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    Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery
    Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery
    Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery
    Ebook204 pages3 hours

    Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery

    By R. Barri Flowers

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    About this ebook

    Three years after her father was killed, sixteen-year-old Peyton Delaney, her mother, Melody, and new stepfather, Vance McIntyre, relocate to Shadow Bay, Minnesota and move into an old Victorian.

    They are unaware of the house's dark history--fifty years ago, a jealous husband snapped, murdering his wife, her lover, and sixteen-year-old daughter before killing himself.

    But when Peyton begins to have nightmares about the crime and is haunted by a ghostly girl named Caitlyn, she begins to investigate with the help of the caretaker's cute son, Bryant.

    As the two delve into the supernatural mystery surrounding the house, they discover that the events that led to the tragedy of fifty years ago are somehow intertwined with the present. In other words, history is repeating itself and Peyton, Bryant, and their parents are being drawn into a disturbing case of jealousy, possession, revenge, and murder, while seemingly powerless to prevent the inevitable from taking place all over again.

    Caitlyn is a sixteen-year-old ghost who has had to relive the nightmare of being murdered by her father for half a century. When Peyton and her family arrive at the house where Caitlyn’s spirit has remained trapped, she feels a connection to Peyton and knows instinctively that it will take the two of them together to not only free Caitlyn at long last, but to prevent her tragedy from becoming one that Peyton too must endure.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherR. Barri Flowers
    Release dateJul 10, 2011
    ISBN9781465943132
    Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery
    Author

    R. Barri Flowers

    R. Barri Flowers is an award winning and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of romantic suspense, mystery, thriller and crime novels, with twenty Harlequin titles published to date, such as Honolulu Cold Homicide and Special Agent Witness. Chemistry and conflict between the hero and heroine, attention to detail, and incorporating the very latest advances in criminal investigations, are the cornerstones of his crime thriller fiction.

    Read more from R. Barri Flowers

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      Book preview

      Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay - R. Barri Flowers

      PROLOGUE

      Caitlyn shivered suddenly, which was kind of weird, since she wasn't even alive. At least not in the way most breathing, talking, walking, and laughing out loud human beings were. Yet her soul was very much alive and restless. Caitlyn longed to be free of the shackles that bound her to that house like a prisoner far longer than she should have been.

      Soon she would have that freedom. And the peace Caitlyn's spirit had been denied would be hers at last.

      She looked through dark, billowy curtains out her upstairs bedroom window. Maple and mulberry trees rustled in the wind, as if they also sensed the unrest in the air. Caitlyn could see the bay she fondly remembered swimming in everyday in the summer. It was always a beautiful shade of blue. If only she could put her feet in just one more time. But that wasn't possible--at least not as things now stood. Spirits were incapable of such, no matter how strong the desire.

      Maybe there was a way, the girl thought dreamily. Her gaze turned to the road leading up to the house. She saw the tall boy passing by. He stopped suddenly and looked up at the window, seemingly right at Caitlyn. Of course he couldn't see her. Ghosts could only be seen by those who were connected to them in some way.

      It would be fun to get to know him. Too bad it wasn't possible.

      Caitlyn frowned as he resumed walking. His dog came up behind him and the boy put a leash on its collar. They passed by the house and headed toward the caretaker's cottage.

      The girl looked at the road again. Soon they would come. More specifically, she would come and rescue Caitlyn from the nightmare she had lived for so long now that it hurt to even think about.

      Then she heard her father coming and grew frightened. She tensed when he entered the room. He was tall and sturdy, with raven hair and thick sideburns. A grimace contorted his face. He nodded to her in silence and she read the sinister satisfaction in his cold eyes.

      It was about to happen all over again. She cringed at the thought.

      But deep within, Caitlyn was optimistic that the time was near when her dreams would finally come true.

      The two spirits vanished.

      CHAPTER ONE

      Peyton Delaney sat pouting in the backseat of her stepfather's Lexus LX 470. She doubted that her mother, seated in front next to the man she had married six months ago, cared. Otherwise she wouldn't have made her leave California and all Peyton's friends to move across the country to Minnesota, of all places. But when her stepfather, Vance McIntyre, was offered a new job as sales director for an advertising firm, the decision was made.

      She was about to be stuck in the middle of nowhere in the dead of summer and there was nothing Peyton could do about it, other than voice her displeasure through stone cold silence. And the occasional barrage of complaints. But even that could only last so long.

