Page 50 of Scorched

“You know. You’re not like a girl.” Alex turned away, a smirk twisting his lips.

“It’s worse than I thought.” Kendall shook her head at Elise. “He doesn’t even know what a girl is.”

Elise smiled for what felt like the first time in a long time.

“What did the police have to say about the note on your wall, Ms. Johnson?” Kendall asked, her voice stiff and unnaturally cheerful as if she was trying too hard to make the question more casual than it was.

“Kendall.” Alex shot a warning glance at the girl. “You promised you wouldn’t be nosy.”

“I can’t help asking questions. It’s my nature.” She smiled at Elise. “After all, someday I want to work for the FBI like Agent Fletcher.”

Elise cast a glance at the door. It was closed and hopefully, no one out in the hallway could hear what was being said. “The sheriff and the FBI took pictures and dusted for fingerprints. I guess it’s up to them to figure out who did it.”

Kendall heaved a sigh. “Wish I could have been there when they collected the evidence.”

“What, so you could ask dumb questions? Just kick her out when she gets to botherin’ you too much, Ms. Johnson.” Alex plugged a cable into the back of the television and the power cord into the wall. “That ought to do it.”

“I’ve been thinking, Ms. Johnson,” Kendall tipped her head to the side, a frown pressing her blond brows closer together. “Do you think the killer will come after you next? My mom won’t even let me ride my bicycle down the street right now.”

Elise squeezed her eyes shut to keep the ready tears from spilling. Was she doing the right thing by staying in Breuer? Was her very presence there placing all the other blond women in danger? “I don’t know, Kendall.”

“Why would he write that note on your wall?” the blond teen persisted.

“Kendall, shut up.” Alex straightened from the back of the television and glared at his friend.

Kendall held her hands up in surrender. “What? I’m just asking.”

“Maybe Ms. Johnson doesn’t want to answer all your crazy questions.”

“But I could be at risk, too, for all we know.” She lifted the end of her blond ponytail, her brows raised.

“Yeah, and your name isn’t Alice.”

“Neither is Ms. Johnson’s.” Kendall turned her gaze back to Elise. “Your first name is Elise, isn’t it? Why did the note call you Alice? I mean it sounds kinda like Alice but it’s different.”

“Enough, Kendall!” Alex stalked toward her.

Kendall ducked behind Elise’s desk. “Leave me alone, you geek. I mean it. One step closer and I’ll let you have it.”

Alex took that one step and a couple more.

“You’re impossible.” Kendall tossed the eraser at Alex’s head and missed. The eraser bounced off the front of the video player, triggering the unit to switch on.

Instead of the documentary on ancient Egypt and the pyramids, a news clip came on.

Kendall’s attention shifted to the television screen. “Is that the local news channel?”

Alex returned to the set and fiddled with the buttons, changing the channels. On any other channel, he either got a blue screen or static. He hit the eject button and reloaded the disc.

Once again the screen filled with a news clip. Peoplewere standing out in the rain, wearing heavy coats and the news reporter held a microphone up to a woman clutching the hands of two small boys.

Elise’s heart stumbled in her chest, her vision going blurry around the edges. She knew that woman. Knew those boys.

“Turn it off,” she said, barely able to force air past her vocal cords.

Alex and Kendall moved closer to the television.

Kendall pointed at the oldest boy. “Hey, isn’t that Brandon?” When she turned back to Elise, her face blanched. “Ms. Johnson, are you okay?”

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