them I don’t know. They’ll go away thinking I’m some kind of nutcase.”
Maxwell didn’t answer for a moment. Finally he said, “Have you told me everything about what’s behind this? I get the feeling you haven’t.”
Emily whipped the rubber band from her curls, heedless of the sharp pricks when stray hairs snagged and were pulled. She blindly shoved the rubber band back atMaxwell, ducking her head to allow the curtain of hair to fall between them.
Hugging her seclusion around her like a comforting blanket, she answered, “I’ve told you enough. That’s all I can say for now.”
“All you are able to say, or all you want to say? There’s a difference.”
As Emily hesitated, Maxwell climbed awkwardly to his feet and stretched a hand toward her. “You can trust me, Emily,” he said.
Emily grasped his hand and stood. Maxwell’s hand was warm and firm, and for a moment his touch gave her a burst of the courage she needed. But once on her feet she quickly pulled her hand away. She couldn’t trust Maxwell. She couldn’t trust anyone. Not when she couldn’t even trust her own childhood memories, which had been deeply buried, hiding the truth.
CHAPTER 14
I nod intelligently as our various staff members discuss study helps for our students. I even make my own contributions. I could have done that in my sleep, but I’m shaken to the core. Since the—the incident—I haven’t been able to properly focus on anything else
.
I hadn’t meant to kill Amelia Foxworth. I was angry and frightened, and I reacted without thinking. Amelia had found out. She told me she’d publicize the résumé I had—shall we say—embellished. She was going to destroy the exemplary reputation I was building for myself and ruin my career
.
I suppose subconsciously I realized that I had no choice but to stop her. It was quick. Immediate. I had not planned it. Her death was not premeditated. Desperate, frightened by Amelia’s threat, I simply acted. Pushed her. Watched her fall over the railing along the marble stairs to crack her head open on the tile by the pool
.
Emily saw her fall. Out of shock she’s repressed her childhood memories, but someday they’ll be bound to return. I can’t take the chance
.
When I discovered the little girl’s presence, I tried to stop
her, to call her back. What I would have done, if she had obeyed me, I sincerely do not know. During the months I unsuccessfully tried to discover her identity and find her, I acted blindly. I made no real plans
.
This time the situation was entirely different. I did make plans—at least of a sort. I intended to seclude myself near the small dock. If Emily Wood arrived while I was there I would consider it an omen and know I must act
.
So I did
.
How could I know it would not be Emily who came, but another student who resembled Emily? Also, how would it have been possible to anticipate that someone else would arrive soon behind her? Just like the first time, I was so fearful, I was afraid my heart would stop beating. It was amazing that I escaped without being discovered
.
It was also fortunate that the girl I had struck with a rock did not die
.
But Emily Wood must die. She is a real threat to my future career and well-being. I am forced to take some type of action against her. Something that will not incriminate me
.
What will it be?
CHAPTER 15
Emily slipped into a seat in the back row of the meeting hall, Maxwell beside her. Dr. Anderson, standing at a podium at the front of the room, was talking about taking responsibility. The last thing in the world Emily wanted to hear about was taking responsibility, so she scrunched down and ducked her head, letting her hair fall. There was so much to think about, to wonder about.
What if someone
…, she thought, but could go no further.
She suddenly realized that chairs were being scraped across the floor and people around her were rising.
“Emily Wood,” a girl said, and stretched to reach Emily,
Maxwell didn’t answer for a moment. Finally he said, “Have you told me everything about what’s behind this? I get the feeling you haven’t.”
Emily whipped the rubber band from her curls, heedless of the sharp pricks when stray hairs snagged and were pulled. She blindly shoved the rubber band back atMaxwell, ducking her head to allow the curtain of hair to fall between them.
Hugging her seclusion around her like a comforting blanket, she answered, “I’ve told you enough. That’s all I can say for now.”
“All you are able to say, or all you want to say? There’s a difference.”
As Emily hesitated, Maxwell climbed awkwardly to his feet and stretched a hand toward her. “You can trust me, Emily,” he said.
Emily grasped his hand and stood. Maxwell’s hand was warm and firm, and for a moment his touch gave her a burst of the courage she needed. But once on her feet she quickly pulled her hand away. She couldn’t trust Maxwell. She couldn’t trust anyone. Not when she couldn’t even trust her own childhood memories, which had been deeply buried, hiding the truth.
CHAPTER 14
I nod intelligently as our various staff members discuss study helps for our students. I even make my own contributions. I could have done that in my sleep, but I’m shaken to the core. Since the—the incident—I haven’t been able to properly focus on anything else
.
I hadn’t meant to kill Amelia Foxworth. I was angry and frightened, and I reacted without thinking. Amelia had found out. She told me she’d publicize the résumé I had—shall we say—embellished. She was going to destroy the exemplary reputation I was building for myself and ruin my career
.
I suppose subconsciously I realized that I had no choice but to stop her. It was quick. Immediate. I had not planned it. Her death was not premeditated. Desperate, frightened by Amelia’s threat, I simply acted. Pushed her. Watched her fall over the railing along the marble stairs to crack her head open on the tile by the pool
.
Emily saw her fall. Out of shock she’s repressed her childhood memories, but someday they’ll be bound to return. I can’t take the chance
.
When I discovered the little girl’s presence, I tried to stop
her, to call her back. What I would have done, if she had obeyed me, I sincerely do not know. During the months I unsuccessfully tried to discover her identity and find her, I acted blindly. I made no real plans
.
This time the situation was entirely different. I did make plans—at least of a sort. I intended to seclude myself near the small dock. If Emily Wood arrived while I was there I would consider it an omen and know I must act
.
So I did
.
How could I know it would not be Emily who came, but another student who resembled Emily? Also, how would it have been possible to anticipate that someone else would arrive soon behind her? Just like the first time, I was so fearful, I was afraid my heart would stop beating. It was amazing that I escaped without being discovered
.
It was also fortunate that the girl I had struck with a rock did not die
.
But Emily Wood must die. She is a real threat to my future career and well-being. I am forced to take some type of action against her. Something that will not incriminate me
.
What will it be?
CHAPTER 15
Emily slipped into a seat in the back row of the meeting hall, Maxwell beside her. Dr. Anderson, standing at a podium at the front of the room, was talking about taking responsibility. The last thing in the world Emily wanted to hear about was taking responsibility, so she scrunched down and ducked her head, letting her hair fall. There was so much to think about, to wonder about.
What if someone
…, she thought, but could go no further.
She suddenly realized that chairs were being scraped across the floor and people around her were rising.
“Emily Wood,” a girl said, and stretched to reach Emily,
Similar Books
