find? A suicide note? A document detailing a brake failure or other proof it was an accident? I flip through the last stack of papers, now more certain than ever that the key to my mother’s death died with her.
I stop when I get to a yellowed piece of paper with plain Courier font. There’s no letterhead announcing its origin. Not even a signature at the bottom.
Just three short sentences that leap off the page and into my throat, choking me.
The lives you think you’re saving
aren’t worth your own.
Tell no one.
Stop before it’s too late.
Chapter 12
B y the time I get to school, fourth hour is over and lunch has already started. I have two pings from Mary Chris and twelve from Jason. I send them a quick note that I’m working on a case and make my way to the little study room in the library.
Drew is already there. He flashes me a friendly smile. “Second date?”
I don’t answer. I’m way past small talk. “Did you mean what you said yesterday?”
Drew watches me warily. “About running away from high school?”
“About helping me. To find out what happened to my mom?” I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, but I’m pretty sure that I don’t want to face this alone.
“Absolutely. Are you okay?”
I nod, but I cross my arms around my stomach to quell the vicious butterflies that are trying to beat their way out from the inside.
Drew stands and walks to me, sliding his arm around my shoulders like we’ve been friends forever. “You want to get lunch somewhere else?”
I nod again, not bothering to remove his hand or push him away.
As we step out of the library together, more than a few people stare. It’s easy to ignore them until I see Tanner. He stands at an open locker, but his head is turned at a ninety-degree angle as he watches me with those ice-blue eyes. I see the moment he notices Drew, his eyes narrowing to slits.
I want to march over to him and ask what his problem is. We are nothing to each other, just two people forced to endure each other’s company while my best friend crushes on his brother. I stare back, and as our eyes meet, it’s like I can feel the daggers poking at my chest, threatening to cut me open.
Drew’s arm tightens around my shoulder. I look away from Tanner, letting Drew carry me along to the parking lot. We are safely inside Drew’s red hatchback before I can breathe.
“Where are we going?”
“You know the Sand ’N’ Sea?” It’s one of only three restaurants within a mile of school. “I’m told it’s the best chicken salad in Valle Vista.”
Likely the only chicken salad in Valle Vista. It’s not like we have an abundance of restaurants beyond the typical fast-food chains.
We drive even though the restaurant is just a few blocks away. Despite its name, the Sand ’N’ Sea is nowhere near the beach. The only ocean ambience here is a small flock of seagulls hopping from table to floor in search of scraps.
“So, is this our second date?” Drew asks as we settle into one of the wrought iron tables with our chicken salads.
“It’s not a date.”
“Let’s see, I asked you to go somewhere to eat. You came. We’re sitting here together. I’d say that’s a date.”
“It’s not.”
Drew leans across the table. “Second lunch then?”
I smile. “Second lunch.”
“Done. So are you going to tell me what happened, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?”
I’m not sure I’m ready to tell anyone about the note, let alone a guy I just met a few days ago, but if I’m really going to do this, it might help to at least have someone to talk to. Someone who doesn’t judge me.
I show him the letter. “This was in my mother’s things.”
He scans it. “Whoa.”
“Do you think it means anything?”
“Do you?”
“I don’t know. It sounds like someone wanted her dead.”
Drew looks worried. “Sounds dangerous.”
Okay, it’s too much to ask someone I barely know. I shouldn’t involve him. “It’s not what
I stop when I get to a yellowed piece of paper with plain Courier font. There’s no letterhead announcing its origin. Not even a signature at the bottom.
Just three short sentences that leap off the page and into my throat, choking me.
The lives you think you’re saving
aren’t worth your own.
Tell no one.
Stop before it’s too late.
Chapter 12
B y the time I get to school, fourth hour is over and lunch has already started. I have two pings from Mary Chris and twelve from Jason. I send them a quick note that I’m working on a case and make my way to the little study room in the library.
Drew is already there. He flashes me a friendly smile. “Second date?”
I don’t answer. I’m way past small talk. “Did you mean what you said yesterday?”
Drew watches me warily. “About running away from high school?”
“About helping me. To find out what happened to my mom?” I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, but I’m pretty sure that I don’t want to face this alone.
“Absolutely. Are you okay?”
I nod, but I cross my arms around my stomach to quell the vicious butterflies that are trying to beat their way out from the inside.
Drew stands and walks to me, sliding his arm around my shoulders like we’ve been friends forever. “You want to get lunch somewhere else?”
I nod again, not bothering to remove his hand or push him away.
As we step out of the library together, more than a few people stare. It’s easy to ignore them until I see Tanner. He stands at an open locker, but his head is turned at a ninety-degree angle as he watches me with those ice-blue eyes. I see the moment he notices Drew, his eyes narrowing to slits.
I want to march over to him and ask what his problem is. We are nothing to each other, just two people forced to endure each other’s company while my best friend crushes on his brother. I stare back, and as our eyes meet, it’s like I can feel the daggers poking at my chest, threatening to cut me open.
Drew’s arm tightens around my shoulder. I look away from Tanner, letting Drew carry me along to the parking lot. We are safely inside Drew’s red hatchback before I can breathe.
“Where are we going?”
“You know the Sand ’N’ Sea?” It’s one of only three restaurants within a mile of school. “I’m told it’s the best chicken salad in Valle Vista.”
Likely the only chicken salad in Valle Vista. It’s not like we have an abundance of restaurants beyond the typical fast-food chains.
We drive even though the restaurant is just a few blocks away. Despite its name, the Sand ’N’ Sea is nowhere near the beach. The only ocean ambience here is a small flock of seagulls hopping from table to floor in search of scraps.
“So, is this our second date?” Drew asks as we settle into one of the wrought iron tables with our chicken salads.
“It’s not a date.”
“Let’s see, I asked you to go somewhere to eat. You came. We’re sitting here together. I’d say that’s a date.”
“It’s not.”
Drew leans across the table. “Second lunch then?”
I smile. “Second lunch.”
“Done. So are you going to tell me what happened, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?”
I’m not sure I’m ready to tell anyone about the note, let alone a guy I just met a few days ago, but if I’m really going to do this, it might help to at least have someone to talk to. Someone who doesn’t judge me.
I show him the letter. “This was in my mother’s things.”
He scans it. “Whoa.”
“Do you think it means anything?”
“Do you?”
“I don’t know. It sounds like someone wanted her dead.”
Drew looks worried. “Sounds dangerous.”
Okay, it’s too much to ask someone I barely know. I shouldn’t involve him. “It’s not what
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