WHO KILLED EMMALINE? (19 page)

My mom’s comments keep replaying in my mind the next day as I sit outside with Cord at lunch. The breeze is chilly, and I wrap my coat tighter around myself as I nibble on my sandwich while Cord works on homework.

All I’d done last night was toss and turn. My mom’s and Sidney’s suspicions kept floating around in my head, and by the time my alarm went off this morning, my chest was feeling oddly heavy.

They both seem so certain that Cord is up to no good.

I’ve been so sure that I know the real Cord; he’s just misunderstood. But what if I’m the one who’s wrong? I don’t want to start doubting him. I know that if I do, it’ll hurt him. Yet it’s impossible to ignore what everyone is saying.

“I never asked. What are your plans after you graduate?”

Cord’s voice startles me, and I jump as my eyes automatically swing towards his. “I don’t know yet.”

He frowns. “You seemed deep in thought.”

“I zoned out thinking you were focused on your homework,” I say lightly.

“I’m finished. So what are your plans? Do you think you’ll go back to Indiana? Have you applied to anywhere yet?” He moves his backpack aside and settles more comfortably on the grass as he looks at me expectantly.

“Not yet. I’m still not sure what I want to study.”

“You’ve still got time to figure it out.”

“That’s what I told my mom.”

Cord seems to hesitate, and I can tell he has something on his mind.

“What are you thinking?” I ask with interest.

His green eyes penetrate mine unflinchingly. “I think you should quit the store.”

I stare at him, then blink. “Why would you want me to quit?”

“Maybe Dane has the right idea. Besides, whether you work there or not doesn’t affect us. We’ll still see each other.”

“I threatened Riley with a restraining order, I’m sure he’s done messing with me.”

“What if he’s not?”

“You didn’t seem too worried when we last talked about it.”

“I’ve had some time to think, and Riley’s been targeting you when you’re alone. Maybe it’d be wise for you not to be commuting back and forth between Ambler Ridge and Manchester.”

“I’m perfectly safe at the store.”

Cord doesn’t say anything, but a muscle tics in his jaw, betraying that there’s more to this conversation than he’s letting on.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” I ask. Yesterday, not once had he brought any of this up at lunch. So why now? Why today?

He looks at me sharply. “What do you mean?”

He’s hiding something. Between our conversation Sunday evening and now, something has changed, and I have no idea what triggered it. “Sunday you brushed off my concerns and just told me to be careful. Today, you’re suggesting I quit my job over it. Something must have changed your mind.”

“Nothing changed it,” he says as he gazes at me. “I was distracted at the store when we spoke, and I’ve had some time to think over our conversation. Riley or his friends trashed your car while you were inside the store working. What if they do something more on a night you’re there by yourself? Or what about when you walk out to the parking lot on your own after your shifts? Where exactly do they draw the line as to what’s just for fun and what’s dangerous?”

“So I’ll ask Dane to walk me to my car after my shifts.”

Cord’s jaw tightens. “Why even risk it?”

I look at him incredulously. “You’re that serious about me quitting?”

His eyes search mine, and he rubs his face. “No. Forget it. I’m just being overprotective.”

“I’ll have Dane walk me to my car tonight. Does that help make you feel better?” I ask lightly.

Cord is silent for a long moment before he replies, “He won’t have to. I put myself on the schedule tonight, so I’ll be at the store and will walk you out myself.”

“Oh, okay.”

I try to hide what I’m feeling as my mom’s and Sidney’s doubts turn over in my mind, and now I’m feeling even more uncertain as to what Cord’s intentions are. I feel awful allowing these doubts to fester, but now that he’s acting weird, I’m starting to feel worried.

I can feel Cord watching me as we organize the store at the end of the night. He doesn’t come over to talk to me, but I can feel his eyes tracking my every movement. It’s just Dane, Cord, and me working this evening. When it’s time for us to lock up the store, Dane asks Cord if he’ll drop by the warehouse on the way home and grab a few things that he needs.

Cord frowns at Dane as the three of us enter the employee parking lot. “Why can’t you?”

Dane gives him a look. “I have a shitload of orders from the website to go through and emails that need responses. If I run errands tonight, I’m going to be up until four in the morning.”

“Fine, give me the list,” Cord says with a resigned sigh.

Dane hands it over and says his goodbyes to us. Then he walks off towards his hearse.

