J

inx tapped the Pixies poster over and over again. How was she going to tell Jackson what she had found? Or worse, the way she had found it?

She twisted her lip and took a lap around the room. This was not good—one instance when she wished she hadn’t been right.

Slumping back down into her hair, she started watching the video on her computer screen again. She couldn’t believe it. Jackson would be so hurt. And she would be the messenger.

She sat straight up. Maybe she didn’t have to be the messenger. Maybe he could find out for himself.

Just then, the front door opened and she heard her name yelled out. Jackson never knocked. From downstairs a soda can popped and hissed and some sort of bag crinkled loudly. He would be up the stairs soon.

He stood in her doorway munching chips. Through a mouthful, he said, “So what’s with the cryptic message?”

Jinx thought fast. “We need to do another night at Emily’s.”

Jackson chewed thoughtfully. “Why?”

“Some of the data was skewed,” Jinx said. “We need to redo some things for evidence’s sake.”

Jackson flopped on her bed. “Evidence? Like there wasn’t a ghost? You were there, right?”

He put his legs up on Jinx’s computer desk, and she pushed them off, angry. “We need to be sure—to have documentation.” She spoke with exaggerated slowness.

Jackson’s eyes narrowed. “Jinx, there were ghosts there. We both saw, both felt it.”

Jinx shrugged. She had no idea why he was getting so defensive. “Look, the equipment bugged out. You can come or not. I’ll call Emily.”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. I’ll come with you, but this time set up your equipment right.”

Jinx had to fight the urge to punch him. She almost wished she could tell him what she found. Show him the video the teddy bear camera had captured. But she told him she’d trust him, and she had betrayed him by bringing in the secret teddy cam. There was no way around it.

He got up and said, “I’ll call Emily about tonight. I think her dad is out of town through Tuesday. What are you going to tell your parents?”

Jinx sighed. “Test? They’re so happy I have a ‘friend’ they’ll pretty much let me do anything.”

Jackson snorted. “Handy. Same time? Hopefully Emily will be up for it.”

Jinx nodded. She hoped that Jackson would talk to her again once the night was over.