“I don’t know.” He lowered his eyes and looked uncomfortable. “I mean, it wasn’t like a crush. It was just I really liked her, and she always thought I was such a dork. But then in the last year or so, something changed, and she started looking at me like I was a person, and not some geeky guy running around with her older sister. And then I think … I don’t know.”

“So you’ve been into Gemma for a really long time?” Harper asked, still trying to process what he was saying.

“I guess so,” he admitted. “Sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” Harper asked.

“Because we were friends, and I didn’t tell you?” Alex said as if he weren’t sure why he was apologizing. “I feel like I wasn’t supposed to have a crush on your sister.”

“Honestly, I’m fine with you about it,” Harper said, smiling at him to prove it. “It’s just strange to me that I didn’t realize you did.”

“So that’s why I’m kinda being such a freak about all of this,” he said with a sad smile. “I finally get to be with Gemma, and then she’s … gone.”

“That would make me crazy, too.” She twirled the bottle of water in her hands, staring down at it as she asked him the next question. “So … are you in love with Gemma?”

“I…” He ran a hand through his brown hair and hesitated to answer.

Marcy pulled up in front of the house, honking the horn on her Gremlin loudly as she parked. She got out of the car, carrying a book bag with Captain Planet on it as she walked up to the house.

“You cats and kittens ready to contact some spirits?” Marcy asked, but before anyone could answer, she noticed Alex’s pocketknife. “Is that a batarang? Are you planning to batarang the spirit of your dead best friend?”

“No.” He flipped out the blade to show her. “It’s a knife.”

“Oh, so you’re gonna stab a ghost,” Marcy said. “That’s so much better.”

“I didn’t know what to bring. I thought we might need something to defend ourselves,” Alex said.

“Well, we don’t,” Marcy said. “Now come on. Let’s do this thing.” Marcy turned and started walking away.

“Where are you going?” Alex asked, jumping up.

“Yeah, where is this thing taking place?” Harper asked as she followed Marcy and Alex away from their houses.

“Luke’s body was found in the wooded area by the bay, right?” Marcy asked. “That’s where we’re going. His connection to the earth will be the strongest there. That’ll make him easier to contact.”