I found it in the November 3 issue. Mr. Allan had left his position as a first-year math teacher after one semester to pursue a graduate degree, and he hoped to be back in a couple of years, better able to serve the students of Crestwood.
Yeah, right.
I was about to close the tab when a familiarand horrifyingplace name caught my attention from the short mention just below Allans article.
Our thoughts and prayers are with senior honor student Farrah Combs, who was admitted to Lakeside Hospital last week. Get well soon, Farrah!
What the editor of the Crestwood Observer obviously didnt knowif she had, the mention probably never would have run in their paperwas that Lakeside wasnt a regular hospital. It was a mental health facility, attached to Arlington Memorial. The very same mental health facilitypsych ward, to the uninformedwhere Id spent a week of my life, a year and a half earlier.
Lakeside was only fifteen miles away. Maybe Farrah Combsassuming she was still there, and marginally coherentcould tell me something about Mr. Allan. And whether or not any of her fellow students had gotten pregnant or died while he was teaching there.
But I couldnt tell Sabine my idea, because shed insist on tagging along, and I was not taking a living nightmare into a mental health facility.
I glanced at the onscreen clock before closing my laptop and was relieved to realize it was almost six oclock. Okay I stood and slid my computer back into the bag. Im gonna find something to eat and youre going to go home.
Why? Sabine said, physically resisting as I tried to guide her toward the door. Were on a tight schedule here, Kaylee. I thought you wanted to nail this bastard.
I do. Figuratively. But I cant think when Im hungry, so why dont you go home and go online and see if you can find any more of Becks former employers.
I dont have internet at home.
Then go to the library. Sometimes people fall asleep thereIm sure thats an untapped market for you. We can exchange information in the morning.
What information are you gonna have? she demanded, as I pulled the front door open and pushed her half-empty soda can into her hand.
I scrambled for another well-meaning lie until my gaze settled on an obviously amused Alec, and the answer slid into place. Alecs going to help me come up with a plan B for getting rid of Mr. Beck, in case murder starts to look a bit extreme.
Thats not gonna happen, Sabine insisted, eyes narrowed at me now from the front porch.
Well, just in case. Ill see you tomorrow. Then I closed the door in her face.
Alec laughed out loud. What wasthat all about?
You have to take the direct approach with Sabineshe doesnt understand subtlety. I peeked through the blinds until her car drove away, then I turned to Alec. Your turn. Howd you get here, anyway?
He crossed both arms over his chest and suddenly embodied the immovable object. I took the bus.
Good. I think theres another one at six-fifteen. You need change?
Alec frowned. Im gainfully employed, Kaylee. And Im not leaving. I promised your dad Id stay with you.
I dont need a babysitter, Alec.
I know. But your dads afraid that whatevers supposed to kill you could hit early and leave you lingering on the brink of death for the next few days. And hes pretty determined not to let that happen.
Then he should be at home, not out chasing possibilities that dont exist.
You cant rationalize with grief and denial, Kaylee.
Im trying to rationalize with you. I have something important to do, and I need you to go home.
Alec dropped into my dads recliner, and I knew with one glance that he wasnt going to be moved until he was damn well ready. If this is about Nashyoure as grown as youre gonna get and its not my place to tell you what not to do with your boyfriend. You two can go back there and close the door and make the whole damn planet quake for all I care. Ill even wear earplugs, if you think its gonna get loud, but
No! This has nothing to do with Nash. In fact, if I told him, hed try to talk me out of it. I sighed and sat on the edge of the coffee table. I swear, Ill kill you if you tell my dad, butIm going to sneak into Lakeside and talk to Farrah Combs. And I need to be back before Nash comes over, so you have to go!
Youre gonna sneak into Lakeside? I thought you hated that place.
I do. With a fierce and glorious passion. But thats my best chance of finding the bodies in Becks closet, and I am not going to die without knowing hes no threat to Emma, or anyone else at school.
Fine. Ill go with you.
You cant. Itll be hard enough to get myself in, and bringing you will only double our chances of getting caught.
He shifted in the chair and it groaned beneath his weight. How are you going to get in?