      At sixteen, this was the second major blow dealt Peyton in recent memory. Three years ago her father was killed in a car accident.

      I'll just have to find a way to deal with this unwanted move. Dad would tell me that.

      I'm hungry, she complained, tossing back her long blonde hair. Can't we stop at McDonald's or something?

      We're almost there, Peyton. Melody Delaney-McIntyre glanced back at her daughter. After we make sure the house is still standing, we'll find a restaurant.

      Peyton rolled her green eyes. Whatever.

      When her mother and stepfather had twice come to scout the town of Shadow Bay, Minnesota and pick out a house to purchase, Peyton had chosen to stay behind and savor every last moment of home and spend time with her friends.

      You just might surprise yourself and like it here, Vance said. The town has character, history, and plenty of open land one can only dream about in San Diego.

      Yeah, right, Peyton said. "This is your dream, not mine."

      It's our dream of a better life for all of us, her mother said. Give it a chance, honey. Is that too much to ask?

      Peyton sighed. I guess not.

      She was acting like a spoiled baby instead of a girl less than two years away from adulthood. But Peyton wouldn't hide her resentment over a move she never wanted.

      As the car turned off the main road to head down a winding lane, Peyton caught sight of the bay. It was wide, sapphire blue, and very inviting. She couldn't wait to dive in, imagining the water was a perfect way to cool off in these parts. The view disappeared and it was back to open land dotted with farmhouses and livestock.

      She noted a guy about her age playing in a grassy field with a German Shepherd. Beyond them was a cottage, where Peyton assumed they lived. When he heard their car, the boy looked up, seemingly in a straight line at her. Peyton thought she detected a smile on his lips and smiled back.

      He's really hot. Maybe life in Shadow Bay has promise after all.

      Vance pulled the car in the driveway of a big white Victorian that stood on a hill.

      Well, this is it! he said as if they had won the lottery. Home sweet home.

      Peyton wasted no time getting out, if for no other reason than to stretch her legs after they had driven nonstop for several hours. She peeked in the direction of the guy with the dog. Both were gone.

      She hid her disappointment and turned to her parents who were patiently waiting.

      Do you want to see inside? her mother asked.

      Or we could just camp out here on the lawn and make it our home, her stepfather joked.

      At six-four, he towered over Peyton's mother.

      Peyton sneered at him. She glanced at the house before zeroing in on one upstairs window in particular. Peyton saw a girl standing there. She took an involuntary step backward and shivered.

      What is it, honey? Melody asked.

      There's someone looking out the window.

      Where?

      Peyton pointed to the bedroom window, but the girl had vanished. I could've sworn there was someone--

      I'm sure it was only your imagination, moving to a new house and all.

      Either that or the caretaker's inside and heard us drive up, Vance suggested, digging a key out of his pocket.

      Peyton was inclined to agree, all things considered. But she had a bad feeling about the place. For some reason it reminded her of the Amityville Horror movie that she and her friends had rented and watched one Saturday night. She'd had nightmares for a week afterwards.

      Peyton was thankful that evil spirits and wayward ghosts didn't really exist.

      * * *

      The movers arrived later that afternoon with the furniture and other household items. Suddenly the place began to look like a home someone actually lived in.

      Peyton sized up her room. It faced the front of the house and was painted a pretty shade of violet. She sat on the loft bed as if for the first time and felt a sense of comfort when looking at her computer, television, and beanbag chair. If only her best friend Erica had also relocated to Shadow Bay, it might actually be livable.

      Peyton sighed and resigned herself to having to make new friends locally.

      She stood up and looked out the window. It occurred to Peyton that this was the same window where she thought she'd seen the girl looking out at her. But when they had gone through the house, there was no one to be found, to which Peyton breathed a sigh of relief.

      Must have been the light or shadows, she thought. Or maybe it was the gothic nature of the old house and atmosphere that spooked her.

      She headed out of the room, wondering what secrets a house that was probably a hundred years old or more had buried within those walls.

      Peyton wasn't sure she wanted to find out.

      * * *

      Caitlyn watched with interest as Peyton left the room.

      She's so pretty. I wish my hair was golden like hers.

      Though wanting to follow her, Caitlyn realized she couldn't yet. Her father would be very angry if she did and make trouble for all of them.

      She drifted to the window and looked out. Peyton had sensed her there earlier, just as Caitlyn had sensed that Peyton would arrive here to save her.

      I knew you would come one day and rescue me from decades of solitude, pain, and regret.

      When that time came, she would be as light as a feather and ready to feel her spirit released and soul at ease.

