Chapter 3

“At least you weren’t locked out on the roof.”

“I’m not in the mood for sarcasm,” Jake stated, gritting his teeth as he soaped up his old sedan in his driveway.

“I was trying to look on the bright side,” Phinn replied. “It’s not unheard of from our past. Remember the time during The Penthouse Harlot–”

“You had to bring that up!” Jake interrupted with his words and the squirt of water from the hose that nearly hit his partner.

“Don’t get me wet!”

“How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?”

“I wasn’t needling you. I merely mentioned it–”

“To remind me of a past screwup!”

“Well, you did trap me on the roof, too! Alright, alright, let’s calm down. I’m sorry if you took it that way, but it wasn’t my intent. Truce?”

"Fine…truce," Jake agreed reluctantly. Calling the teen detective's mood grumpy this morning would be an understatement. He'd rolled out of bed still upset over his surveillance mix-up. His foul mood even caused him to forget to tell Phinn about the upcoming meet-and-greet event.

“Okay. We don’t have long. Mom decided bright and early this morning that I should volunteer at the nursing home as part of my punishment,” Phinn revealed.

“Really? But you hate doing charity work.”

“Fucking waste of time,” Phinn complained. “Plus, I have to talk to people. Ugh!”

“Wait,” Jake said, holding up a hand. “The nursing home agreed to this? Even after Pug–”

“I know! You’d think they wouldn’t want our family anywhere near that place except for our monthly visit. Apparently, Mom wants Great-Aunt Phillippa to see me again since we were in the news,” Phinn explained. “Let’s skip that for now. What’s your next step in the case?”

“I don’t have to go into Magnum’s today. So that’s a win,” Jake said, spraying the front of his car clean.

"Is it? I’d think watching over one of your suspects might be a good idea," Phinn replied once Jake switched the hose off again. He noted the extra car in the garage. "Wait, is your dad sick?"

“No. The flu at Smash’s is screwing up his schedule. Rita’s filling in over there for lunch again, with Dad taking the evening shift. That leaves Steve handling the day shift at the bar. But your point is incorrect, as Elexis isn’t working until tonight.”

“Okay, so what’s on tap for today?”

“I’m going to do reconnaissance. I found the blonde who followed Brett to The Flirty Mermaid on Monday. Her–”

“Where you almost ran into Tara,” Phinn noted.

“Don’t remind me!’ Jake ordered, shuddering over his ex-girlfriend.

“The blonde’s picture and profile are up on Dowell, Robburn & Eisenberg’s website. I’m going to attempt to track down where she lives. I already got the addresses for Danica and Elexis from the bar’s records. I want to stop at each to get an idea of their appearance and surroundings,” Jake explained.

"Ah, good idea," Phinn praised. "Seeing them first in the daylight should help immensely if you follow Utley there at night. How many roommates do Danica and Ashlynn have?"

“Six total. Their house is on the southwest side near the library branch.”

“Of course. I know the area. A good number of Bentworth students rent houses there if they don’t want to live in Green Grove. It’s cheaper and closer to Edgewater’s nightlife,” Phinn noted.

“The two youngest roommates aren’t from the area and went home for the summer. Another is working an internship in Anchor Rock. She usually comes back here every other weekend. The other graduate besides Danica is still in town, but she tends to stay at her boyfriend’s place most nights now,” Jake reported on the additional information he’d picked up at Magnum’s.

"So, in theory, Brett and Ashlynn could be using the house while Danica is at work. It's risky, but that could be part of the thrill," Phinn speculated. "However, you could be on the wrong track entirely."

“How so?”

“Belinda and, uh, what’s his name, only suggested two names they know from Magnum’s. As you already discovered, Utley has other possibilities in his life who could be the other woman or women.”

“Steve,’ Jake supplied the name before addressing the point. “I know. This case is fragile. I should’ve thought it over more before agreeing. It’s just that I worry about Danica.”

“Jealousy often overrides common sense.”

Jake shrugged. He knew his feelings for the beautiful brunette caused him to take a case he probably shouldn't have. The sound of Phinn's front door opening cut off any response.

“We leave in thirty minutes. Make sure you’re ready,” Pamela announced.

“Mom, wait!” Phinn called over, causing his mother to pause in the doorway. “Jake’s going to come with us.”

“I’m wh…” Jake trailed off his question upon catching his old friend’s hand signal.

