Little Miss Dead Girl

G.E.Penton Little Miss Dead Girl Revenge is Best Served Dead Copyright © 2022 by G.E.Penton All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. G.E.Penton asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. G.E.Penton has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com This book is dedicated to my mother, Judy Marie Murphy, who passed away in October of 2022, before Nanowrimo. This book is the manifestation of all the support and belief you had in me. This book is also dedicated to my husband, who so bluntly said after I explained nanowrimo, just said, “Oh yeah, you can do that.” And lastly, to TJ, who is the unofficial editor and motivator for daily check ins as well as cry sessions. Contents Introducing Lainey Evans May 19, 2009 The Bureau of Unfinished Business The Realm of the Living PART 2 Ten Years Later Spirit Talk The Grave The Scene of the Crime Feel it in my Soul Evidence PART 3 Errands Dinner Bucket List Preparations Showdown The Aftermath Goodbyes Epilogue Introducing Lainey Evans May 19th, 2009, Daytime “Lainey!” I groaned, rolling over to snuggle deeper into my comforter. I was just drifting back off when a loud series of knocks banged against my door. I grimaced. “Lainey, get up! Mom says if you aren’t downstairs and dressed in ten minutes, you’ll be taking the bus!” I groaned. “Tell mom she could let me take the car!” I called back. “YOU tell mom!” When I didn’t respond, the door to my room crashed open to reveal my younger brother. He was standing in his uniform with his backpack slung over his shoulders, a frown on his face. “MOM, SHE’S STILL IN BED!” Erik yelled out into the hallway. I sat up and flung one of my zebra-striped pillows at him. “Get out of my room, you buttwipe!” “YOU’RE A BUTTWIPE!” “MOM!” I screeched as I threw back the covers and got out of bed, stomping over to my door. “Just get dressed, Lainey. It’s your last day of junior year. Just go to school, enjoy it while you can,” my mom said in a measured tone as she made her way down the hall, clipping in her earrings. “Erik, go down and finish your breakfast and let your sister get dressed.” “Moooommm, why can’t I drive myself,” I whined, leaning against my door frame dramatically. “Everyone else does.” “Lainey, we’ve discussed this. You can’t drive yourself with only a permit, even if you’re seventeen.” “But my test is like next week!” “And next week, you can drive anywhere you like, but for now, get dressed and get in the car with us or take the bus.” “This is stupid,” I muttered, grumpily heading to my closet to get dressed for the day. The last day of school was a dress-down for us, so I didn’t have to wear my uniform. I quickly skimmed my clothes before settling on a graphic t-shirt with a pair of capris and my converse. Next, I grabbed my purse from where it rested on my vanity chair and slung it over my shoulder, tossing my EnV (my prized birthday gift) inside. I quickly smudged on some black kohl liner to my waterline, blending it out with my fingers. Finally, I decided on a ponytail since I did not give myself any time to straighten this mousy-looking mane of mine. I closed my door behind me and hopped down the stairs two steps at a time. “You look like a dork,” Erik garbled through cereal. “You look like a six-year-old.” “I’m eleven!” “Can we knock it off for one day?” Mom sighed as she handed me a banana before ushering us to the door. * * * “We better not be doing anything today,” Anna groaned from where she sat beside me on the bench. We were sitting outside in the courtyard, waiting on the first bell. It was always loud out here in the morning, but it was a comforting sort of loud. I nodded in agreement, copying her pose of stretching her legs out, ankles crossed. Anna had been my best friend since freshman year science class, despite her having her pick of any friends in the school. She was effortlessly cool; her razor shagged blonde hair was definitely the envy of half our class. “Are you doing cheer camp this summer?” I asked as I opened the blueberry muffin I had gotten from the cafeteria when I arrived. I had finished my banana in the car, but it just hadn’t done the trick. I took a bite, brushing crumbs from my black shirt as they rained down. “Yeah, I guess so,” she said after a moment, her expression thoughtful. “I mean, don’t you have to go since you already made the team or something?”