Free Dead by Morning (Rituals of the Night Book 1) by Kayla Krantz

excuses,” Luna replied.
    “He knows you. Cheer up. I’m sure you’ll have fun with Chance if you stop being so negative about him all the time,” Violet offered.
    “Easier said than done.”
    “How was your date?” Violet asked. “What’d you two do?”
    “Geez, Violet, I just walked through the door less than five minutes ago,” Luna said exasperated. “What, are you spying on me?”
    “No, I just have incredible timing it seems. So, how was it?” Violet asked again.
    “Well, we went to a fancy place and ate dinner and he killed a bird and we went home,” Luna said sighing as she wondered how many times she would have to repeat herself.
    “What fancy place?” she asked wanting details. “It had to have a name.”
    Luna looked at the phone before she answered her. “I don’t know…it had a valet and everything, does it really matter?”
    “Yes, it matters to me because I want to know.”
    “Then why not ask him ,” Luna snorted. “I’m sure he knows.”
    “I just might do that.”
    “I don’t see the big deal,” she said.
    “Oh, what’s with that attitude?” Violet said. “You can’t tell me the whole evening was bad.”
    “That’s exactly what I’m telling you. He was weird tonight…even by his standards,” Luna said.
    “What was he doing that was so weird?” Violet asked. “Talking?”
    “Just staring for minutes at a time without saying anything or blinking,” Luna replied. “It was almost like he was zoning out.”
    “Did you guys kiss?”
    “Ewww. No, we didn’t. Violet I was being serious. I really think there was something wrong.”
    “It’s too bad that you two didn’t,” she cooed.
    “Violet you’re not listening, it was really weird!”
    “According to you he’s always weird.”
    “Not this weird…it’s like he had something on his mind.  Something was bothering him and he couldn’t seem to clear his mind,” Luna said thoughtfully as she remembered back to the look on his face.
    On the other line Violet was silent and Luna knew she was done arguing about him. She guessed Violet wouldn’t listen to her no matter what she said.
    “Why did you call me anyways?”
    “Just to talk I guess,” Violet said. “I got really bored watching my brother. Hey, did you hear about Kate on the news?”
    “Yeah, I just did, it said she was missing. I wonder what happened to her,” Luna said not really meaning it.
    “I don’t know,” Violet said sounding almost mystified. “It’s so strange. Did Chance seem upset about it or talk about her at all or anything?”
    “Maybe that’s what he was being weird about!” Luna said in excitement as her mind suddenly clicked.
    “Why would he be acting weird over that?” Violet asked. “I mean he’d be upset that she’s missing, not acting like a total weirdo.”
    “If he had something to do with it then he’d be acting pretty weird.”
    Violet snorted. “Whatever.” Luna could tell by her tone that she had rolled her eyes when she said it.
    “Well, I’ve had a rough day, and I want to go to bed so I’ll see you tomorrow,” Luna said. She was growing tired of Violet shooting down her thoughts just to defend Chance.
    “All right, fine,” she agreed. “I’ll try to come up with a good joke by then.”
    Luna ground her teeth. “’bye,” she said and hung up the phone without waiting for Violet to reply.
    Luna sighed and began to walk towards her room. The entire time she thought about what Violet had said. Why hadn’t Chance been upset about Kate? Surely he would’ve known she was missing. And Susan hadn’t been upset either. Was it possible that Chance did know something about her disappearance and had slyly made their date an alibi to his crime?
     

                                                                      Chapter Ten
    Finally, the creepy trees surrounding Chance’s house came into view. He pulled the Honda Ridgeline