by Micol Ostow
* * *
The town square pagoda had a very different feel to it tonight, with the (thankfully, finally canceled) Naming Day Festival behind it, with most people home, reveling in the peace and quiet that had fallen over Horseshoe Bay, finally, in the wake of Daisy’s and Melanie’s (and, evidently, my own) disappearances being cleared up.
And with Parker by my side, from the onset, as opposed to lingering shadows and tiny jump scares lying in wait, remnants of my own subconscious trying to jolt me into memories I’d long since packed away.
At least, that was the story I was telling myself about the images I’d seen, those eerie moments that were still, somehow, unexplainable, even with the rest of the “curse” having been dragged out into the open and cut apart, neatly dissected and rationally explained.
“I can’t believe it turned out that Daisy’s own parents were behind the curse stuff,” Parker said. “Kidnapping their own daughter. Do you think Daisy was in on it?”
I leaned against his chest, liking the warmth. “I don’t know. Denial is a pretty powerful force. Maybe some part of her had an idea. She did say they were being weird, when she first was cast. And she didn’t want me to go to the principal when the raven hit the window.”
“Does that make her more likely to have been in on it, or less?”
“She had to know. It was a raven. And I guess she thought … if we didn’t tell anyone, and things just went on, business as usual … that they’d have to give up and put their whole curse thing aside.”
“That was wildly optimistic of her.”
“Yeah, she definitely underestimated her family’s commitment to the whole Naming-Day-curse thing.” I snuggled closer, sliding my arms around him. “If it’s any consolation, I think the whole kidnapping-her-and-then-threatening-to-kill-her-best-friend thing really made it clear.”
“Good,” Parker said, kissing me on the forehead. “Except I wish it hadn’t come to that.”
“Me too. Seeing as how it was me they were threatening to kill.”
Parker sat up, jostling me. He put his hands on my shoulders, looking searchingly into my eyes. “I get it. You’re a badass. And it’s hot, and you’re smart, and so strong. But seriously, Nancy—that was dangerous. And you’re just … I don’t know, joking about it?”
“I single-handedly rescued myself and one of my best friends from dangerous kidnappers,” I said. “I think I’ve earned the right to joke about it if I want to.”
“Dating you is going to drive me to an early grave.”
I gave him a slow smile, trying to cajole him. “So you’re saying you want to be dating me?”
“Despite what it’s doing to my stress levels, yes,” he said.
“Excellent,” I said. “Now that the mystery of the ancient curse has been solved, things should be pretty quiet. Perfect circumstances for a burgeoning romance.”
He kissed me, slow and deep. My toes curled in my shoes. It was a kiss that managed to subdue the lingering questions I was having about Parker, and about what his quaint tendency toward “concern” could mean for any future mysteries that might arise.
Because mysteries always seemed to arise. Even when I wasn’t looking for them.
I thought the girl would bring the truth to light. But in the end, her loyalty to her friend, her love for tidy, earthly explanations … it overrode all other aspects of the legend, of the need to bring the town’s sordid history to light.
For now.
And I can accept that.
For now.
My spirit has lingered this long; she will surely find a way to bide her time until the next moment, the opportunity for revenge, is upon us.
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About the Author
Author photograph by JDZ Photography
Micol Ostow has written over fifty works for readers of all ages, including projects based on properties like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Mean Girls. In addition to Nancy Drew, she currently writes the bestselling Riverdale novels and comics based on the original Archie Comics characters. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two daughters, piles and piles of books, and all the streaming channels. In her past life, she may have been a teen sleuth. Visit Micol online at MicolOstow.com.
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Simon Pulse
Simon & Schuster, New York
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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First Simon Pulse hardcover edition March 2020
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Text by Micol Ostow
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Jacket designed by Sarah Creech
Interior designed by Tom Daly
Library of Congress Control Number 2019956513
ISBN 978-1-5344-7074-3 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-5344-7076-7 (eBook)