A Killer Read (21 page)

Lizzie backed out of the driveway cautiously, then said, “I’m listening.”

Andie stared straight ahead and sat hugging her black skull-and-crossbones backpack. She was dressed in her usual black jeans with the torn knees, but her top was a pale blue T-shirt, with a skull on the back for good measure. “You know we’ve been hanging out a lot lately?”

Lizzie nodded although she hadn’t been entirely sure.

“Well, she doesn’t really talk a lot about herself, ya know? She tells me about working at the diner, and, you’ll be happy to hear this, she says the job stinks so I should stay in school and get a good job after.”

Lizzie glanced over. Had Andie been seriously thinking of dropping out? Her parents would be none too pleased. Neither would she. She said a silent thank-you to Stephanie.

“She’s a smart girl.”

Andie shrugged. “Maybe so, but she’s also a scared one.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess I should have told you all about this yesterday, but I was still puzzling it out, ya know?” She glanced at Lizzie, who nodded even though she didn’t really know. “Well, every now and then she gets a call on her cell, she looks at the number and then ignores it. But she sure gets upset when she reads the number. I asked her about it, and at first she said it was just a wrong number, but after the next few times, she said it was someone she didn’t want to talk to. And she pulled out her knitting— ya know how she goes at it when she’s all tense?”

Lizzie had noticed but not thought about it. She admired Andie for being so observant and sensitive to her actions. “Yes,” she answered anyway.

“And then she usually has to rip it all up because it’s way too tight or just plain wrong. Anyway, that’s been happening a lot lately.”

“Why did you say she’s scared? There’s a difference between upset and scared.”

Andie drew in a deep breath. “Because she’d been lying down for a short nap when I was over there yesterday, and I woke her up at the time she asked for. I had been sitting around reading while waiting.” Lizzie perked up at the mention of reading but didn’t want to ask what.

“She went to the can, and I saw her pillow had slipped off to the floor, so I picked it up and fluffed the other one, too, and… there was a knife under it.”

“A knife.”

“Holy sharks, yes, a big honking knife like the butchering kind. Don’t you get it? I think she sleeps with a knife under her pillow because she’s scared.”

Lizzie stepped on the brake and glanced belatedly into the rearview mirror to make sure no one was looming behind her. “A knife?” she repeated.

“Yeah. So what do you think I oughta do?” Andie whispered.

“You didn’t ask her about it, I gather?”

“Well, duh… yeah, I asked. And she got all mad at me and said it was none of my business and to stop bugging her. I wasn’t bugging her at all. I hadn’t been on her case or anything. She just blew up and hit the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.”

“Then what did you do?”

“I left. I mean, I thought about sticking around and seeing if she would talk to me, but, like, she’d told me to leave her alone. And I thought, ok, I’ll give her time to cool off and then talk to her later. But when I phoned her place last night, she didn’t answer. I think she’s still pissed off with me. So, if she is, she might as well get really pissed off when she finds out I told you about it and asked you to go see her. Which is what I’m doing.” Andie stopped and took a deep breath. “Will you go talk to her?”

“Of course I will. And I’m glad you told me, Andie. It sounds like she needs her friends, and if she’s in trouble, maybe we can help.” She pulled up in front of the high school on Magnolia Street.

“And you’ll let me know?” Andie asked as she got out of the car.

“I’ll try seeing her after school today, and I’ll give you a call when I have news. Don’t you worry about it, Andie. You did the right thing, and we’ll try and sort it out.”

Andie made a peace sign with her left hand before shutting the door.

Lizzie drove over to the parking lot at Ashton Corners Elementary School and sat in the car for a few moments going over her conversation with Andie. She knew how disturbing it must be for her. The fact that Stephanie had a knife
handy must mean she was terrified of someone. But who? Probably someone from her hometown. Lizzie didn’t think she’d made that kind of enemy in the short while she’d been in Ashton Corners. Who then? The father of her child? A relative? Or did she have an unknown stalker? That could and did happen, even in moderately quiet Ashton Corners.