      Caitlyn smiled at the mere notion, replacing the perpetual frown that had seemingly been etched on her face forever.

      CHAPTER TWO

      Peyton could hear muffled voices when she came down the stairs. She saw Vance and her mother standing in the living room with a man. They all turned her way as Peyton strode in.

      There you are, Vance said, as if he had been expecting her at that precise moment.

      Melody took her hand. Peyton, this is Mr. Neville. He's the caretaker for this house and the property.

      Hi.

      Hi, Peyton, he said in a hearty voice. Call me Luke. Everyone else does.

      Peyton smiled at him. Vance also wanted to be called by his first name instead of dad. She was grateful for that, as Peyton could never imagine anyone ever taking her real dad's place.

      And that's my son, Bryant, Luke said, nodding in his direction.

      Out of the corner of her eye, Peyton spotted movement. She turned and met the steady gray eyes of the guy she had seen with the dog when they first arrived. Nearly as tall as his father and Vance, he had dark hair.

      And he was even hotter up close.

      Hey, he said, and Peyton decided that even his deep voice was appealing.

      Hey.

      Bryant grinned and Peyton couldn't help but blush.

      Luke started to speak again. Anyway, as I was saying, we've been doing what we could to get the place ready for you.

      Looks like you've done a great job, Vance said.

      Wish I could take credit for everything, but I can't. The last owners were responsible for most of the renovations. My part, with some help from Bryant, has mainly been seeing to the grounds and doing some minor repairs on the exterior and interior.

      Think I'll go out for some fresh air, Peyton said. She hoped Bryant might get the hint and follow.

      She sat on a cedar glider and waited for maybe thirty seconds before Bryant stepped out onto the porch.

      Peyton smiled brightly. Hi, she said again.

      He grinned. Mind if I sit?

      She scooted over a bit in response, nerves giving way to enthusiasm.

      Bryant joined her on the glider. So you're from California, huh?

      Yup, Peyton said proudly.

      What city?

      San Diego.

      I've never been there before.

      I'll bet you'd like it.

      Why do you say that?

      Year round gorgeous weather, the beach, ocean, laidback lifestyle, fun things to do; oh and did I mention the beach?

      Bryant laughed. I think so. I get the picture. You're probably right, that would be a cool place to live. Not to say that Shadow Bay doesn't have some good things going for it.

      Peyton wrinkled her nose. Like what?

      Me, for one. He chuckled, sticking his chest out.

      She couldn't argue the point. What else?

      Lots of things. Tennis, sailing, hiking, swimming in the bay, dances, plays, concerts--you name it.

      Peyton had to admit it sounded like fun, starting off with getting to know him. Okay, so maybe I shouldn't prejudge without giving the place a try.

      Exactly.

      Guess I just wish I'd had more say in moving here.

      Did your dad get a job transfer or what?

      "More like what. He got a better job. And Vance is my stepfather. Peyton wanted to make that perfectly clear. My dad died three years ago."

      Bryant cocked a brow. Oh, sorry.

      That's what everyone always said. No one was sorrier than she was. Especially since this had pretty much ruined her life.

      She changed the subject. So how long has your father worked here?

      About a year. We moved to Shadow Bay from Minneapolis, two hundred miles away. After my parents divorced, they sold the house and went their separate ways. I decided I was better off staying with my dad till I graduate next year.

      From Shadow Bay High? Peyton hoped he would say yes.

      Yeah.

      I'll be going there in the fall. She was suddenly excited about it.

      As a junior...?

      Peyton hesitated, as if it was a bad thing to be a year behind him. Yeah, afraid so.

      It's cool. Bryant laughed. I'm seventeen and had fun being a junior last year. You will, too.

      I'll take your word for it. Peyton found herself laughing with him. Already she liked Bryant Neville.

      Anyone ever call you Bry?

      Never. But you can if you want.

      Are you sure?

      He shrugged. Why not? At least if I heard the name from behind, I'd know it was you.

      True. Peyton grinned.

      The door opened and Luke came out. He smiled at Peyton before nodding at his son.

      Gotta go, Bryant said, getting to his feet.

      Peyton stood also, wishing they could have talked longer. Nice meeting you, Bry.

      He smiled crookedly. You, too. See you around.

      You can count on that.

      Peyton wondered if he had a girlfriend. Or was he single like her, waiting for that special person to enter his life?

      * * *

      That night Peyton used her iPhone to video call her best friend, Erica

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