The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George

“I’m riding my bike. That’s what everyone’s doing, Derric said. They’re having time trials.”
    “Darlin’, there’s no way you can make it to Goss Lake on your bike,” Debbie said. She went on to tell Becca it was miles and miles and the road was completely Whidbey Island. From this, Becca knew it was hills and curves all the way.
    She said, “Oh,” and she knew she sounded sad because she felt sad although she didn’t like to think why this was the case. It was, after all, just a bunch of kids riding their bikes around a lake, and the fact that Derric Mathieson had called to include her meant only that she was supposed to be part of the time trials herself. She knew she’d blow that in a very big way, so it was actually better she didn’t go. Besides, although her bike riding skills were definitely improving since it was her only mode of transportation, she was still far away from being able to manage miles and miles of hills.
    Good news for Jenn, Becca thought. She would hardly have been thrilled to see Becca King show up.

    ULTIMATELY, BECCA WENT to the Star Store. It was a very short bike ride from the motel. Inside, she wandered a bit, with her five dollars in tip money asking to be at least partially spent. She snagged a large bag of Doritos for herself and two miniature pumpkins for the kids. She was at the checkout counter, getting ready to pay, when a voice said to her, “Those’re sort of small for carving, wouldn’t you say?” and she found Seth Darrow behind her. He grinned. “Thought that was you. How’s it going? Still hanging around with dogs?”
    This confused her till she remembered her first night in the doghouse and how she’d smelled the next morning. She said, “You were right. I’m staying at the motel. Debbie’s great.”
    “I figured she’d help you.”
    When she made her purchases, Seth walked outside with her. He pulled his fedora out of his back pocket. He reshaped it expertly and put it on. He said, “Everything okay then? What’re you doing with your time?”
    “Nothing much,” she said, and he looked disappointed for some reason. She didn’t understand what he wanted to know or why, even, he might want to know anything. But she was grateful that he was a friendly-type guy, so she added, “Well, I was s’posed to go out to Goss Lake today to meet some kids from school, but I can’t.”
    His face lit up. “Kids from school? Why can’t you go?”
    “Debbie said I probably wouldn’t make it. On the bike. You know.” She nodded to where her bicycle sat, this time next to the Dumpster.
    Seth said, “Oh yeah. To get out to the lake, you definitely need a better bike than that.”
    “I guess. But I was sort of thinking Debbie worries too much and maybe that’s why she didn’t want me to go.”
    Seth said, “That’d probably be because of her daughter. That’s how Reese died. On her bike.”
    “Oh.” Becca hadn’t known that. Only that Ms. Ward, the registrar from the school, had killed her. She wanted to know more, but Seth was saying that he’d just come into the Star Store to pick up his paycheck and, “Sammy and I can run you out to Goss Lake if you like.”
    She said, “Who’s Sammy?” and Seth shot her a grin.
    “Come and meet him,” he said.

    SAMMY TURNED OUT to be Seth’s car. It was a Volkswagen, a vintage model from 1965. It was completely restored, with a paint job so shiny that Becca could see her face in it.
    Before they left the Star Store parking lot, Seth pointed to a cottagelike building next door, mustard colored, with a garden in front. That, he told her, was South Whidbey Commons. “If you want to meet people—outside of the usual high school crowd—that’s where you should go. After school and on weekends. I play chess there sometimes. Guitar, too, with my trio. It’s a good hangout for people.”
    They trundled their way up Second Street as Seth explained there were several different ways to get out to Goss Lake, but