Novels by Sami Dean

Tay cautiously made her way up the stairs. She saw Jack standing in stunned silence in the doorway to Cate's room. His face looked as if the blood had drained completely from it, and his knuckles were white from gripping the doorframe. "Are you ok? You saw him, didn't you?" She was equal parts terrified and excited as she pelted him with questions. Jack remained silent, though he nodded in response. Jack was certain there must be a logical explanation, though reasoning had briefly evaded him. Tay slowly moved toward him, and gently placed a hand on his tense arm.He envoluntarily jolted as she touched him. " I saw something. It wasn't anything more than a shadow. I think I was seeing something because I expected to, honestly." Tay quirked a brow at him. " Was it a tall man with a hat?" Jack's jaw clenched. " Let's go back downstairs. You look like you need a drink." Tay gently pulled his arm, and coaxed him back down the hall. They made their way

It was Jack's turn to listen with intent. Tay paused to take a sip of her cold soda and continued. " We had peace until about three weeks ago. Someone new contacted us through the board. They called themselves 'M'. M didn't divulge much about themselves, but knew things about each of us. Personal things- things that none of the rest of us could've known about each other." Tay swallowed loudly. "M saidthat Toni...had forged her transcripts... that Leila had been the driver in an unsolved deadly hit and run back in high school... and that I, uh.." She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and bit her lower lip as tears began to well up in her eyes. " I u-used to steal pain pills from my Nana when I was younger." Jack was flabbergasted. He softly asked "So...what did M say about Catherine?" Tay looked down at her lap, and as she did, warm tears began streaming down her cheeks. Jack left his seat and moved over to sit next to Tay on the sofa. He cautiously moved to wrap his

Tay found herself on the sofa when she came to. Jack was seated in the big blue chair to her left, his elbows were on his knees and he was running his fingers through his hair. He looked over as she began to stir. " Are you okay? Want some water?" Tay's head began to swim all over again as she attempted to nod. Jack quickly made his way to the kitchen and rifled through the cupboards. After a couple of tries he found a glass and filled it halfway with water. He brought it over and set it on the coffee table, and gingerly helped her prop up. She greatfully took the glass in both of her shaky hands, as he passed it to her. Sipping slowly, she watched him closely. The former irritation and impatience had long gone from his face, replaced by obvious concern."Are you feeling any better?" Jack asked softly. Tay gave another, much slower, nod. "Sorry 'bout that. I-I don't know what came over me." Tay stammered out her apology, barely above a whisper. Jack shook his head

Tay nervously chewed her lower lip as she to carefully formulate an answer. "Well?!" Jack said as his patience steadily thinned. Tay began popping her knuckles and finally mustered up a response. " Well, uh,, we...well, the girls and I all kept hearing noises. At first it was just something small here and there. Mostly just at night. We didn't really think much of it at first. I mean, this isan old house." "And then?" Jack lead, cutting her off. Tay held up her hand and continued. "Then, doors started opening. The one at the end of the hallway, mostly. We knew it wasn't one of us, because it's been locked since we moved in. The landlord didn't even have a key for it. It had been wallpapered over, and when we were cleaning and fixing up the place we found it." Jack quirked a brow. "Why were you removing wallpaper? I thought you guys were renting?" "The landlord told us if we cleaned and fixed the place up, he'd take money off the rent. Toni, one of

Jack mustered up a smirk in Tay's direction. Her soft hand was warm from holding her coffee mug. Tay's hand lingered on his for a moment longer and she found herself getting lost in the depths of his emerald eyes. " Thanks" Jack finally responded. " I feel guilty that I hadn't visited or even called to check on her. The only flimsy excuse that I have for it is being 'busy'. What kind of lousy brother goes that long without checking on his sister?" His brows furrowed as he chided himself. Tay was all too familiar with playing the blame game. "None of this is your fault, Jack. Cate loved you, and spoke often of you. She wasn't upset with you at all. Beating yourself up won't fix anything."Jack cleared his throat. "So what happened the day she went missing?" Before Tay could respond, a door slammed upstairs. Footsteps stomped down the hallway and stopped just at the top of the stairs. "Who's that?" Jack inquired, quirking a brow. "That's...uh...Mr. Bellum.." Tay stammere

Jack placed the magazine back in the pile, as Tay called out that the coffee was done. He got up and ran his fingers through his hair. As he left the room, he thought he felt something move by him down to the other end of the dimly lit hall. He glanced in that direction, but saw nothing. A shiver ran down his spine, but he tried to shake the eerie feeling as he made his way down the stairs.Tay was humming in the small kitchen as she prepared her mug of coffee. She glanced over her shoulder as Jack walked in. "How do you like your coffee?" Jack made his way over to the counter beside her. " I just drink it black, thanks". Tay scrunched her nose up at him. " Only psychopaths drink black coffee" she said with a soft smirk. "I guess I'm a psychopath, then" he retorted.She slid him his cup of coffee and they sat down at the round kitchen table. Tay cradled her mug in both hands, and looked him up and down. He was tall and athletically built. Tattoos covered