“Why would he want to come with?” Pamela questioned.

“Come on, Mom, you know Jake is all into that charity shit,” Phinn responded, causing the older woman to nod. Her son’s friend certainly compensated for Phinn’s lack of empathy. “Besides, I can use a second pair of eyes.”

“A second pair of…Why?”

“Jake can be my lookout.”

“Why on earth would you need a lookout?” Pamela began to question in confusion until suspicion replaced it. “What are you planning to do now? The people at the nursing home need rest, not excitement. You can’t disturb them, Phineas.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. We won’t disturb them until we track down the culprit,” the bespectacled teen added cryptically.

As realization dawned, Jake shook his head slightly. Of course, Phinn always had a way to avoid paying the consequences for their investigations. What made him a great detective also meant he knew what buttons to push.

“Track down? What culprit? What are you planning, Phinny?”

“Haven’t you noticed the dwindling residents and new faces when we visit lately? People are dying rapidly at that establishment.”

"People die in nursing homes. It's a sad fact of life. There is nothing odd about it," Pamela stated.

"No, something is fishy there. I looked into their numbers, and the **** rate has spiked in recent months. Mom, we might have one of those Angels of Mercy taking people out. It's a good thing I'm going in as an undercover volunteer. We don't want anything happening to Aunt Phillippa."

“Angel of…No, no, no! You are volunteering because of your mystery obsession, not to cause more trouble. I will not allow it! We’re staying home!”

“But, Moooom!” Phinn whined. “We have to catch the killer!”

"No! I've made my decision, and it's final!" Pamela declared, entering the house and slamming the door shut behind her.

“Works all the time,” Phinn proclaimed, smirking.

“For you. My mom knows you’re little games,” Jake pointed out, sighing.

---

Sitting in the parking garage, Jake listened to the car radio while eating his late lunch or early dinner. Checking the three locations had gone quicker than expected, leaving him with free time. Rather than add an unnecessary stop, Jake decided to start his surveillance early. Brett could always leave work early, as his hours over the last two days had differed. However, the temperature had begun to rise, making the parking garage hot and uncomfortable.

Biting into his large cheeseburger from Baron Broil’s, Jake used his semi-clean hand to type a message. The teen had initially tried to pass the time by listening to music, but the sound attracted the attention of people passing by due to the rolled-down car windows. Sitting around for the third straight day in the parking garage, the junior sleuth didn’t want to stand out.

With Luke and Andre still grounded, his friend group seemed bored at the moment. Wally Weaver sounded antsy to do anything, but Kody O'Keefe whined about not having any money. Danny Youngberry, their group's youngest and newest member, was on a family vacation while Heath Thune had gone radio silent. Jake suspected that Heath and Shane Grogan were pissed at him for punching Rick Valance last week.

That's their problem. Rick got what he deserved for spreading lies about us and our progress during the treasure hunt. He put us in danger and deserved way more than a punch.

The ringing of a phone rocked Jake from his thoughts. Searching the area, the teen slouched as he heard and saw Brett Utley answer his phone. The young lawyer shook his head while looking up at the ceiling before hitting the answer button.

“Seriously? An actual phone call? I just got your message,” Brett said, chuckling. “No, I can meet you there. It’s not a big deal. Fine, if you insist. I’m heading home now. Give me twenty minutes. Alright, yeah.”

Intrigued by the conversation, Jake followed Utley’s vehicle toward his condominium. It sounds like he’s got plans with someone. But that’s not the way he usually talks to Danica. Could this be the night I catch him?

Upon arrival at Brett's building, Jake wasn’t thrilled with his parking options. Several barricades blocked one of the curbs in anticipation of repairs. His first-night spot sat open on the corner, but the investigator knew better than to park there. People eventually noticed a car parked in the same location too often. Jake drove around the building before pulling up across from the condo's entrance. He wanted a close-up view of whoever showed up. Facing north, Jake assumed it would be the likely direction Brett might take if he left again.

Leaning against the passenger door, Jake maintained a low profile while he waited. He made a good call as the jerk from last night came home and stared in disgust at the old vehicle as he walked past on the opposite side of the street. Seeking a bit of ****, the teen used his binoculars to note the license plate. Not that he needed to, as the asshole drove a hideous, bright yellow sports car. If time permitted, the roadster’s tires would be flat by morning.

