Part 16 (2/2)

Something about the idea teased her. Something that might apply to Nick. But the harder she tried to pin it down, the more it slid away.

And then she forgot all about it when, after blowing their whistles for the millionth time, they heard a faint cry from the bottom of a steep embankment.

”Help! I've broken my ankle!”

CHAPTER 42.

NICK.

MONDAY.

YOU'RE THE ONE.

On Monday, Nick hadn't even made it through the main doors of the school when Carson Canterbery detached himself from a group of guys and marched straight up to him. Carson was a senior and had never paid any attention to Nick before.

”So is it true?” he demanded. He leaned down so his face was just a few inches from Nick's.

”Is what true?” Nick said, stalling for time.

”There are rumors going around that you're the one who knifed that girl to death last week.” Carson's breath smelled like bitter coffee.

”Of course it's not true.” Nick attempted to go around, but Carson slid sideways and blocked his path. He played basketball and had six inches on Nick, easy.

”But you live right next to where she was found.”

”No, it's like six blocks away. And besides, I'm not the one who did it.” How did anyone know he was a suspect? From reading the paper? From Mrs. Weissig? From the police themselves?

Carson nodded rapidly, as if Nick had just confirmed everything he had heard. After giving him one last long look, he finally stepped aside.

It pretty much went like that for the rest of the day. Kids stared at him, whispered, pointed. Fell silent if he got too close. Even stepped back from him as he walked down the hall.

At lunch, the same invisible force field kept people away. Only Sasha Madigan dared to breach it. Any other day, Nick would have loved to have Sasha lean in close. But not when she did it just so she could say, ”Are you really a murder suspect?”

He was silent for a long moment, holding her gaze. ”You know me, Sasha. What do you think?”

”Uh, I don't think you did it.” But she was backing away when she said it.

When the cla.s.sroom phone rang in his art cla.s.s an hour later, Nick wasn't surprised to be told he was wanted down at the office. Everyone, even the teacher, was silent as he gathered up his things. Some people looked away, not meeting his eyes. Others looked at him as if he weren't a person but a particularly fascinating traffic accident that had happened on the other side of the freeway. Nick resolved never to look at anyone like that ever again. Those people had probably never thought that someday someone might be staring at them as if they were a different species. As if they were a photo printed on paper, not a real person.

When he walked into the office, Mrs. Weissig stiffened. Her jaw jutted forward, making her look like a toad. But she wouldn't look him in the eye, just told him that Mr. Loughlin was waiting for him.

The princ.i.p.al steepled his fingers. ”Look, Nick, we've been hearing from parents. They don't feel comfortable having you in school right now.”

Nick didn't hurry to volunteer anything. He wasn't going to make this easy for anyone. Not when it was his life that was being trashed. ”And why is that?”

”The thing is, Nick, we've been informed that you're a person of interest in an ongoing murder investigation.”

Nick looked the princ.i.p.al straight in the eyes, kept looking even when the older man looked away. ”You really think I'm a murderer?”

”Of course not, Nick.” He managed to look Nick in the face again. ”It's just that we have to look at the needs of all the students.” Nick, Nick, Nick. The princ.i.p.al was using his name as often as a used-car salesman, and he was just as convincing. ”This situation-which we all hope is only temporary-isn't conducive to a learning environment. Not for you, Nick, and not for the other students.”

”So you're just going to throw me under the bus?”

”Of course not. This is just a temporary situation.”

”Uh-huh.” He didn't bother to hide his sarcasm.

”Look, Nick, this isn't about just you. It's about the entire school. I have to think about the other eight hundred kids. What's the most fair thing for everyone? If you're innocent, you have nothing to worry about. We'll provide you with a tutor until this thing gets straightened out.” He got to his feet. ”Let me walk you out.”

This couldn't be happening to him. A week ago he had saved a little girl's life. Now everyone thought he was a killer, not a hero.

Mr. Loughlin stood at the door, waiting for him. Nick didn't know what to do. So he pushed himself to his feet and grabbed his pack.

The bell rang as they were walking out of the office. The hall was full, but people slowed down and even stopped when they saw Nick walking with Mr. Loughlin. He started when he felt the princ.i.p.al's hand under his elbow.

”Just to be clear,” Mr. Loughlin said when they reached the city bus stop, ”we don't want to see you on school grounds again.” After a moment, he added, ”Not until this thing is straightened out.”

Nick was pretty sure that neither one of them believed that this would actually happen.

Once he got onto the bus, he turned his face toward the window and put his hand up to cover it. He closed his eyes. If anyone was staring at him, he did not want to see. As he walked home from the bus stop, Nick heard a car behind him. But it didn't pa.s.s. He looked over his shoulder. It was a brown Crown Victoria with a spotlight mounted above the driver's side mirror. An unmarked police car, but the driver, an impa.s.sive guy staring at him through sungla.s.ses, obviously didn't care that Nick had just identified him. Nick looked closer. It was that Rich guy, Harriman's partner. And he just kept driving at the same speed as Nick walked.

As he turned onto his block, his phone rang. The caller ID showed PORTLAND COUNTY SHERIFF. Nick didn't want to hear what they had to say. Still, his thumb pushed the green b.u.t.ton.

”h.e.l.lo?”

”Is this Nick?”

”Yeah.”

”Nick, this is Deputy Nagle.”

You mean Chris? Nick thought. He guessed that the days of Chris Nagle being Chris were over. ”Yeah?”

”I've been having some conversations with the Portland police. For the time being, I'm taking you off the roster for Search and Rescue callouts. And we'll figure out a way for you to make up any missed cla.s.ses.”

Nick was silent.

”I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. Not until this thing is resolved.” Chris didn't even bother to explain what ”this thing” was.

For an answer, Nick hung up.

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