Cord and I walk the rest of the way to my car, and he looks down at me as the single light in the lot casts shadows on our faces. He reaches out and brushes his thumb across my lower lip, his handsome face softening. “You know I care about you, right?”

“Of course.”

“I would do anything for you, you know.” Something shifts in his gaze. “I never thought I’d care about someone like the way I care about you.”

“I care about you too,” I reply as I try to decipher the odd expression on his face.

He leans forward and places a tender kiss to my forehead before looking at me apologetically. “Sorry if I’ve been sketchy lately and all over the place.”

“Why are you acting so odd?”

He looks like he wants to say something, but then he seems to change his mind, and he smiles wryly at me. “I’ve got a lot on my mind with Halloween next week and all the orders and shit. Now I have errands to run. I should get going.” He steps away from me. “Drive safe, okay?”

I nod. “I will. See you tomorrow.”

Cord nods and turns to walk towards his van.

I climb into my car and start the engine. When I look up, I see Cord’s van pulling out of the parking lot. Dane has yet to back out, and he seems to be text messaging on his phone as his car idles in the parking lot.

My headlights sweep across the lot as I back out of the parking space and leave. Cord’s van is long gone, and I drive through the streets of Manchester until I leave the city behind and head towards Ambler Ridge.

As I drive, I turn on the music and try not to think about Cord and how strange he’s been acting lately. I’m halfway home when I realize a car has come up fast behind me. I squint and try not to glance at the rearview mirror. I have it switched for night time, but whoever is behind me must have their brights on. I can tell that they are too close for comfort, and I speed up a little in hopes that they’ll back off.

There’s an entire road ahead of me barren of cars, so why the heck don’t they just pass me? Whoever is behind me is now practically riding my bumper. I let out a curse and decide to pull over to the side so they can pass. The wheels of my car hit gravel as I pull over onto the side as far as I dare while still going the speed limit.

I suddenly pitch forward as my car is hit from behind. I’m already on the gravel, and I lose traction as my car swerves downwards into the ditch. I quickly cut the engine, and for a second, all I hear is my ragged breathing and the sounds of the car settling. Then bright lights pierce the night, shining into the window beside me.

With my hand raised against the glare of the light, I peer out to see that the other car has pulled over to the side of the road, its headlights shining directly at my car. A door opens and slams shut from above.

It’s then that I realize I might be in a bit of trouble here. Whoever is coming for me had deliberately run me off the road. I grab my cell phone as I release my seatbelt. Then, very clumsily, I climb across to the passenger side and shove open the door. It creaks loudly and won’t open all the way since the car is tilted from the ditch. I manage to squeeze out the door, and then I take off into the woods as fast as my feet will carry me. There’s no point in following the road since it’s usually quiet at this time of night.

My heart beats triple time as I try to see through the darkness as I dodge trees. Everything is unfamiliar to me, and I have no idea where I’m going. I try to look behind me, but I almost run into a tree. I just barely manage to dodge it, and I shake off the near miss as I try to sort out what to do next.

Twigs snap behind me, and my heart skips a beat.

I’m being followed, and I don’t know what to do! I need help, but if I use my phone, whoever’s after me will hear my voice. Then I realize how foolish that last thought had been since I’m breaking branches left and right that are scattered across the forest floor. The sound of my voice won’t really matter since it’s impossible to navigate the underbrush without making noise. After ducking below a low branch, I turn my phone on and quickly glance down to dial nine-one-one.

“Nine-one-one, please state your emergency.”

I abruptly switch direction in hopes of confusing my pursuer. “Someone just ran me off the road, and now they’ve followed me into the woods!” I say breathlessly.

“You say that an unknown vehicle has run you off the road, and now someone is pursuing you on foot through the woods?” the man asks calmly.

“Yes!” I hiss, trying to keep my voice as low as possible.

“Do you recall what road you were driving on?”

I quickly tell him, and then curse as I trip over a fallen branch. I manage to stay upright on my feet and continue running even though I’m already exhausted.

“Ma’am, are you still being followed?”

I dare to pause, and my ears strain to hear any sounds over my panting as I gasp for air. My eyes dart around the darkness, and everywhere I look, I see tall shadows. It dawns on me that I probably would never even see my pursuer coming, not with all these trees surrounding me. I hear a couple of twigs breaking in the distance, and I jump into action and begin running again. “Yes, someone is still after me!”

“Stay calm. Units are already en route. Now, can you tell me your name?”

“Krista Broderick.”

