Page 12 of Scorched

“That’s not good enough, damn it.” Her eyes filled with moisture, and she stepped closer. “You don’t know what it’s like to look over your shoulder every second of the day. Or the hell you go through when you let your children out of your sight to go to school. To school, for heaven’s sake.” Her voice cracked and tears spilled over the edge of her eyelids and down her face. “Why didn’t you make sure he was dead then? If he is alive, what have I done to this town? What have I brought with me by moving here?”

“You haven’t brought anything. We don’t know if it’s your husband or someone playing a prank on you. You have to give us time.” He clasped her arms and stared down into her face.

“Time?” She looked up at him through a haze of tears. “Does that missing woman have time?”

A noise at the door drew Paul’s attention, saving him from answering.

Kendall stood there, her eyes wide, her hand hovering, as if to knock. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Her glance darted to Elise and then to the desk where her backpack lay. “I forgot something.”

“Get it,” Elise said through her teeth, turning her back to the girl.

Kendall dove for the backpack and almost made it out the door when Elise swung back.

“Kendall, wait.” She scrubbed her hand over her cheeks and frowned at the teen. “How much of our conversation did you overhear?”

The girl eased around. “Not much.” She didn’t look Elise in the eye when she responded. “I have to go.” She spun toward the door.

“Kendall.” Paul stepped in front of her. “How much did you hear?”

“Nothing I’ll repeat. I swear.” Kendall looked around Paul to Elise. “Alex and I like you, Ms. Johnson. You’re our favorite teacher. We’d never do or say anything that would hurt you.”

Elise stared at her for a long moment. “It’s very important that whatever you think you might have heard doesn’t go outside this room.”

The girl nodded, her eyes wide, scared. “I promise, it won’t.”

“Go home, Kendall.” Elise gave her a crooked smile, but the smile faded, and she added, “And lock your doors.”

When the young lady had gone, Elise glanced up at Paul, a worried frown pinching her forehead. “If word gets out about my problem, I’ll be kicked out of this school so fast, I won’t know what hit my backside.”

“I don’t think the kid will rat on you.” Paul stared into her eyes. “Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes.” She glanced around the room one last time as if checking for stray students. “My sons will be home soon.”

But she didn’t move, yet. “Maybe I should turn in my resignation now and save the school the worry.”

“Don’t borrow trouble, Elise. You’re a good teacher. You have a right to a life.”

“Yeah, so do the rest of the people of Breuer.” She looked up into his eyes, her jaw tightening. “So did the woman who disappeared.”

Paul raised his hands as if to reach for her and then let them drop.

Elise slung her handbag over her shoulder.

Paul gripped her elbow and hurried her out of the classroom and out to the parking lot.

“We’ll take my truck.” He released his hold on her arm and waved toward a big, dark gray pickup parked in the visitor’s parking area.

“No, I’ll need my car.” When she tried to step around him and go to her car, he snagged her arm.

“That’s what I came here to talk to you about.” He held the passenger door open. “Before the boys get home, I have something to tell you, and I don’t want you driving while I tell you.”

“You mean there’s more?” She closed her eyes and swayed.

“Yeah. Get in.” He all but lifted her into the seat and closed the door. When he’d climbed in beside her and had the door safely shut, he turned in his seat. “They found Lauren Pendley this afternoon. She was the missing woman.”

“Oh, God.” Elise pressed her fist to her lips, tears welling in her eyes. “Where?”

Paul hesitated.

---