She had to admit, she wasn’t quite sure how to handle this. If Stephanie wouldn’t confide in Andie, and they seemed to be on close terms, then it was doubtful she’d just up and tell Lizzie. One thing was certain: Stephanie had to tell them what was going on in her life before they could be of any help to her.

Maybe Molly could talk to her again. Molly had a calming effect on those around her and just seemed to know what to say. Yes, Molly was the best bet.

Meanwhile, she had progress reports to work up on some sixth-graders she’d been following for the past two years. They were all nice kids, eager to learn but lacking the right tools to do so. She’d taught them some study skills that hopefully had made learning a little less of a challenge. It seemed to be working so far. She was really looking forward to the interviews this morning. She knew the other two students she had scheduled for the afternoon would probably leave her with a major headache.

A
fter school Lizzie drove over to Molly’s, hoping to catch her in. She hadn’t had a chance to call ahead as a series of minor crises had robbed her of her lunch hour. She parked next to the garage and luckily found Molly out in back, gardening.

“Hi, honey,” Molly called out as Lizzie approached her. “I just have to get these daylilies split. They’re all taking over this here corner and though they’re real colorful, I don’t want them crowding out my shasta daisies next year.” She’d
been kneeling on a padded cushion and put out a hand to Lizzie to help her stand.

“They’re gorgeous, Molly. I just love that shade of yellow. Your green thumb really shows.”

Molly chuckled. “Well, it’s Marv’s green thumb, really. And for a gardener, he’s mighty kind to allow me to putter around, even though it is my garden. You know, they can be quite obsessive about their babies. Now, let’s take a tea break and you tell me what’s on your mind. You don’t look too sparkly right now.”

She led the way into the kitchen, stepping out of her soiled red Crocs and into some red Birkenstocks at the door.

Lizzie sat at the kitchen table and told her about Stephanie. Molly stopped pouring the iced tea into the glasses and looked at Lizzie a full minute before continuing. She said nothing until she placed the tea and a plate of butter pecan cookies on the table.

“My goodness. What’s that girl going through, anyway? And if she’s that upset, it can’t be any good for the baby.”

“I agree. I thought maybe you could talk to her, Molly. I doubt she’d tell me anything, but I’m sure you can coax her.” Lizzie stared at the plate of cookies but resisted taking one.

“I’ll be happy to do what I can, but she may not feel ready to confide in any of us just yet. She didn’t want to talk about her hometown last time I asked. We haven’t known her very long, after all. But this is much more serious and it can’t go on. I’ll phone the diner to see if she’s working and if not, I’ll go right over to her house. If she’s not answering the phone these days, I’ll just take her by surprise.”

“Thanks, Molly. I knew you’d do it, and I’m sure she’ll be relieved to open up to someone.” Lizzie continued staring at the cookies until Molly pushed the plate a little closer to her. Lizzie sighed and grabbed one, breaking it in half and popping one of the two pieces into her mouth. She sighed again as the rich pecan flavor invaded her taste buds.

“Will you give me a call, before I go to choir, if that’s possible?” Lizzie asked.

“Surely.” Molly got up and brought a plastic ziplock bag back to the table, slid the remaining cookies into it and handed it to Lizzie. “These will give you energy for singing.”

Lizzie thanked her, gave her a kiss on the cheek and left so that Molly could get ready to visit Stephanie.

At the corner of Yancy and Pike, Lizzie made a quick decision and turned left, then right again, taking Main into town. She’d bet George Havers was one of those editors who stayed way later than his paycheck covered. She parked in front of the newspaper office and went in, suspecting George hadn’t left for the day. The front desk sat empty, but when she hit the small bell sitting on the counter, George poked his head around his office door.

“Lizzie, back again so soon? I’m pleased. Come on back here, and we can talk while I tidy some things up.”

“Thanks, George.” Lizzie walked to the office, where she sat on a stool and watched while George closed some file folders and stuck them in a filing cabinet in the corner. Then he moved some storyboards featuring different sections of the newspaper, most likely used for displays out in the community, over to the same corner.

“Watching you do that,” she said after a few minutes, “just gave me an idea about maybe a partnership we could form— the paper and the literacy program. Maybe we can work out some way to get subscriptions or at least copies for our students. They should be reading the paper, maybe most already do. I guess I should check that first. Anyway, it’s just an idea.”

