The Lost: Book Two, The Eddie McCloskey Series (The Unearthed 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

sorry, Ana. I wish I could help you but I’ve got my own problems. Good luck and work hard. If something’s there, you’ll find it.”
    They were all meaningless platitudes.
    Ana buried her face in her hands for a moment. She wiped under her eyes and looked back up. Why was she so upset? She hardly knew him, so it wasn’t about Eddie leaving.
    It had to be about the paranormal activity. But why would she take it this personally?
    Then she turned to face him and put on a brave smile.
    “I think she’s trying to tell me something,” Ana said. “That’s why I’m so excited.”
    Eddie was lost. “Who’s trying to tell you something?”
    “Tessa.”
    The name didn’t register, but he figured she was referring to the girl who’d died years ago. It was the preferred theory of the locals, that Tessa was the one causing all this activity. That old cliche of the vengeful spirit wreaking havoc against those who wronged her.
    Eddie was starting to doubt Ana’s sanity. Why would Tessa try to communicate with Ana specifically? And why would she—
    “She was your sister.”

Ten
     
    A lone pick-up truck negotiated its way down the tiny road. Eddie looked away from the teary twenty-two year old in the VW and eyed his car on the other side of the parking lot. The music coming from the jukebox in the bar suddenly quit, giving them quiet.
    “Yes, she was my sister,” Ana said.
    Eddie knew he should just shut up and go. He needed to get out now.
    Ana left the car running and got out. She put her forearms on the roof of the VW and looked over at him. Her tears glistened in the weak light coming from the bar.
    “I want to know what happened to her, Eddie. Or whatever it is she’s trying to tell me. I want to know. I have to know.”
    “Your sister,” Eddie said again.
    Ana nodded.
    He looked off into the middle distance, remembering the day Tim had been killed. He could still feel the sticky wetness of Tim’s blood as it pumped from the wound, the knife buried in his brother’s chest. The look of pain on his brother’s face.
    His mouth twitched at the memory. “Knowing what happened won’t make it any easier.”
    “I don’t care. I need to know and so would you if it was your sister.”
    Eddie slowly shook his head, but she was right. He turned to look at her.
    He’d always thought of her as cute in a pixieish sort of way, looking closer to seventeen than twenty-two. She’d get carded for the next eight years, easy. But in this moment she looked different. Resolute and unafraid, even noble. Her chin was a little prouder. Her eyes a little sharper. Eddie admired her for that.
    “If you’ve studied hauntings, then you know that most are just recordings. No intelligence there.” The one bag was getting heavy in his hand so he put it on the ground. “Even if it is Tessa, she’s probably not saying anything.”
    He let that sink in and added, “That is, if anything is actually occurring.”
    She rose to her full height.
    “Things are definitely happening. Most everyone in town has seen or heard something.”
    Arguing with her was fruitless he knew. She had the passion of a born-again and the belief of the innocent. 
    She came around the front of the car and stood close to him. She put her tiny hand on his shoulder. “I’m really sorry about your brother, Eddie.”
    Her touch made him go still.
    She surprised him by wrapping her arms around him and crying. He struggled to keep his resolve.
    He clamped his jaw shut. She was way too close to the deceased to maintain any sort of objectivity. A bias would taint the entire investigation.
    “And I’m sorry about what happened to Tessa. I hope you find something.”
    He broke the hug and moved away from the VW. She didn’t follow. The night was cold, the wind bitter. It was highway time. He headed for his car.
    Got about halfway.
    “Please,” she said.

Eleven
     
    “ I don’t know about you,” she said once they were back in her car. “But I could use a