As Jake finished copying the number, a dark blue sedan approached from the opposite direction to stop in front of the condominium’s entrance. Not expecting anything with this new arrival, Jake shot up in the seat as he saw Brett exit the building and get into the car. Dropping a curse, Jake slid behind the wheel and started the engine.

As the dark blue sedan sped off, Jake pulled forward to turn his car around. However, a loud honk stopped him as a car passed by. Starting to panic, the teen drove partially onto the curb during his hasty direction change.

With the dark blue sedan far off in the distance, Jake gunned his ancient heap of junk. Suddenly, a royal blue vehicle pulled out of a side street and behind his target. Jake slammed the pedal to the floor and barely made it through an intersection as the light turned red.

Slowly gaining on his target, Jake managed to keep pace as the vehicle made several turns that took it south and west. Eventually, a red pickup truck got behind the royal blue trail car. With his view blocked and traffic filling up on the new road, Jake frantically scanned ahead.

Suddenly, on a long straight stretch of the road, the chaser saw the dark blue sedan make a left turn at an intersection.

“Shit!” Jake yelled as the far-off light turned yellow.

Without hesitating, the teen immediately turned left down a side street. Racing down the narrow, traffic-less road at more than twenty miles per hour over the speed limit, Jake tried to figure out his precise location. He quickly figured out that Brett and his companion were headed west.

Creeping up to thirty over the speed limit, Jake accidentally blew past a stop sign. Cringing, Jake mouthed a sorry to anyone who might have been nearby. Finally reaching another major street, Jake took a right. Reaching the road that Brett’s vehicle took, the teen turned left.

Only he didn’t see the dark blue sedan anywhere.

The frustrated teen continued to drive on the road for another five minutes of searching before he gave up at yet another major intersection. His target could’ve split off down a busy street several times. In defeat, Jake entered a restaurant parking lot to decide on his next course.

“Dammit!” the angry detective cursed, slamming his fist down on the dashboard.

I didn’t even get a glimpse of the driver. So I don’t know their hair color or whether it was a woman. I fucked up royally!

Taking a long moment to calm down, Jake reassessed the situation. It hadn’t been Brett’s blonde coworker who picked him up. She drove a black car, not a blue one. Not as familiar with Edgewater's south side, Jake used his binoculars to find a street sign. Interestingly enough, he wasn’t more than five minutes away from Danica and Ashlynn’s place. Unsure of the redhead’s car, Jake needed to consider the possibility that she’d been the one to pick up Brett. However, Danica should be off tonight unless the flu caused more schedule changes.

Once a huge farm owned by the Karlson family, Karlson Creek sprang up as a neighborhood around the turn of the 20th century. Catering primarily to immigrant families working at several nearby factories, it had been a quieter area than Rustburg, the city’s primary factory district. However, time not only shuttered the pair of factories but also diverted and polluted the creek that served as the area’s namesake. These days, the dried-up and buried creek only existed as a name or in the memories of Edgewater’s oldest remaining citizens.

The large homes, originally built for multiple generations to live under the same roof, now serve primarily as rental homes for college students or young professionals just starting out in the world. Many of the houses had been subdivided into two floors for rental purposes.

The American Craftsman-style house that Danica and Ashlynn lived in wasn't one of those homes. Parking across the street, Jake studied the brown and dark green house for the second time that day. A large covered front porch sat in one corner beside the long driveway leading to a detached garage. Still light outside, Jake searched the lower-level and dormer windows upstairs on the large slanted front roof for any sign of life inside.

Surrounded by several large southern magnolia trees, the sagging branches during the day added to the dark atmosphere around the home. Large, overgrown bushes dotted the grounds around the house, indicating a landlord unconcerned about outdoor upkeep.

Checking around, Jake saw that the house to the right of Danica’s was a Dutch Colonial Revival. Its gambrelled roof resulted in only second-story windows in the front and back. The teen detective noted this as it provided ample cover to go along with the trees and bushes. Thus, the nearest neighbor probably wouldn't notice if Jake wanted to check on the garage.

Unsure about his next move, Jake decided to wait. His presence shouldn't stand out in such a busy neighborhood, filled with students coming and going. Partially lying on the bench seat, Jake got comfortable for his wait.

And the sleuth waited and waited.

