Bet Beth didn't die the night he ran away, but two nights later. And let me have some doubts about her really committing suicide."

Claire covered her mouth, shocked. "You think Ann killed her?" she whispered.

"It'd figure," said Mark.

"So what now?" the girl asked.

"We gotta check in at the motel, but before that, I gotta swing by Wilma's to grab more books. We need to find a way to keep Beth away from you until this is over."

"Can I hop in?" asked Mark. "Aidan's busy and I can use a ride." He shrugged with a little smile. "I still have some things to do."

Alex forced herself to put aside what they'd just talked and smile. "Sure. Drop me at the motel, and then Claire can take you wherever you need to go."

There were only a few cars at the motel parking lot, the Challenger among them, when a taxi drove to stop outside one of the rooms

Ουπς! Αυτή η εικόνα δεν ακολουθεί τους κανόνες περιεχομένου. Για να συνεχίσεις με την δημοσίευση, παρακαλώ αφαίρεσε την ή ανέβασε διαφορετική εικόνα.

There were only a few cars at the motel parking lot, the Challenger among them, when a taxi drove to stop outside one of the rooms. A moment later, Aidan opened the door and held it for Doctor Paulson to walk out, her hair still wet from the shower.

Aidan helped her into the backseat and leaned in to kiss her through the window. Then he straightened up to pat the roof of the taxi, watching it drive away with a satisfied little smile pursing his lips.

Until he spotted Alex.

She was coming from the reception office, pulling a rolling bag, a camping rucksack hanging from her shoulders, an open book on her spare hand.

"Way to go, tiger," she said, walking past him with her eyes turned to the rooms.

"Good morning to you too, Alex," Aidan grunted.

He turned around and saw her walk down that strip of rooms. She stopped at the last door, produced a key to compare the room number and came back toward Aidan.

"You gotta be kidding," he muttered. "Not next door again, please."

He recalled why he didn't believe in a higher power when Alex opened the room right next door to his.

She walked in and dropped her rucksack on the couch by the door, taking a first look around. The living area was nice and cozy, and she could see one of the beds at the other end of the room, past the bathroom.

She left the rolling bag by the couch too and headed to the table to leave the book there, still open. A firm knock on the door broke the silence. She didn't bother to get it. Instead, she marked the page she was reading and went to the fridge. Another loud knock thundered across the room as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and a third one as she gulped it up.

She finally yanked the door open before Aidan could knock for the fourth time, catching him with his fist in the air. She turned her back on him and grabbed her luggage to take it to the other side of the room.

Aidan knew he wasn't invited in, so he stayed at the doorway.

"What the fuck are you still doing here, Alex?" he asked in his trademark rough way.

"None of your fucking business," she replied from the beds.

"Don't you have more important things to do? A home to go back to? A niece to keep alive?"

Alex came back to the door and slammed it shut in his face.

The delivery would bring her lunch in twenty, so she had a while to keep reading. That book had an interesting variety of protection spells. Now she needed to find one to keep away a homicidal ghost controlled by a psycho granny.

"Fine, my bad! Sorry!"

Aidan's muffled voice from behind the closed door made her look up from the book, surprised to hear he was still there.

"I won't bring any more chicks here! Happy now?"

Alex turned to the door, not believing her ears. The arrogant prick! He stepped away from her door and stalked outside the front window. She let out a heartfelt laughter when he slammed shut the door next to hers.

Don't Open That Door - GoM 1Όπου ζουν οι ιστορίες. Ανακάλυψε τώρα