Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery (21 page)

"Hey, I'll race you back to shore," Bryant
said.

"You're on. But first..." Peyton swam to him
for a kiss. "That was for good luck. You'll need it."

Peyton quickly dipped into the water away
from Bryant and got a head start towards the shore, knowing she
might need every advantage she could get.

Of course, it didn't really matter who won
or lost the race, only that they had already won each other's
heart.

* * *

Caitlyn moved gracefully through the bay
like a mermaid, enjoying the harmony she sensed with aquatic life.
She had watched Peyton and Bryant playing in the water, relishing
each other's company. Neither could see her and it was better that
way. She envied them and wished she'd been able to have a boyfriend
and experience true love in her short life. Caitlyn was happy
nevertheless to have her freedom again and to be able to spend as
much time in the bay as she wished. Peyton had seen to that by
breaking the hold Caitlyn's father had on her soul.

Now she could live again in her own way and
try not to think too much about the past. Caitlyn could channel her
energy into positive things and an imagination that had never
abandoned her.

Caitlyn emerged from the water, invisible to
all but those below. She watched as Peyton and Bryant reached the
shore at about the same time. They kissed and sauntered away
together.

"Bye, Peyton," Caitlyn murmured. "Have a
good life for both of us."

She watched a moment longer before diving
back into the water, finding comfort there as a ghost girl who
would never grow up, but had matured in ways few could imagine.

# # #

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. Barri Flowers is an award winning,
bestselling crime writer, and the author of more than forty books,
including the adult thrillers
Persuasive Evidence
,
State's Evidence
, and
Justice Served
. He has also
written a number of nonfiction books about teenagers, such as
Street Kids
,
Runaway Kids and Teenage Prostitution
,
and
Kids Who Commit Adult Crimes
. The author's next young
adult book is a time travel mystery titled
Danger in
Time
.

Mr. Flowers resides in the Pacific
Northwest.

Connect with me online:

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/R-Barri-Flowers/1737991698

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/RBarriFlowers

LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rbarriflowerscrimewriter

Website:
http://www.rbarriflowers.com
.

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/crimewriter_rbarriflowers

CrimeSpace:
http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/RBarri

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AuthorRBarriFlowers