Chapter 2
Melinda woke up to the smell of coffee. She pulled on a mustard yellow dress and strappy sandals and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Jim had already left for work and he'd left some coffee on for her. She smiled at Jim's sweet gesture. Just then she looked in the corner of the kitchen, and there was the girl. Her long black hair, extremely long, she now realized was still hanging over her face. Melinda decided that she'd go visit her friend Rick Payne. He studied up on ghosts and the paranormal and was a college teacher.
"Another ghost" chucked Dr. Payne running a hand through his short reddish blonde hair.
"Yep, but she wouldn't tell me her name" Melinda sighed, sometimes ghosts frustrated her.
"Well what'd she look like, her age, her features?" Dr. Payne asked, tapping at the keys of his laptop.
"Well she looked to be in her mid teens, fifteen or sixteen. She had dark skin, native Indian I'm thinking, and long black hair. I mean really long hair, down to her waist and she was full of blood and bruises." She explained.
"Salem Redstone, sixteen, black hair, dark eyes, she's a Native Indian like you thought. There's an article on her, I'll read it to you.
"Salem Redstone, 16, went missing on June 13th 2008 from the Indian reserve she lived on. Her body was found yesterday June 16th only three days after she first went missing. Her bloodied body was discovered 6 miles away from her home in the Brownlee reserve. The Grandview forest was her final resting place. Emily Redstone, 39, Salem's mother says 'I just want my little girl back'. Gage Redstone, 50, Salem's father says 'Salem liked to live on the edge. She didn't listen to anyone or anything, all I want is for the bastard who did this to be found and jailed' Sadie Redstone, 18, Salem's sister says I miss my little sister so much. I want her killer to be locked up forever' Peyton Redstone, 13, Salem's brother says 'I think I was too mean to Salem, I never told her how much I looked up to her, I miss her so much' The story of young Salem Redstone is a tragic one. The girl left her home at 3:00 pm on the 13th and she never came back. Her parents, siblings and the whole community who live on the Brownlee reserve are disturbed that someone would do this. This goes as a warning to others, don't walk alone in the forest. Always go in pairs or groups'"
Dr. Payne looked up at Melinda. "That's such a sad story" Mel stammered, tying her long hair back with a black silk ribbon. "That poor girl, but there was something else. She said 'It's his fault, his fault I'm dead'"
"Well the only two males mentioned in this article are Peyton and Gage Redstone. Salem's brother and father, what would they have to do with her death?" Rick asked himself more so than Melinda.
"Not Peyton or dad" a voice ripped through the suddenly icy air. It was Salem, but only Melinda could see her. Rick Payne froze; he knew that a ghost had entered the room. It always fascinated him.
"Then who?" Melinda stuttered to Salem.
"Jasper Brandon" she seethed, her bloodshot blackish brown eyes staring up at Melinda. "He's the reason I'm dead" and then she was gone once more.
"J-Jasper Brandon" Melinda sighed "She said he's the reason she's dead, but who is Jasper Brandon?" Rick typed the name in the Google toolbar and searched it. He sighed, turning the laptop so it faced Melinda. There were about a million results. Melinda groaned and put her hand on her forehead. "We'll never find out who he is by using the computer. Think, Salem was sixteen, so logically I'm gonna assume that this Jasper is around her age. So we have two places to check, Grandview High and Brownlee High, on the reserve. Rick nodded.
"Too bad I have a class to teach this afternoon. So, well I can't go with you" he pouted in his childish joking way. Melinda let out a laugh, said goodbye and turned on her heel to leave. She was gone in no time. She left in a flurry of yellow satin, black silk, chocolate brown hair and brown leather sandal straps.