Occasionally, a message broke up the silence and boredom. The far more common distractions were the attractive young women arriving home after a day of work, only to leave all dolled up for a date. Most impressive was the cast of gorgeous girls across the street and two homes over from Danica’s. The skimpy outfits for a night on the town had Jake once again regretting the loss of a summer fling.

Eventually, dusk arrived. Likely attached to a timer, the front porch light turned on outside the home he watched. While stretching from the stiffness of three days on stakeout, Jake first noticed the tall man in the hooded light jacket. For such a hot day, wearing a coat caught the high school gumshoe’s attention. But what really piqued his interest was the raised hood. Despite the warm weather, no rain or wind was in the forecast. So why would anyone wear a jacket with the hood over his head?

With his head down, the man approached Jake’s location on the sidewalk opposite him. Sensing something might be amiss, Jake lowered himself further on the seat. Watching, he saw the man’s brisk pace slow as he passed the same house that interested Jake. Even more intriguing, the man raised his head to the side while he passed the empty home before lowering it again after passing it.

Jake’s gaze followed the man until he vanished down the road. Shrugging it off as nothing from an odd person, the teen grabbed his water bottle for a drink. Sitting upright, Jake watched as the streetlights finally turned on.

Suddenly, the blond-haired investigator stiffened as he caught a person approaching in the rearview mirror. It was the hooded man again, only this time he walked on the sidewalk near Jake. The teen hesitated briefly with the man several homes away before diving onto the bench seat.

Estimating the time it would take to pass his location, Jake added several more seconds to account for another possible slowdown. Waiting for what he hoped would be the proper amount of time, Jake slowly lifted his head. The hooded man had passed and was now three houses down the road.

Curious, Jake grabbed his mini-binoculars. With the limited light provided by the streetlamps and porch lights, Jake followed the man for a couple of more houses until he stopped, looked up and down the street, and crossed it. The hooded man backtracked two homes before turning down a street three houses from Danica’s.

With years of experience, Jake felt something wasn’t right about this man. Expecting him to return, the teen occasionally checked up and down the street every few minutes. After nearly twenty minutes, Jake began to tire from having spent several nights watching people.

Placing his head sideways against the steering wheel, Jake closed his eyes for a moment. Once he opened them, the junior sleuth froze. In his position, Jake looked straight toward the front porch. Just off to the side and in the back, he saw movement near the garage in the back of the property. Grabbing his binoculars off the seat, he turned back to find nothing.

Did I just imagine that? No, somebody was in the shadows. I know it.

After scanning the street, sidewalks, and nearby porches, Jake moved toward the passenger door. He quickly reached under the seat and pulled out a piece of cardboard, then grabbed a roll of duct tape, a compact case, and his small flashlight from the glove box. With the dome light sufficiently covered by the taped cardboard, Jake slid out of the passenger side door.

Keeping low while spying over the sedan’s hood, Jake stood up and walked down the sidewalk until he was out of sight from Danica’s house. Once satisfied, the teen crossed the street and made his way back. Using a large bush near the next-door neighbor’s house, Jake waited and watched.

In the dim light, Jake didn’t see anyone near the garage or the part of the house’s rear that he could see. Slowly inching his way along the neighbor’s home, Jake continued to watch for signs of movement. From his new position, he spotted a light fixture hanging above the rear door, but it wasn’t on.

Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared briefly before vanishing.

However, the momentary appearance of light caused Jake’s blood to turn cold. The light had come from inside Danica’s rented house. Likely a room facing the tiny backyard.

Holy shit! That was a flashlight! Jake realized.

With every suspicion he’d had about the hooded man coming true, the teen no longer hesitated. Moving into a half-crouch, Jake hurried across the two-car garage’s main door. Reaching the house’s rear door, the investigator slowly opened the screen door. With barely a squeak, he swung it open wide enough for him to slide inside. Then, he repeated the process with the home’s main door.

Locked, which surprised Jake.

Mumbling, Jake pulled out the compact case from his pocket. With a glance in each direction, the teen opened the case to reveal his lockpicking kit. Although nowhere near as skilled as Phinn or Dusty, Jake could manage to pick a lock. It just usually took him far longer to do so.

Seven agonizing minutes passed until Jake finished unlocking the deadbolt, the second of the two door locks. Closing the case and slipping it back inside his rear pocket, Jake gave the neighborhood one more survey before turning the knob.

