by Kasi Blake
Another surprise was in her dorm room, a good surprise this time. Bay-Lee entered to find Keisha spread out on the recently vacated bed. Her things were everywhere. It was a mess. Before Bay-Lee could ask questions, the girl said, “Guess what? I’m your new roommate.”
“But I thought you hated sharing a room?”
“I do,” Keisha said. “At first I told them to forget it when they asked if I’d double up with you. Then I started thinking it might be a good idea, at least for a while. We need to seriously buckle down and catch the wraith whisperer. My birthday is in a few months, and I’d like to live to spend my money.” At Bay-Lee’s confused look, Keisha added, “My father always sends me a big, fat check. He knows I love to shop.”
Bay-Lee plunked down on the girl’s new bed. “I know you can pick a pocket, but how are you at breaking and entering?”
Keisha frowned. “What am I breaking into?”
“The main office so we can get on the school computer and change someone’s birthday.”
“Well go change your clothes, girl, and then you can tell me why we’re changing birthdays.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Bay-Lee glanced down at her faded jeans and peasant blouse. They were cute. “You helped pick them out, remember.”
“We’re breaking and entering, not going on a picnic. Wear solid black. It’s stealthy. Now, go.” Keisha waved her away while grabbing the phone with her other hand.
Bay-Lee took some clothes with her and headed down the hallway to the bathroom. It was empty. She hated spending time alone in the room. It always reminded her of Tessa. Bay-Lee half expected to see the ghost of her mother when she looked into the mirror. Nothing. Her mother was dead and wasn’t coming back.
She struggled into her clothes and went back to her dorm room. The door was wide open. She caught sight of Mike’s leg. Voices drifted out and stopped her cold. Mike was saying, “We have to do something fast. Nick’s birthday is in three days and he’s seen his dead cousin already. I heard him talking to Alec about it.”
Nick was going to die.
Bay-Lee hurried into the room, pushed Mike out of the way, and slammed the door shut. “You told me your birthday isn’t for months, right?”
“Yeah.” Keisha shrugged. “So?”
“Then it has to be you. We can fool a wraith into coming after you.”
“Why would we want to do that?”
“Sounds dangerous,” Mike said, deep frown in place.
Bay-Lee ignored him. “It’s up to you, Keisha. If you’re willing, we can draw a wraith out and use a spell to release it before it can hurt you. It was Maxx’s idea. After we release it we can follow it to the evil jerk behind the killings.”
“So you’re giving me a surprise party? Cool.”
“We need to sneak into the main office and change your records. Hopefully, it will be enough to fool the wraith master.”
Keisha turned a shining smile on Mike. “Be a sweetheart and start putting together a birthday surprise for me. Get some of the people hanging out in the break room to help. No one knows my real birthday, I don’t think.” She placed a finger against her chin, tapping twice. “I’m pretty sure no one knows when it is. I don’t usually have a party, just pick up my check and go shopping. If anyone argues with you, tell them to look at the records.”
Mike nodded. “I’ll get right on it.”
Once he disappeared from view, Keisha said, “Now you and I will go to the main office to change the date in my file. It’s on computer, but I have the password.” The girl smiled smugly. “You asked how I am at breaking and entering. Well, I am amazing at it. I changed information on one of my roommates to drive her nuts. Her classes were messed up and at one point the school didn’t even think she was a student.”
Laughing, they headed out the door. Bay-Lee was extra glad she’d invited the other girl to help her solve the mystery. It had become more important than moving up in rank. This was going to save Nick’s life. No matter what she had to do she wasn’t going to let Nick die, even if it meant putting her own life in danger.
Chapter Twenty-Three
KEISHA’S FAKE BIRTHDAY