Page 38 of Madden

Last night was the worst night of my life. I was at the basement with Holder. We were swaying to the beat of theband that plays on Friday nights, when my dad came busting through the door. He saw us...

I've now been forbidden to see Holder ever again, and my heart is breaking. He's the only man I've ever loved, the only man I've allowed to touch me with no clothes on. He took me in the back of the basement, in the most carnal of ways two weeks ago, and now I'm not allowed to see him again.

As far as I'm concerned, my life is completely over.

My dad has said I'll be sent to a Catholic school in the north in a few days. All I want to do is run away with Holder, and live the life I know we can, but I know it's not going to happen. My dad will never allow it.

"Oh, no..." I hurriedly flip through the book to the next entry. I have to know what's happened.

From the diary of Hannah Strather...

May 13th, 1964

This is my last entry in this diary. Tomorrow, my life as I know it, is over. I'm being sent to New Jersey to a Catholic school, because I've not followed the rules like I should, according to my dad. But Holder and I, we have a plan. One that will hopefully end with the two of us living happily ever after...

I put the book down and stare at Chief Harrison. "Is there any way we can find out what happened to them?" I question, needing to know if they made it or not.

He goes over to his desk and pulls up a program on his computer. "We can see if they're in the system. I would say Holder more than likely had a record. Kinda seems like it."

I agree, but don't say anything. I hold my breath as he puts in the name, and then it feels like a lifetime while the computer performs its search.

"Oh, shit." He sighs. "That's not what I wanted to see."

"What? What?"

He turns the computer so that I can see. It's a headline from the Laurel Springs News. "Two Local Teenagers Die In High-Speed Chase." Underneath the headline are two pictures, and below those pictures are the names of the people I've been reading about. I scan the article. They were leaving town together in Holder's car. Hannah's dad told the cops that he'd kidnapped her, and they were running from officers when Holder lost control of the car. They died together, exactly how they'd wanted to live their lives.

"They didn't make it." I sag down into my chair.

"No, they sure didn't." He seems to sag too. We've both been so invested in this, finding out that these two aren't living happily ever after with their great-grandchildren is devastating.

"I guess I should tell Madden so he can let Principal Faulkner know, but I'm heartbroken."

"Me too, and I think everyone else will be too once they hear their story. Thanks for giving them their name back, and the story the attention it deserves."

The praise is hollow, because even if we have the answers, it doesn't change the circumstances. And if that isn't exactly a thesis on the life I'm living right now, I don't know what is.

CHAPTER 25

MADDEN

Over the weekend,they put some lighting up in the room we found. I can't wait to get a good look at what's going on. I head into the school early, and instead of going to where the kids are entering, I go down to the basement.

Principal Faulkner is already standing there, looking around, a look of utter awe on her face. "Can you believe this?"

I step into the room with her, and turn in a circle, getting a look at what's been enclosed within the darkness. There is a bar in the corner of the room, what looks like a stage directly across from it, and what was probably a dance floor. Looking down, what I assumed was concrete is covered with dust and dirt. Taking the toe of my boot, I sweep it back and forth, pushing the dirt around. As I continue to do it, I clear a spot, and then go down on my knees to get a better look.

"Oh my gosh, there is a dance floor. Look at this." I point to the place I've cleared. "I bet this is black and white tile."

"I bet it is, too. I'll ask some of the janitorial staff to come down here and see what we need to do to clean it."

"That would be awesome. This is like a fu-freaking time capsule. I think the kids would enjoy looking at a piece of thepast. What do you think?" I look up at her, standing so that I can turn around and take it all in again.

"I think they would love it, and I think you've got a great idea. Let me talk to the board and the staff. We'll definitely have an answer sooner, rather than later."

I nod, enthusiastic about what all this means. "I can't wait."

“5150?I’m down here at the Laurel Business Bypass. Requesting a K-9 to run an eighteen-wheeler. I know you’re at the school, but are you available for a few minutes?”

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