Free Half In Love With Death by Emily Ross Page A

her?” My heart was beating like a mad butterfly.
    He sighed. “It was dark and I was drunk. I didn’t see her there.”
    â€œDid you see a red car or anything that seemed strange? Try to remember. Even the smallest detail could help.”
    He pushed his hand through his hair. “I’m trying to remember. I wish I hadn’t been so drunk.” He stared at me a moment too long. I wondered if he was about to kiss me. He started to say, “There was something,” but then stopped. Linda’s car drew up to the curb. May and Sheila got out and came over to us.
    â€œWhat’s going on, guys?” May clasped her hands in front of her.
    I glanced at Billy. “We were talking about Jess.”
    She leaned into him and whispered, “Don’t you go scaring Caroline with more stupid rumors.” Then she took his arm and the three of them headed toward his house. She asked if I was coming, but I told her no.
    â€¢ • •
    I’d hardly gotten through our front door before Mom was breathing down my neck, shouting, “I can’t believe what you did.”
    â€œWhat did I do?” I asked cautiously.
    â€œBetty Beckham just called.” She sighed. “I know you lied about last night. Betty told me. The bus didn’t break down and I don’t know what’s worse—the fact that you got a ride home from Tony, or that you lied about it.”
    I glanced away. “I only said that because I knew you’d be more worried if I told the truth.”
    â€œThe truth? So tell me, Caroline, what is the truth?”
    All I wanted to do was leave the room but she wasn’t about to let that happen. “Mom, the bus was really late and Speedway was creepy, so we let Tony drive us home.”
    â€œThat’s not what Betty told me. She said May wanted to wait for the bus, but you insisted on the ride from Tony. And now she thinks you’re a bad influence on May. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is for me?”
    â€œThat’s not true.” I wondered why May had said that. Was she mad because Billy walked me home?
    â€œAnd I should believe you over Betty? You?” She stood there, looking wronged, in front of the yellow buttercup-splattered curtains that she’d managed to finish in spite of everything going on.
    â€œGo ahead, believe her if you want. You don’t care about me. You don’t even care that Jess is missing. And you don’t care about Betty, either. You only care about Ron.” The words just slipped out.
    She gasped. “What are you talking about? Is something wrong with you?” She was staring at me as if she was convinced I was the worst person in the world. She went on, “Really, I’m worried you’re becoming a pathological liar.”
    â€œMom,” I said, “I saw you and Ron on the patio.”
    â€œSo now you’re spying on me?”
    â€œI wasn’t spying on you. I was outside by the pool.”
    â€œRon and I were just talking. He was comforting me. God knows, no one else does. You have no idea how hard this all is.”
    I flinched.
    She went on, “That’s all it was, no matter what your twisted mind tells you.”
    â€œOkay, Mom,” I said.
    â€œIt’s not okay.” She grabbed my arm. “You lied and you put yourself in danger. Don’t you think I have enough to worry about?” I wouldn’t look at her. “You are never, ever to have anything to do with Tony again. Do you understand that?”
    I bit my lip. “I do understand. I understand that he wants to find my sister. What’s wrong with that? Tony said Schwab’s Pharmacy was important, but Dad didn’t even bother to go there. Both of you just want to drink and forget about her.”
    She stared at me as if I was the greatest disappointment on earth.
    I went upstairs and slammed my door, hoping she heard. It would serve my parents right if I never