You twist that any harder, you’ll break it,” Lily said, wrapping her fingers around the railing leading upstairs.
Cassie wiped her palms on her pajama pants as she turned to face her mother. “Sorry. Just…checking.”
“For the fifth time,” Lily replied as she stepped over to her daughter and wrapped an arm around her. “It’s locked, Cass. The police are outside.”
“And me,” Ri said as she wheeled into the foyer. “I will guard the door all night. And if you would have given me a pistol, I could have–“
“Okay,” Lily said as she patted Cassie’s shoulder. “Even I am not on board with giving you a weapon, Ri.”
“I have carried a gun and a sword. I hardly think that it’s a stretch to give me one now simply because of my current form.”
“That’s not the reason.” Lily shook her head.
Cassie eyed the ghost, now wandering around in the form of a Halloween animatronic doll. The thought of her toting a gun around the house was frightening. “First of all, how are you even going to hold it? You have to hold that journal and your little plastic hands aren’t quite made for holding a gun and squeezing a trigger.”
Ri sighed audibly. “I am disturbed by my limitations, yes. But I am still capable of handling a weapon.”
“I disagree. I read your journals, remember? I know you’re a hothead.” Lily guided Cassie up the stairs.
Ri followed behind them, floating in the air as they made their way to the second story. “Hothead?!”
Lily shot her a knowing glance. “Yes, a hothead. When you found out that your brother-in-law was hurting your sister, you stormed in the house and held him at sword point.”
“That was necessary and the rightful action,” Ri answered.
Lily shrugged. “I didn’t say it was unnecessary, just that you were a bit…quick on the trigger there.”
“There was no trigger. I had a sword.” Ri’s wheels hit the hardwood upstairs and ticked along as Lily led Cassie down the hall.
“Yes, but you also had a trigger during the duel. And you shot him.” Lily recounted the tale of the fateful duel, her fingers tracing the railing that overlooked the foyer.
Cassie slowed her steps, facing the doll. “What? You killed someone in a duel?”
“Yes and no.” Ri rolled into Cassie’s bedroom, preceding the two women. “I wasn’t in the duel, but I killed my sister’s husband. He was displaying unsportsmanlike conduct during the battle.”
“The man tried to kill Mr. Johnson by turning too fast–“ Lily started to explain when Cassie interrupted her.
“Johnson,” Cassie spurted as she sank onto her bed, her forehead creasing. “Wait…who was Mr. Johnson?”
“Clif’s first mate,” Ri answered.
“Clif…” Cassie’s voice trailed off as she bit into her lower lip.
“Yes, my brother, Clif. The one hiding inside that other person you call Nate. He’s Clif. That is Clif.” Ri’s voice took on an annoyed tone.
“Yes, but…” Cassie’s words trailed off, her features pinching further. She seemed to be missing some connection that nagged at her.
“But what?” Lily asked.
Cassie raised her gaze to her mother before she shook her head. “Wait, no, I’m sorry, I’m just tired. I’m connecting things that don’t fit together.”
“I’m not following you, Cass,” Lily said, knitting her brows. “Can you back up and let the old folks in the room in on your secret?”
“I am not that old,” Ri said.
“You’re way older than me, by at least a hundred years,” Lily said.
“Hahahaha,” the ghost mocked. “Not funny. Explain, Cassie.”