“Okay, Krista, now listen carefully. You’re in the valley, which means plenty of trees and uneven terrain, so be careful and watch your footing. Your cell phone signal is being tracked as we speak, and Redstone Creek is just to your east, so keep to your right. I want you to listen for it and follow it when you find it. It’s not that far,” he assures.

“Okay,” I say as I try not to wheeze. Redstone Creek. Blood Creek. Great, I’m headed towards the creek where Emmaline’s mutilated body was dumped. I’m going to have nightmares over this if I survive it.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” I huff. “Just wishing exercise had been a higher priority in my life.”

The man on the other end chuckles. “I hear you.”

I’m not sure how long I’ve been running when I hear the faint sounds of water, and I’m not sure whether to feel relieved that I’d found it or disturbed that Emmaline’s blood and body parts had probably ran the length of the creek.

“I hear the creek!” I whisper into the phone.

“I want you to head north and follow the creek. Krista, the first unit has found your car, and the vehicle that ran you off the road is no longer there. The officers on the scene believe that the suspect likely gave up the chase and left. Slow down, catch your breath,” he tells me.

“He’s gone?” I wheeze as I hunch over, inhaling deeply as I try to bring down my heart rate. I am so out of shape.

“Looks that way.”

“Do you want me to go back?”

“No. Just in case they’re wrong, they want you to continue heading north. A K-9 unit is following the creek and will intercept you. It’s best to remain cautious.”

“Okay.” I start moving again as I walk beside the creek. It’s wider than I was expecting, and I stay far away from the edge. I do
not
want to accidentally fall in. As I continue walking through the dark, the operator on the other end draws me into a lighthearted conversation to keep me occupied.

It feels like I’ve been walking through the woods forever when I eventually see two bouncing flashlights in the distance.

“I think I see them,” I say into the phone.

“Stay on the line until you’re certain.”

I hear a dog bark, and one of the officers calls out my name.

“They found me,” I say with relief.

“I’m going to hang up now, and they’ll take over from there.”

“Okay, thank you.”

I tuck the phone into my back pocket as the officers approach me.

The next few hours are hectic. I’m taken to the police station to give my statement, and I have no choice but to tell the officers about my bloody car and that Riley had been behind the prank at the house when the window was broken. Once my mom and Mitch arrive, all hell breaks loose since my mom is almost hysterical. After she’s been calmed down, a long discussion takes place as to whether or not a restraining order against Riley is a solution to these pranks. I can tell Mitch is torn over the idea, but my mom demands one, and there is no talking her out of it.

The ride back to the house is grim.

“Why didn’t you tell us about the blood on your car?” my mom demands from the front seat of the car.

“I had no proof it was Riley.” I’m not even sure if Riley had anything to do with my car or if it was even him tonight. It had been hard to see the vehicle that had run me off the road, but I don’t think it’d been as bulky as Riley’s SUV. I have a bad feeling that there is more going on than meets the eye.

“You should have said something,” my mom says flatly.

“I didn’t want you to insist that I quit my job.”

“I can’t imagine that Riley would ever try to harm her,” Mitch speaks up quietly.

“You don’t know what he’s capable of, Mitch,” my mom snaps.

“Mom, it’s not his fault. Don’t take it out on him.”

“I’m not!” Then she sighs. “I’m sorry. I just hate that this is even happening.”

Silence descends over us, and I play with my seatbelt as Mitch drives us home. Once we enter the house, my mom turns on Mitch again. “We need to meet with the school tomorrow morning and make them aware of the situation. They need to keep Riley away from her until the judge grants the temporary restraining order.”

Mitch rubs his face tiredly. “I’d better call Lydia.”

“Honey, do you need anything?” my mom asks as she turns on me.

I shake my head and wrap my arms around myself. I’m feeling drained and chilled after my run through the woods. I’m desperate for a hot shower, and then hopefully I can drop into bed. “I’m just really tired and want to go to bed.”

“I’ll get your car towed right away in the morning, and hopefully you can still drive it to school. From what the officers said, it doesn’t seem to have much damage,” Mitch says quietly to me.

“Great, thanks.”

I trudge upstairs to my room and pull my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans. I’m about to call Cord when I hesitate. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something from me. It may be nothing, or it could have something to do with what’s been happening lately. I’m not sure how much I can trust him, and I carefully clear the phone’s screen and toss it on my bed.

I drop my head into my hands with frustration. Who do I trust in this town?