Chapter 1 – "She Sees Dead People"
The first time Lily saw Edmund after his funeral, she was slightly taken aback. After all, the last time she saw him he was being bludgeoned by a shovel. Lily shuddered at the memory. There was all that red! Edmund wasn't leaking red now, as he sat beside her on the park bench. He looked perfectly all right, as if he were still alive. No red in sight. But that could change any second, she thought. Weren't things all around her always changing every second? Nevertheless, she decided to speak to him. No point in being rude, after all.
"Hi," she ventured. "I'm Lily. I have autism spectrum disorder. Aren't you Edmund Grey. I thought you were, um…"
"Dead," he finished for her. "I am. Does that bother you?"
"Not unless you make everything red again. Like in the stable. Like when Ryan's brother hit you with the shovel." She shuddered again.
"Sorry about that, Lily. I didn't mean to spook you." He smiled. "Although a spook is what I've become!"
"I shouldn't be able to see you," she realized aloud. "Why can I see you? Can other people see you?" Her voice was rising with the beginnings of hysteria.
"Only you can see me," Edmund said in a comforting tone. "Because you're special. Your mind works differently from most people's. You know that, Lily. You are amazingly talented."
"I'm good at puzzles," Lily agreed. "And math. Math is my favorite thing, next to Aidan, who isn't my boyfriend anymore, except I can't make the butterfly feeling go away every time I see him. Erica said that in time that feeling will fade. Erica's has had lots of experience with boyfriends."
Edmund nodded. "So I've heard."
Lily nodded. "Erica has had a lot of boyfriends. But I don't think she can see dead people."
"Probably not," Edmund said. "Lily, don't be afraid of me. I need your help, that's why I'm here."
"I'll try not to be afraid, Edmund. Counting always helps. Do you mind if I start counting backwards by three from three million three hundred thousand and thirty-three?"
"Yeah," Edmund admitted. "I'd mind that. Besides, I've got to speak with you, and I need your full concentration. It's important."
"How about two million two hundred thousand twenty-two by two's?" she tried. "That would calm me right down."
"Lily, there's a mystery I need you to help me solve."
"No there isn't," she said at once. "Your murder has been solved. It was Jonathan with the shovel in the stable."
Edmund sighed. "If it were only that simple!"
Lily was as perplexed as she looked. "It is simple. What isn't it simple?"
"Because I need to know why it happened."
"I told you why. Jonathan –"
"I need to know why I was written out."
Lily's head was beginning to ache, even with no red in sight. "I don't know what that means."
"I know you don't," Edmund agreed. "With any luck you won't know about being written out for many, many years to come." He shook his head. "But you've got to help me, Lily. I can't get through to anybody else in this town, I'm sure of it."
"I would help you if I could," Lily said slowly. "But you're dead, so I don't see how I could be of any –"
"Lily, I need to know when this was planned. Was it before I was shot? Was this in the works all of last year? Even before Maria came back and the children aged?"
Lily had no idea what Edmund was talking about.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe we should go ask somebody for help."
Edmund shrugged. "Who can I ask but you? Of course, Opal has links to the Other Side, but she was busy coloring my mother-in law's hair when I stopped by the Glamourama this morning. I couldn't bring myself to distract her. Two processes. She was putting in highlights, working with tin foil and you know how involved that can get!"
Lily bit her lip. "I don't think she would have minded the distraction that much. Opal is a really nice lady, and I'm sure she'll help you if she can!"
What happens next? Will Opal help Edmund? Will Edmund find out why he was killed off the Show? Lots of chapters, lots of surprises still to come! Please read on! Reviews are welcome!