AN: After doing a minimal amount of research (because I'm a lazy bum) I discovered that there are numerous towns all over the USA named Grandview. However, since ROTG is supposed to take place in New York, I went with Grandview, NY. It's a little bitty place slightly north of Queens, according to Google Maps, so it seemed like it should work. Also, since I can't find a Burgess, NY (does it really exist?) I'm placing it near Medusa, NY because I noticed a ton of little lakes, ponds and rivers in that area and it looked like it would be a good place for Jack's pond. That being said, please be patient with me. I've never been anywhere near New York. And, as always I sadly own nothing. :'( BTW as a last note, I named the wind Maria like the song. To prevent confusion it's pronounced like it is in the song, so its sounds like Mariah even thought it's spelled Maria.

Grandview, NY~ Present Day~

The wind gusted playfully through the town, kicking up litter and flotsam into tiny dirt devils that whirled mischievously in her wake. Her simple child-like laugh danced behind her on the breeze for those with the faith to hear it. She felt the chill in her essence, a sure sign that her friend would be coming soon. She giggled gleefully. Grandview was well overdue for a snow day. The mess with Pitch had distracted Jack enough that he was a bit behind her.

Her sprightly laugh whistled as she drifted to the center of the small town letting her powers tangle around the people who lived there. She circled the simple memorial that presided over the small square when a preoccupied woman caught her eye. For a moment, Maria debated whether or not she should act. She wasn't, after all, as mischievous as her dear Jack. No, that delightfully fun wicked streak was too easily let loose in her little dirt devils. But the opportunity was too good to pass up. The woman was juggling some stack of papers and trading it with a large steaming drink and her very large purse with car keys held loosely between her teeth. Jack would never let her live it down if she let the woman off. With another soft giggle the little spirit of the wind floated off of the top of the statue to circle wickedly around the tall woman.

Melinda hurried to the door as Delia came in dripping latte, trying to shake off both her purse and the soggy newspaper she held. "Are you alright?" She asked the taller woman, taking the newspaper and attempting to dry in on the countertop with the roll of paper towels she had grabbed when her friend went down.

"Just toss it." Delia grumbled, snagging a few towels and starting to pat herself dry. "It's only fifty cents; I'll get another one."

"Oh, um, okay." The younger shopkeeper acquiesced. "So what happened out there?"

"I don't know." Delia sighed, dropping her now empty coffee cup in the small trash bin behind the counter. She watched as Melinda moved on to her purse. "It was like the wind just had it in for me."

"Weird." The darker haired woman half smiled.

"Yeah." Her friend sighed.

"So, what brings you by?"

Delia paused for a moment in patting herself dry. "Oh, I almost forgot! I was at an estate sale upstate." She said, tossing the used paper towel in the bin with the wasted coffee and reaching for her purse. Melinda let it go, watching curiously as the older woman dug through it. "I picked up this locket and I thought you might be able to look into it for me."

"Sure." The young antique dealer smiled, accepting the tiny treasure from its new owner. "Oo! Have you tried to open it yet?"

"No." Delia shrugged, grabbing another paper towel and attacking her purse again. "I didn't want to break it."

Giving a bright smile, Melinda took the locket over to the counter workspace where she carefully began to pry it open, being wary of the delicate gold filigree. Slowly, she gently opened the stiff hinges as Delia watched curiously. "Oh, wow." Melinda gasped as she carefully revealed the locket's hidden prize.

"What is it?"

"Portraits!" Melinda exclaimed.

She glanced up to see Delia's confusion. "I thought most lockets had portraits?"

The younger woman laughed, holding the locket out for Delia to look at. "These are hand painted." She explained. "The detail is incredible. And look at the clothing! They must be the original pictures."

The two women stared in shock as the two tiny paintings. On the right was a youth in his late teens. His bright brown eyes were full of laughter, and his thin lips quirked slightly upward in an almost smile teeming with playful mischief. The golden frame brought out the light golden hues in his wild windswept hair. The rough brown vest and simple linen shirt were old-fashioned and coarse looking, obviously homemade.

The facing portrait was of the same young man at a much younger age with another boy who could only be his twin. Their short-cropped hair was a matching nut-brown that also matched their large brown eyes. Their matching smiles were only different because the child on the left was missing a front tooth, giving him a more fun-loving appearance. The simple undyed wool of their shirts seemed whiter against the matching black vests they wore.

"I wonder who they were." Delia mused, unaware that Melinda's smile had faltered. The longer she stared at the two happy paintings the sadder and more melancholy she felt. The certain knowledge that the boys had met a tragic fate seemed to weigh heavily in her heart. "Mel? What's wrong?" The older woman frowned as the first tear fell.

"It's nothing." Melinda answered, forcing a smile as she swiped away the tears. "Just wondering what became of them."

"Tell you what," Delia suggested to her slowly, "why don't you hang onto it for me while you look into it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." The taller brunette smiled. "Now, I've got to get going. I told Ned I'd taking him out shopping after school." She said, gathering up her now somewhat clean purse.

"Wait, Ned wanted to go shopping?" Melinda asked with disbelief.

"Something about some new video game that was out." Delia shrugged. "Who knows.

"Sounds like fun." The young woman said kindly. "I'll call you if I find out anything."

"Sounds good." Delia agreed with a final wave.

When she was gone, the ghost whisperer turned to the empty shop, the smile completely gone from her face. "I know you're here." She said aloud. "I can't help you if you won't talk to me." She waited for a moment in silence, the oppressive sorrow filling the shop. "Can you at least tell me your name?"

"Jamie." The woman's voice was thin and worried. "He's going to kill Jamie and I can't stop him…"

TBC…

Evil, I know leaving it right there, but heh, it was too good of a place to stop. Anyway, I hope you liked it! I'll try to get the rest out soonish, though for me soon seems to be a very loose term. *grins weakly* I know I should be working on any one of my other stories, but this one wouldn't leave me alone. BTW out of curiosity I wonder how many of you have guessed who Hannah is. It shouldn't be to hard to guess, but I'm just curious. Well, see you next time!