After slipping inside and quietly closing the doors behind him, Jake waited for his eyes to adjust to the near-total darkness. Without the back porch light on, the only light filtering inside came from the front porch and the streetlamps. Standing just inside, Jake noticed several coat hooks on the wall to his left. It appeared to be a small hallway with stairs in front of him leading down to the basement and three stairs to his right leading up to the kitchen.

Bracing his hands on the short railing and wall, the stocky athlete couldn’t risk a squeaky stair. Once inside the kitchen, Jake noticed the room had only one other entrance. Stepping through the open entryway, he found an L-shaped hallway.

With the flashlight likely coming from a room to his right, Jake slowly tiptoed that way. The first door he came to stood open. A quick glance inside revealed a bathroom. Almost ready to bypass the bathroom, Jake had second thoughts. An intruder hiding in a bathtub or shower behind a curtain might be a cliche to most people. Yet, Busybody, Incorporated had encountered the horror film staple several times over the years.

Fortunately, he didn’t find the hooded man lurking in there with a knife.

Returning to the hallway, light trickled out from the edges of a window shade directly ahead. The smattering of light allowed Jake to notice two doors opposite one another. The door on the right side should be the flashlight’s point of origin.

Jake braced himself as he gripped the doorknob. Turning it as slowly as possible, he waited for signs that someone might still be in the room. With the softest of touches, the investigator pushed the door open. Inside, Jake found a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a vanity bench set, a desk, and a tall tripod with a ring light at the top.

Gently closing the door, Jake risked turning his flashlight on. With an eye on the bed, he made his way to a door on the shared wall with the bathroom. Shining the light inside the closet, Jake pushed his hand and foot into the clothes racks. Satisfied that nobody was inside, Jake quickly looked under the bed.

Returning to the bedroom door, Jake stopped abruptly after hearing a soft cry. Gently opening the door, the cry grew in volume. However, without one barrier, the teen recognized the sound of a cat meowing at the other door. Slowly opening it, an orange tabby cat darted through the slight space. Jake watched as it hurried down the hallway and turned into the kitchen.

Cheddar. Yeah, that’s the name Danica mentioned. It’s the house cat that all the girls share. Still, was I wrong to let it out of the room?

Although he doubted the hooded man would be inside the same room as Cheddar, Jake conducted a brief search. Finished, Jake saw the orange cat leave the kitchen and dart down the other hallway. Suddenly, the private investigator wondered if he should’ve checked the basement first.

No, I doubt the guy went downstairs. He’s more likely upstairs in one of the other bedrooms.

Working on that assumption, Jake still checked a small den and the living room/dining room. With light shining in from the street and porch light, he didn’t need to use his flashlight to check behind furniture. However, the closet near the front porch proved tricky. If the intruder had heard him, the closet might be a likely hiding spot. So he had to open the door while shining the light inside quickly.

A slight squeak and a little bang sounded from whipping the door open. Using his leg, Jake kicked at the coats in the deep closet. Once finished, he conducted the excruciatingly slow climb up the stairs. Jake managed to avoid significant squeaks by bracing his weight before each step. Yet, anyone carefully listening in the silent house might have noticed the difference.

Reaching the top, Jake took three steps toward the closest door on his right, only for Cheddar to race down the hallway. With a loud meow, the cat rushed past Jake and down the stairs. At that moment, Jake realized the mistake he’d made.

Shit! What if the intruder–

Jumping forward past the door, Jake put his back to the end of the hallway so that he could watch the open door. With a closed door to his left, the teen sleuth also could see an open door far ahead, past the stairs, for a bedroom that faced the street.

Tense from the stressful situation, Jake never finished formulating a new plan as he felt cold air race down his neck and back. Shivering, the teen also noticed a white glow appear…from behind him.

Turning around, a bright white light nearly blinded Jake before something contacted his chest forcefully. The blow sent the already off-balance teen backward, where he fell toward the floor, hitting his head partially on the edge of a bookshelf.

Losing consciousness, Jake’s upper body crumpled to the floor.

With his head ringing, Jake slowly woke to a weight on his chest and loud crying. Reaching up, he felt the side of his head while opening his eyes. Two amber eyes met his. A pleased meow followed.

“Hi, Cheddar. I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Jake,” the groggy teen greeted, wondering if his words made sense or came out as gibberish.