I stared at my hands in my lap, avoiding his gaze. I have an idea, but it only works for one person. Me.
Please tell me youre not going to get yourself committed.
Yeah, right.
I was about to close the tab when a familiarand horrifyingplace name caught my attention from the short mention just below Allans article.
Our thoughts and prayers are with senior honor student Farrah Combs, who was admitted to Lakeside Hospital last week. Get well soon, Farrah!
What the editor of the Crestwood Observer obviously didnt knowif she had, the mention probably never would have run in their paperwas that Lakeside wasnt a regular hospital. It was a mental health facility, attached to Arlington Memorial. The very same mental health facilitypsych ward, to the uninformedwhere Id spent a week of my life, a year and a half earlier.
Lakeside was only fifteen miles away. Maybe Farrah Combsassuming she was still there, and marginally coherentcould tell me something about Mr. Allan. And whether or not any of her fellow students had gotten pregnant or died while he was teaching there.
But I couldnt tell Sabine my idea, because shed insist on tagging along, and I was not taking a living nightmare into a mental health facility.
I glanced at the onscreen clock before closing my laptop and was relieved to realize it was almost six oclock. Okay I stood and slid my computer back into the bag. Im gonna find something to eat and youre going to go home.
Why? Sabine said, physically resisting as I tried to guide her toward the door. Were on a tight schedule here, Kaylee. I thought you wanted to nail this bastard.
I do. Figuratively. But I cant think when Im hungry, so why dont you go home and go online and see if you can find any more of Becks former employers.
I dont have internet at home.
Then go to the library. Sometimes people fall asleep thereIm sure thats an untapped market for you. We can exchange information in the morning.
What information are you gonna have? she demanded, as I pulled the front door open and pushed her half-empty soda can into her hand.
I scrambled for another well-meaning lie until my gaze settled on an obviously amused Alec, and the answer slid into place. Alecs going to help me come up with a plan B for getting rid of Mr. Beck, in case murder starts to look a bit extreme.
Thats not gonna happen, Sabine insisted, eyes narrowed at me now from the front porch.
Well, just in case. Ill see you tomorrow. Then I closed the door in her face.
Alec laughed out loud. What wasthat all about?
You have to take the direct approach with Sabineshe doesnt understand subtlety. I peeked through the blinds until her car drove away, then I turned to Alec. Your turn. Howd you get here, anyway?
He crossed both arms over his chest and suddenly embodied the immovable object. I took the bus.
Good. I think theres another one at six-fifteen. You need change?
Alec frowned. Im gainfully employed, Kaylee. And Im not leaving. I promised your dad Id stay with you.
I dont need a babysitter, Alec.
I know. But your dads afraid that whatevers supposed to kill you could hit early and leave you lingering on the brink of death for the next few days. And hes pretty determined not to let that happen.
Then he should be at home, not out chasing possibilities that dont exist.
You cant rationalize with grief and denial, Kaylee.
Im trying to rationalize with you. I have something important to do, and I need you to go home.
Alec dropped into my dads recliner, and I knew with one glance that he wasnt going to be moved until he was damn well ready. If this is about Nashyoure as grown as youre gonna get and its not my place to tell you what not to do with your boyfriend. You two can go back there and close the door and make the whole damn planet quake for all I care. Ill even wear earplugs, if you think its gonna get loud, but
No! This has nothing to do with Nash. In fact, if I told him, hed try to talk me out of it. I sighed and sat on the edge of the coffee table. I swear, Ill kill you if you tell my dad, butIm going to sneak into Lakeside and talk to Farrah Combs. And I need to be back before Nash comes over, so you have to go!
Youre gonna sneak into Lakeside? I thought you hated that place.
I do. With a fierce and glorious passion. But thats my best chance of finding the bodies in Becks closet, and I am not going to die without knowing hes no threat to Emma, or anyone else at school.
Fine. Ill go with you.
You cant. Itll be hard enough to get myself in, and bringing you will only double our chances of getting caught.
He shifted in the chair and it groaned beneath his weight. How are you going to get in?
I stared at my hands in my lap, avoiding his gaze. I have an idea, but it only works for one person. Me.
Please tell me youre not going to get yourself committed.
