Days went by quickly, and Brian found himself thinking about the girl.

Where was her mom? Why did her mom leave? How did she own so much gold and jewelry?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he found himself looking down at the emerald necklace the girl had given him, which was still around his neck.

He took it off and looked at his reflection in the green gem.

He then remembered how the rumor had started about the scary things on 34th Street. Well, he remembered who started it.

Cody.

It'd been a fine day a few years ago, and Cody came running from 34th Street, saying that someone had been following him, he was sure of it. One kid claimed it was a ghost. Another said it was a kidnapper. A third one claimed that whoever'd been following him was a murderer, and had decided on Cody as his next victim.

Brian didn't realize why he'd thought about this, but then it clicked.

What if Cody had knew Ann before she was left in the house, and when her mom left, being the bully he was, set out to make her miserable? Make everyone avoid her?

At that moment, Brian balled his hands into fists, furious at the thought.

He never thought Cody would do anything as bad as that, but if this thought was correct, apparently he would.