Free The Reservoir by Rosemarie Naramore Page B

and shore.  Although it was early, the sun shone bright and the day promised to be warm. 
    Daniel glanced out across the lake.  Already, a few boats were speeding across the water—some pulling skiers and others pulling single and double-ride towable tubes.  A couple small boats dotted the shoreline, anchored, and with anglers fishing over the sides.  In another nearby boat, a couple with young children allowed the youngsters to frolic in water Daniel knew to be both deep and … ghost infested.    
    He shuddered at the thought of the children encountering the girl in the water.  He wanted to warn the couple, but knew that to do so would definitely lead to speculation about his sanity.  He envisioned the conversation.  Hello, there, folks.  Nice day.  Hey, you might want to get the tots out of the water, because as it happens, there’s a ghost down there.  Turns out too, she has a mighty impressive grip.  Those babies of yours might end up fish bait if you don’t pull them out of the water and soon.  Have a nice day. 
    Nope, probably wouldn’t be in his best interest to have that particular conversation. 
    Daniel wondered, had the ghost made herself known to others?  Or had she singled out him and his friends?  But if she had shown herself to others, was that perhaps the reason Yale Reservoir wasn’t as crowded as it typically was during mid to late summer? 
    Did the locals know anything about a missing girl?  Had there been sightings of said missing girl hovering over the myriad docks along the shores of Yale?  Would there be a way to have that particular conversation with people?  If he framed his questions properly, he felt could obtain information.  He was sure of it.
    He inhaled a deep, lung inflating mouthful of air.  He promptly sneezed.  His allergies had been acting up all summer.  He suddenly remembered his allergy pills, left behind on the table beside his bed at home.  “Great,” he muttered aloud.
    “What’s great?” Zack said from behind him.  “Or rather, what’s not great?—as is indicated by your sarcastic tone.”
    “I forgot my allergy pills.”
    “Shoot, Daniel, don’t you take those things twice a day?”
    He nodded his head.  “I’ll manage to live without them.”
    “Let’s hope so,” Zack muttered doubtfully, and then studied his friend’s face. 
    “What?” Daniel snapped.
    Zack shook his head and gave a humorless laugh.  “I don’t get you.  You’re standing out here on this dock as if you’re totally unconcerned about the fact that a girl ghost might suddenly reach up and pull you into the water.”
    Daniel glanced around nervously at the prospect, but remained standing at the end of the dock.  He turned to Zack.  “Right back at ya.”
    “Good point.  But I can’t very well leave you standing here alone, can I?”
    “You would never leave me standing here alone.  You’ve never left anyone standing alone.  You’re a Boy Scout, Zack.  If I jumped off a cliff, you’d jump too and try to beat me to the bottom to cushion my fall.”
    Zack eyed him curiously, and then shrugged his shoulders.  “And what are you trying to tell me exactly?”
    “I’m telling you you’re a good guy, Zack.  My best friend.”  He laughed.  “Had it turned out I am actually crazy, you would have remained by my side, making sure I got my three squares a day and didn’t end up on the streets, scaring small children.”
    “Daniel…”
    “Hey!  But I’m not crazy, because if I am, my four best friends are crazy too.  By the way, what’s going on between you and Holly?”
    Zack smiled a high voltage smile, which he promptly tried to subdue.  “Nothing.”
    Daniel wasn’t fooled.  “Yeah, right.  Hence, the big, goofy smile you’re barely managing to hide.”
    “Okay, I like her.”
    “You’ve always liked her.”
    “Maybe,” Zack admitted, still smiling.
    “Watch the PDA’s,” Daniel warned.
    “Okaaay.”
    Daniel sought his