Suddenly, the tabby cat’s head perked up before it turned and raced downstairs. Still in a daze, Jake heard a door open and wondered if the strange intruder had finally fled. Or had he returned to finish the teen off?

Extremely loud meows came from downstairs.

“Hey, Ched, did you miss us?”

Jake couldn't see the orange cat race around in circles, but heard the cries.

“I think he did,” a second voice said, leading to more meows.

“He’s sure acting odd. What the…”

“Did he throw up again upstairs? Cheddar, did you cough up another hairball?”

“He sure wants us to follow. Usually, he disappears after he coughs one up.”

“Aargh!” Jake screamed as the hallway light flicked on. Shutting his eyes tightly, he threw an arm over them as an extra precaution.

“What was that?”

Footsteps sounded along with meows right next to Jake.

“Who the hell? Call the cops!”

“Wait…Jake?” Danica asked, sounding uncertain.

“T-Turn the light off,” the teen directed.

Several minutes later, Jake sat on the living room couch with a bag of frozen peas against the side of his head. Shaken but with the cobwebs clearing, Jake attempted to create a believable lie for his appearance. Claiming to be in the neighborhood for another case, the junior investigator had noticed the hooded man acting strangely. Peeling off to follow him, Jake told the truth about the man’s interest in their home.

“He walked up and down the street to make sure we weren’t home?” Ashlynn double-checked.

“Yeah, I thought this house looked familiar. I’m not sure why. Maybe you showed me a picture of it,” Jake suggested, looking at Danica.

The brunette nodded as it sounded like something she’d do.

“I wasn’t sure, so–” Jake stopped as somebody knocked on the front door before entering.

“You checked our mail, didn’t you? I told you it looked rummaged through,” Ashlynn told Danica.

"Uh, yeah, I did," Jake lied while wondering when the intruder might have stopped to go through it. He never went near the front porch when I watched, and I doubt he stopped to check on the way out.

The newcomer happened to be a nursing student who lived across the street. Although pretty, Jake felt a little disappointed that Nancy wasn't from the hot girls' house. She quickly placed a medical bag on the coffee table and used a flashlight to examine Jake's eyes.

“I’d say you likely have a concussion, but I can’t judge the severity.”

“Nancy’s a nursing student, but she’s considering changing majors. We think she’d make a great doctor,” Danica praised.

“Wait, do you lock your cat inside a bedroom when you leave?” Jake questioned, returning to what he thought was wrong in this situation.

“Lock Cheddar up?” Danica repeated, aghast at the idea.

“Absolutely not! I left my bedroom door open with the door jam in for him,” Ashlynn insisted.

“Is your bedroom the one directly behind here?” Jake inquired, referring to the bedroom behind the living room, where he had let the cat out.

“No, mine is the far back bedroom. Why?” Ashlynn asked.

“The one with the light ring? That’s where I first noticed the flashlight inside. Or I think it was a flashlight. I can’t say for sure now after that weird bright glow. I found Cheddar locked in the room across from yours,” Jake revealed. Before he could finish, the redhead had already rushed out of the room.

“I realized too late that you probably didn’t lock your cat up. He must have put him inside the other bedroom. That alerted the guy to someone else being inside the house, when I let him out,” Jake admitted.

“It’s possible he trapped himself. We have to be careful. Ched likes to play with doors, and can sometimes lock himself in a room,” Danica noted, patting the cat’s back. “That’s why doors are closed or propped open with door jams.”

Danica’s phone buzzed with an incoming message. She quickly typed a response before noticing Jake’s inquisitive expression.

“Brett’s on his way.”

“You weren’t with him?” Jake queried, returning to his original question of the night.

“No, he went to the Eels’ game,” Danica replied, meaning the local minor league baseball team. “His friend from law school works at one of those personal injury firms, and they’re one of the team’s sponsors.”

“Ah, I know the one,” Jake nodded.

“I can’t fucking believe it!” Ashlynn screamed, returning to the living room. “That fucking thing stole my lingerie!”

“What?!”

“Uh, how do you know?” Jake asked.

“I did laundry today. My emerald pair was near the top of the drawer, but now it’s gone!” Ashlynn revealed.

“Oh, no!” Danica exclaimed, meeting Nancy’s gaze. “He’s back again.”

“I’ll kill the son of bitch, if I can touch him!” the redhead screeched.

“Wait, who’s back?” Jake questioned.