“I like it, Lizzie. I’m happy to get involved with literacy any way I can. You set up a plan with what you want, and I’ll see how I can make it happen.”

Lizzie smiled. “Great. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. I’m actually not reinventing the wheel here. It’s been done in many places. I just haven’t thought to own it before. But that’s not why I stopped by.”

Now that she was here, she wasn’t quite sure what to ask. Except the obvious question. But what if it opened a can of worms she wasn’t prepared to deal with? Just because an unknown voice set her to this, didn’t mean she had to follow through. But, she admitted to herself, she was curious not only about why she’d gotten the calls but also about the story the caller had referred to. She took a deep breath.

“I’m trying to find out what story my daddy was working on when he died. Do you know what it was, by any chance?”

George leaned back in his chair, frowning. He clasped his hands behind his head and thought. “Not offhand. I don’t even remember if I even knew at the time. He’d sometimes ask me to do research for him, but I wasn’t working on anything with him then. Maybe your mama would know.” He sat up abruptly. “I’m sorry, Lizzie. I wasn’t thinking when I said that. Why don’t you leave it with me and I’ll see what I can come up with.”

“Thanks, George. I’d appreciate it. I was also wondering about his car accident.”

George sat up even straighter but looked uncomfortable. “That’s a long time ago, Lizzie. Why is it important now?” He paused. “Is there a connection?”

“I got a phone call in the middle of the night. This is the second time the caller has done that. The first time he— I’m actually not sure if it’s a male or female because the voice was muffled each time, but I’ll say he— the first time he called he asked if I knew what story my daddy was working on when he died. Last night he asked if I’d found out yet. Of course, I haven’t.”

“Have you told Chief Dreyfus about the calls?”

“Not about the second call. He’s aware of the first one, though.”

George nodded. “I’ll see what I can find out and give you a call if anything turns up.”

“Thanks.” Lizzie waited a moment before asking her next question. She took a deep breath. “Was there anything odd
about the car accident? Any chance it wasn’t an accident?”

“As I recall, it was a pretty straightforward investigation.”

“Would you happen to have a copy of the newspaper story on file still?”

George folded his hands on his desk and looked at her without speaking. Finally, he said, “I know just where to find it. I kept a copy. I really admired your daddy, you know. He inspired me to become a reporter. I couldn’t believe it when he died so young and at the peak of his career. And, of course, with such a young family.”

He turned around and clicked the mouse for his computer, which sat on a desk behind him. He clicked a few more times, and a newspaper story appeared on the screen. He stood up and motioned her to the chair.

She sat down, not really sure if she wanted to read it after all. The newspaper page had been scanned. There were two stories, the initial news story of six paragraphs and an obituary that ran half the newspaper page.

“Why, it’s your byline, George. You wrote the stories.”

“Yes.”

Lizzie read through them slowly, trying not to feel any emotion, reading strictly for the facts. She felt tears in her eyes as she turned back to him. “What a wonderful tribute, George. Thank you.”

George smiled sadly. “I wanted to be the one to remember him and his career. Now, did you find what you were looking for?”

“I remember being told it was a head-on crash. But not a whole lot else. I guess there was no doubt it was an accident?”

George shook his head. “Look, I’ll print you out a copy if you like.”

She nodded, and he produced it for her in short order. “Thanks, George. I appreciate… everything. I’d better let you get on with things so you can get home for supper.” She
wondered what his wife and three kids thought about his long hours. They must be used to it by now. She didn’t know Sandra Havers well, had only met her briefly at their wedding fifteen years ago, but had liked her immediately. She pictured them as having a very happy, loving family life. Of course, Lizzie pictured everyone as having that.

George walked her to the front door. “It must be worrying for you, but try not to let it bother you, Lizzie. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have something to tell you. And if you get another call, please let me know. And the chief.”

He gave her shoulder a friendly pat and she left.

She glanced at the police station as she walked to her car. Should she go in and talk to Mark? He might not be there. Or… he might. She decided against it as Officer Craig pulled into the lot beside the station. That was one conversation she could do without.