Page 32 of Peak Suspicion
The daughter glanced up at her husband. “She’s talking about her sister, Frances. She’s been gone twenty years now.”
They led Helen away and the searchers made their way back toward their vehicles. Danny caught up with Carter. “That was smart, pretending to look for money and inviting her to help,” he said. “How did you come up with that?”
He shrugged. “I knew I needed to distract her and get her away from that ledge. I thought I’d give it a try.”
“You talked Bryce Atkinson into coming out of hiding, too,” Danny said. “You have a real knack for it.”
“Maybe you need to become a cop like your brother and go into hostage negotiations,” Vince said.
“Or become a politician.” Dalton punched his twin’s shoulder. “Who knew your gift of gab could be so useful?”
Carter laughed along with the rest of them but inside he was still unsteady. Helen could have fallen off that ledge when she stood to see what he was doing. And when she did fall while standing near him, he had been sure she would snap a bone or hit her head on a rock. Maybe his words had helped, but he had also potentially put her in more danger. And now everyone was laughing as if what he had done were a joke. A clever trick. All he had done was talk. Something most people learned to do as toddlers. It wasn’t a skill like treating wounds, scaling cliffs, solving crimes or writing computer programs. Talking was an ordinary, sometimes even annoying, thing. Just like him.
The week passed quickly. When no new notes showed up and no one else wanted to talk to her about Bryce or David, Mira began to relax a little. She taught the Spanish class on Wednesday and spoke briefly with Carter, but he didn’t ask her out again. She was annoyed at herself for being so disappointed that a guy who was a self-confessed flirt wasn’t flirting with her.
By Friday, almost one week since Bryce’s abduction and escape, there were no new developments and everyone’s interest appeared to have moved on to other things. “You’re going to be at the barbecue tomorrow, right?” Shayla stopped Mira in the school’s main hallway after lunch. While they talked, students flowed around them, their voices an excited hum, like bees around a hive on a sunny day.
“Barbecue?” Mira blinked, trying to remember.
“The school boosters annual fundraiser?”
“Isn’t that, like, for the public? Parents and townspeople?”
“Teachers are expected to be there.” Shayla made a face. “I have to be there. My mother is the booster president this year. So please tell me you’ll come. I need the moral support.”
Mira had no plans for Saturday. And it would probably look good for the newest teacher to show up and mingle. “Okay. I’ll come.”
Shayla brightened. She moved in closer and lowered her voice. “I’m going to introduce Mitch to my parents,” she said. “Not as my boyfriend, or anything, just… I want to see what they think of him.”
“Have you two been on a date yet?” Mira asked.
“We shared a concession stand burger after the junior varsity track meet last night.” She beamed as if she was talking about a lobster dinner at a fancy restaurant.
“Hot date,” Mira said, amused.
“I’m not sure he even saw it as a date, but it’s a start.” She shifted her book bag to her other shoulder. “I’m going to suggest we skip out early on the barbecue and catch a movie or something.”
“After he meets your parents?”
“I figure we’ll both want to get away after that, so why not escape together?”
“Then I’m happy to help you,” Mira said. They began walking again, toward their respective classrooms. “If you need me to distract your mom and dad while you make your getaway, I promise to spill my tea or drop a plate of food or some other distraction.”
“Thanks.” She nudged Mira. “So tell me about Carter.”
Mira kept her expression neutral. “What about him?”
“He’s really good-looking. How did you two meet?”
“He’s with search and rescue. He’s taking the Spanish for First Responders class I’m teaching.”
“Uh-huh. And why haven’t I heard about him before now? You’ve never mentioned him.”
“We’re not dating,” Mira said. “He’s just a friend.”
“A friend who ran across town to make sure you were okay when he heard about the bomb threat.”
“It wasn’t across town. It was only a few blocks. I’m sure he was just curious.”
