Read Online A Whisper in Time by Elizabeth Langston - Free Book Online

home of a family who didn’t treat her badly. They had kept their commitment to increase her education. She had a safe place to sleep and no complaints about the food. It had been a wise decision to take her there.
    Yet my sister had thought I was dead, a lie that grieved me. I’d mourned the loss of Phoebe since the day I left my old world behind. Only now could I see that grief reaching her. I knew it would be fierce and bewildering—a misery that had no cure.
    Perhaps it was best this way. Was it not better to think me dead than to wonder why I lived and yet never contacted her again?
    I had indeed passed away—to here instead of heaven.

C HAPTER T EN
    S PARE XC HROMOSOME
    Our physics class met in the lab on Monday, but the experiment was straightforward and we finished early. While Gabrielle cleaned up our station, I stared out the window. Rain had fallen all day. Flash flood warnings had ended, but the Piedmont portion of North Carolina was a mud pit. A slippery wet clay pit, if I wanted to be specific.
    No way would it be safe to train in this mess, even if the nearby trails had been open. I’d have to ride on my stationary bike, which was fine. Endurance was important.
    Gabrielle poked me in the back with a sturdy fingernail. “Jesse, Benita, and I are heading over to the Olde Tyme Grill after school to study. Want to join us?”
    I did, actually. I had my truck today—so if I stayed only a few minutes, I could still be with Susanna close to normal time. “Sure. See you there.”
    I arrived first at the grill and grabbed a booth in the back corner. A steady stream of kids I didn’t recognize wandered in, filling the booths and tables. I hadn’t realized this was such a popular place, although there was another private academy and a public high school within easy distance of here.
    All this popularity made Olde Tyme Grill a strange choice for us. Gabrielle would stick out like a beacon. Why hadn’t they picked somewhere more secluded?
    The three of them walked in together. Gabrielle went to the order line with Garrett right behind her in his regular uniform of khakis, polo shirt, and shades. His clothes might have looked casual, but he didn’t.
    Jesse and Benita headed over to my booth, flopped onto the bench across from me, smiled “hi,” and then turned to each other.
    I would’ve cracked up laughing if I stared that hard at a girl, but he seemed serious about studying every pore on her face.
    It didn’t take long for Gabrielle to show up with four smoothies and a huge basket of fries. She set them in the middle of the table and then slid in next to me.
    The bodyguard took over the table nearest us. She didn’t offer him anything or even acknowledge his presence.
    Jesse picked up a fry that looked nearly as big as a breadstick. “Thanks for the food, Gabi.”
    She grimaced at the nickname. “No problem.”
    Benita twined both of her arms around her boyfriend. “Jesse thinks we’ll have a pop quiz tomorrow.”
    He grunted. “I know we will.”
    I gave him a skeptical look. “How can you?”
    “Research,” he said as he frowned at another fry. “I interviewed some seniors from last year. Ms. Milford gives her first pop quiz the week after Labor Day. Based on the way she was emphasizing points today, I’m guessing we’ll have one tomorrow.”
    Benita nuzzled his scruffy cheek. “You’re amazing.”
    “You are too.” This time, the solemn stare changed into an embarrassingly noisy kiss.
    I watched them in surprise and then looked around to see if the grill’s owner was around. He’d kick us out if he noticed.
    There was a sucking sound as they separated. “We need ketchup. Excuse us just a second,” Benita said as she slid from their side of the booth. Jesse slid after her, their hands joined. They headed toward the food counter.
    Gabrielle smiled at me. “What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t get what she sees in him.”
    “She doesn’t see him. She’s a musician. The sense she trusts