Free Dead Girl Dancing by Linda Joy Singleton Page A

will make you feel better. I’ll get us some burgers—no onions, with cheese, right?”
    “Uh, fine. Thanks,” I told her. Of course I had no intention of calling James.
    With the door shut, the outside noises of cars and trucks faded to calming silence. Lifting the phone, I rejoiced to have a signal.
    “Eli, it’s me,” I said as soon as I heard his voice.
    “Amber!” Relief, fear, shock merged in this one word.
    I found myself smiling despite everything. “It’s great to hear my real name.”
    “Why didn’t you call sooner? I’ve been freaking worried. Where are you?”
    “A gas station outside of L.A. I couldn’t call until now because we were driving through hills and I couldn’t get a signal.”
    “So what’s been happening?”
    “Insanity!” I shook my head wearily. “Remember that stalker I told you about? She trapped me in a bathroom.”
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah. Sadie startled her and she ran off. I still have no idea who she is.” I sagged against the car seat. “How can I protect myself when I don’t know why she hates me?”
    “It’s not you she hates,” Eli said angrily. “I love my sister but she’s the one who has enemies. Just get out of there and come home.”
    “Not until I finish my assignment,” I insisted. “Grammy trusted me and I don’t want to let her down. I could work faster if I had the GEM.”
    “I’ll get it for you,” he promised.
    “Is that bi … Katelyn still helping you?”
    “Yeah, Katelyn’s been great. She’s talking to the resident manager, trying to get a key to Shari’s room.”
    I scowled. “That’s so sweet of her.”
    “She’s totally cool,” Eli said, totally not getting my sarcasm. “I found out why she hates you … I mean, Sharayah.”
    “Let me guess—because of some guy?”
    “How’d you know?”
    “I’m getting to know your sister … too well.”
    “Unfortunately, I know what you mean.” His voice ached with misery. “Sharayah has changed so much, in all the wrong ways. When Katelyn was talking about her, it was like she was describing a stranger. Katelyn and Shari got along at first—until Katelyn went out with this guy and he only wanted to talk about my sister. Katelyn was disappointed but thought it was only fair to let Shari know this guy liked her. Only instead of being grateful, my sister flipped out, swearing and shouting at Katelyn.”
    “Why?” I asked, surprised.
    “I have no idea—and neither does Katelyn. They haven’t spoken since then.”
    An idea struck me. “What if the guy was Gabe? We know they were going out, but they must have broken up because Rayah isn’t dating him anymore.”
    “Except the guy Katelyn went out with was named Caleb.”
    I frowned, confusion mounting as I added Who is Caleb? to the mental list of questions I would ask the GEM.
    Eli seemed to guess what I was thinking because he reassured me he’d keep trying to get the GEM. “If I can’t get someone into the room legally, I’ll pick the lock—I think I can do it thanks to tips from your friend Dustin.”
    “You talked with him? Great! I was going to suggest that before Mauve grabbed the phone out of my hands.”
    “He asked about you, too, and when I told him you were in my sister’s body, he wasn’t even surprised.”
    “You told him?” I said, biting my lip as I thought of the Nine Divine Rules.
    “I thought it was okay since you’re such good friends.”
    “Well, it’s okay with me—but I’m not so sure about Grammy.”
    “Your dead grandmother?” he asked in a tone that showed he was still getting used to my experiences with the other side.
    “Telling anyone about being a Temp Lifer is against rules. I shouldn’t have told you,” I admitted. “But I’m glad I did. And I’m glad Dustin knows, too.”
    “He has your back a thousand percent. He was ready to drive all the way here even though we could get arrested for breaking into a girl’s dorm.”
    “It wouldn’t be his first arrest. Dust