Free Blood Spirits by Sherwood Smith

me like a lunatic and calling me a liar?”
    Nat sighed. “I really don’t want to get into rumors. I wouldn’t say this in front of any of them.” On the last word, she jerked her thumb over her shoulder, in the direction of the southeast end of the city, where the aristocrats had their city houses, along with the rest of Dobrenica’s VIP crowd. “But I think there’s something hinky about the whole thing. However. I said I wouldn’t do rumor, so here’s the Wikipedia on what’s been corroborated. On Monday, Ruli wanted to leave for Paris. Family shindig for the holiday. Alec took off with her down the south road toward the border in that cool ride of his.”
    â€œThe Daimler?”
    â€œThat’s the one. Usually they do the border run with a couple of Vigilzhi on motorcycles, you know, going in front. But they left without them, straight into a snow flurry. See what I mean about hinky? Anyway, the roads get dangerous fast. When the Vigilzhi went looking for them, they saw a column of smoke. Discovered the car had gone over a cliff.”
    I thought my heart would stop. “Alec?”
    â€œFine, he’s fine.” She waved me down. “When the guys got off their cycles to take a look, they found Alec lying on an outcropping a few yards down. No broken bones, though he was pretty bruised up. Ruli’s purse was there with him. The car was on fire below, and the purse made them fear the worst because there was no sign of her. But there was no way to climb down. They took Alec back to the palace and rushed a team with rappelling stuff back to the spot, but by then the car was burned out. They found Ruli’s bones inside.” She grimaced and shook her head.
    â€œWhat caused the crash? Ice?”
    â€œHe doesn’t remember the accident. Clocked his head on a rock, and came to when they got him onto one of the motorcycles.” She hesitated, rubbed her eyes again, then dropped her hands. “And that’s all I know for sure.”
    The mental and emotional jolt was like a 7.2 earthquake at 3:00 a.m.
    â€œMy turn,” she said, “‘Apparition’?”
    â€œI guess she was a ghost, then,” I said, numb with shock. “But it was so different .” I told her what I’d seen. “She faded so slowly that I didn’t think she was actually dead. Not dead dead. I mean, the one I saw a few days before that survived—oh, never mind that. This stuff is so new to me! Look, tell me this: What time would that have been here? Was it when the accident happened?”
    â€œAround midnight in New York . . . that would have been . . . um, early Tuesday morning, I’m pretty sure.” She counted rapidly on her fingers. “And the accident happened Monday, late in the day.”
    â€œOkay, then already my theory is bust. About her ghost, or apparition, appearing when she died.” I thought again of Ron, and shook my head. “I really do not understand how that stuff works, because last summer I saw ghosts of people who lived centuries ago. Geez, and I thought it out so carefully. Stay with the Waleskas, who I know. Swear them to secrecy. Come to you and find out how to contact Ruli without hassle. Then . . . find out why she appeared in a window reflection to ask me for help.”
    Nat waved away the window reflection. “Coming to me was good, but the Waleskas? You still don’t have a clue, dude. Your being here is probably all over the valley by now.”
    â€œBut they promised.”
    â€œSure.” She shrugged. “Look, I don’t want to say anything against them. I checked them out after you left, when I was trying to figure out if you’d really busted out of Dobrenica. The young teen I’d trust, Theresa? And the older teen, what’s her name, Tania? Yeah. She’s an odd duck—someone told me she used to sit on the roof ridgepole and talk to imaginary friends when