“The Horny Poltergeist,” Nancy answered.

“The Horney what? Do you say a poltergeist? As in a ghost?” Jake gulped.

“We’re not exactly sure,” Danica replied.

“Yep, we have a pervert ghost,” Ashlynn confirmed.

“But nobody knows for sure,” Nancy, the neighbor, reminded.

“I’m pretty fricking certain,” the redhead insisted.

“How can you be sure?” Jake queried.

“Look, we thought it might be a Peeping Tom at first,” Danica explained, listing examples of the current and past roommates noticing movement outside a window or having the feeling of being watched from inside the house. “Maybe even an intruder.”

“We’d suddenly hear noises when nobody else should be here,” Ashlynn added.

“Especially on the second floor or in the attic,” Danica reported.

“Don’t forget down in your creepy basement,” Nancy reminded.

“Did you search to make sure it wasn’t a regular, living intruder?” Jake inquired.

“Absolutely.”

“All the time.”

“I’d have Rand check,” Danica revealed, referring to her boyfriend before Brett. “As would Felicity’s and Missy’s boyfriends. But that’s also around the time we started to notice the weird glowing.”

“Deb saw it one night through an upstairs window when she drove up after getting off work. She called the cops, who searched the house but found nothing. We’d also notice the bright light coming under our doors at night. When we’d get up to check, it would be gone already,” Ashlynn recounted.

“We started keeping Cheddar in our bedrooms as we used to sleep with a door or two open for him to come and go,” Danica added. “B-But that doesn’t matter. I’ve seen it near the tree outside my bedroom window.”

“Her second-story bedroom window,” Ashlynn pointed out. “And that was only the start.”

“Some of us have seen it floating around outside the house or through windows,” Nancy relayed. “This street is filled with students from Bentworth and the technical school. We all know about the Horny Poltergeist and keep an eye out.”

“Priscilla and Tiffany from across the street have seen it,” Ashlynn said, gesturing in that direction. “We tried leaving on our webcams to get evidence. But we either found the footage erased or only saw a superquick bright glow.”

“But we’re the only house to notice him inside or outside,” Danica revealed. “That’s why we started to discard the Peeping Tom idea. There are a lot of girls living in this neighborhood. So you’d think he’d focus on more than one home.”

“How long has this been going on?” Jake asked.

“Two years?”

"Yes, two years," Danica agreed. She mentioned how one of the former roommates first noticed him two summers ago. "No, she didn't move out until last year after graduating. At the start, we figured it was a guy or a high school kid living around here. So we changed the locks and upgraded with extra deadbolts. But it got worse last year. Rand tried to capture him one time that spring, but he ended up slamming his shoulder into the wall upstairs. After that, he felt too freaked out to stay here at night. We partly broke up over his growing insistence that it was a ghost, not a real person.”

“Felicity’s boyfriend still refuses to believe it’s a ghost. That’s why KJ doesn’t like her staying here except with a full house,” the redhead divulged. “He’s the one who kept on insisting the police do something.”

“What did the police say?”

"Not much. For the first year, they kept saying that we imagined it. Only after Deb’s visiting brother claimed that somebody pushed him down the basement stairs did we have a female officer show up. The list of incidents alarmed her," Danica explained.

“For like two weeks, we had cars patrolling the neighborhood,” Ashlynn complained. “But as the sightings stopped, the cops moved on. They basically said drunk or high college kids and skittish girls were to blame.”

“So you haven’t seen it in a while?” Jake asked.

“Not since late last fall or early winter,” Danica guessed, checking with Ashlynn, who shrugged.

“Things seemed more active the previous two summers,” the ginger noted.

"As I said, we all know about him, so we keep an eye out. The neighborhood rule is that nobody walks outside this stretch of the block alone. Just to be sure," Nancy revealed as a knock sounded at the front door.

Ashlynn hurried over to answer.

“He’s back again?” a voice asked.

“He was inside their home!” Nancy announced, standing up. “And attacked their friend.”

“Attack? Who was attacked?” a female officer exclaimed, entering the living room. Immediately, she halted at seeing the teen detective. “You? Why can’t we have a case without one of you? Did you find a body this time?”

“A body?!” Nancy screeched.

“Hey, I’m the innocent victim here, Jasso!” Jake insisted as Officer Sally Jasso’s partner followed her inside.