Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“Like on the internet? Cuz when I’m playing League, we’ve got a team. Is that the kind of gang you’re talking about?” I lean forward with my elbows on my knees. “I’m suffering right now because I got dropped from diamond to emerald. I need more time to play the game, but school’s kind of kicking my ass. I might be booted from my team if I don’t get my ranking up. See—”
“Okay.” She turns back to Josie. “What about the fire alarm?”
This feels like a trick question. Josie cocks her head. “The fire alarm?”
I think back. Shane was the one who told us that the police were starting their questioning, but he never mentioned the fire alarm stuff. Then I remember that Candace told us that she thought the fire alarm was pulled by someone on the basketball team. If Candace has told that to the police, and Josie says that Candace told her nothing, the police are going to suspect Josie’s hiding something. But if Candace told them nothing and Josie spills, she gets Candace in trouble. I don’t know the blonde girl well enough to guess what direction she took. Hopefully Josie does, though.
“Yeah, what did you learn about the fire alarm?”
“I don’t know anything about the fire alarm. Wouldn’t that be a question for the fire department?”
The woman narrows her eyes. “You weren’t told who pulled the alarm?”
“Someone on the basketball team is the rumor.” She doesn’t give away, yet, that Candace was the one that shared that with us.
“And you didn’t put two and two together?”
“I’m a high school newspaper writer, not a detective, so I don’t know what you’re getting at. If the fire alarm being pulled has something to do with Cole, please help me out because I don’t know where he is, and like you said, I’ve been asking everyone.” Josie sounds frustrated and indignant, which are probably her honest feelings. We haven’t been able to get anywhere with our investigation.
“When was the first time you knew Cole was dead?”
Another trick question.
“Dead?” Josie rears back. Shit, she’s a good actress. “He’s missing. I never said he was dead.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” I add so that I don’t look like I’ve got some hidden knowledge they need to dig out from my brain.
The detective tips the end of her pen toward Josie. “Yes, dead. This is a murder investigation, and if I find out that you’re withholding information from us, I’ll charge you with obstruction of justice. That’s a felony, and I don’t think it would look good on your academic record.”
“I think that’s enough.” Josie’s dad steps forward. “If you’re going to accuse my daughter of wrongdoing, we’re going to call a lawyer.”
“Your daughter is eighteen. We don’t need your permission to question her,” snaps the woman.
“I—I,” Josie stutters and then looks at her dad. “I want a lawyer.”
The two detectives exchange a frustrated look. The woman snaps her notebook shut and stiffly nods. “We’ll be in touch. Don’t go anywhere. You either.” She points to me.
I have this urge to salute but manage to keep my hands at my side. The detectives finally leave after pressing a card into Josie’s dad’s hand and making him promise to call them if we remember anything different.
The minute the door closes, Josie’s dad is on us.
“What are you hiding?” he demands.
“Nothing of importance, and if I tell you, then you might be compelled to use that number.” Josie taps the card in her dad’s fist and then rises on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “I’ve got to get ready for school.”
I back up toward the front door. “Me, too. Get ready for school that is,” I clarify.
Her dad doesn’t know how much I skip, so he just frowns his disapproval. “I’m going to have more questions tonight, but you—” He points a finger at me. “Stop right there.”
I halt in my tracks. I could easily run away, but since I plan to be by Josie’s side forever, I’d better learn how to face her father. “Yessir.”
“You do anything to hurt my girl, if she so much has a frown on her face, I’m going to take you apart limb by limb.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And if she gets hurt by anything else, I’m blaming you.”
“Yes, sir.”
We stare at each other. He wants me to understand he’s serious, and I stare back, trying to convey that I would rather cut off my dick and die than see her even stub her toe. I don’t say that though because this is a man who wants to see actions, not listen to words.
“Go on then. And don’t forget what I said.”
“On my life, sir.” And then I escape because despite the fact that I pretended to have only two brain cells left, I’m actually fairly smart. I know when the right time to leave is, and it’s now.