Page 67 of Grave Matter

“We come with rocks!” Munawar yells, and we twist around to see him approaching with Rav, both of them with handfuls. They start trying to skip them into the ocean, creating dazzling sprays of water and light.

I keep drinking, I keep laughing. I tuck my worries away and force myself to pay attention to my friends, to live in this very moment. This much, I know, is real. This is what counts. But if Lauren ever tries to leave early, I’m leaving on that plane with her.

And Kincaid?

If things in a few months are the same as they are now with us—full of tension that has nowhere to go—then I’m going to have to cut my losses with him. Hell, I should probably do that sooner than later. It’s only making things complicated.

“Okay, I’m going to bed,” I tell them after a while. Rav comes over and helps me to my feet. The dock sways, or maybe I’m swaying because of all the wine. That’s the problem with drinking a box of wine in tiny cups—you have no idea how much you’ve had.

“I’ll come with you,” Lauren says, trying to get up but falling back on her ass and giggling.

“No, you stay,” I tell her, stepping away from Rav. “I’m going straight to my room.”

“Promise you won’t go for a walk in the forest!” she yells, trying to grab me and sprawling out along the dock. “The forest has eyes!”

“Take care of her,” I say to Rav and Munawar. “I mean it.”

Munawar gives me the salute, which I know means he’s on the case.

I stagger down the dock pastMithrandir, but the yacht is still completely dark. Perhaps he’s working late in his office.

But I’m still mindful enough to know that visiting him would be a very bad idea, so as soon as I stagger up the ramp, steeper now thanks to the lowering tide, I head straight into the lodge and through the common room. Noor and Toshio are playing a game of backgammon by the fireplace, and I wave to them before I head up the stairs.

I hesitate a little before I unlock my door, wanting to give any ghosties time to hide, and then I open it and step in.

I flip on the light, though I could have sworn I left it on for this very reason, then take a look around the room. Everything looks normal. I go over to the bedside lamp and flick it on for extra light.

Then, I slowly start getting undressed. I take off my hoodie, long-sleeved T-shirt and bra, then step out of my yoga pants, throwing them onto my bed. Then I cross the room to my dresser and take out my pajama top, pulling it on over my head. I spilled coffee on the bottoms this morning, so they’re in a pile in the corner of the room, waiting for laundry day.

I turn around and go to the bathroom sink, grabbing a tub of cleansing balm and rubbing it on my face, staring at myself inthe mirror. My eyes are a little glassy, and I look exhausted. I just hope I don’t have a hangover tomorrow.

I rinse my face, mentally making a note to drink more water. I’m patting my skin dry with a towel when I hear athumpfrom behind me.

I go dead still.

My heart sticks to my chest.

Slowly, very slowly, I turn around to look.

My room is empty.

I step out of the bathroom and look around, wondering what it could have been that made the noise when I notice all my clothes are in the middle of the floor.

I stare at them blankly. I could have sworn I placed them all on the bed in a pile.

And my hoodie is almost totally under the bed, only the arms sticking out.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my hummingbird heart, and then walk across the room and stop.

What if there’s something underneath the bed?

I know it’s a silly thought—why should there be anything under there?

But I can’t help it. Goosebumps cover my arms, my spine like ice.

Just get on your knees and look under the bed.

I stare at the hoodie.