Free Taking Terri Mueller by Norma Fox Mazer Page A

perfume on their wrists, and checked out the beads and rings in The Carousel. Finally Shaundra settled on wooden wind chimes which she said her mother could hang outside her bedroom window.
    They went into Wendy’s for lunch, taking a booth near the back. “What a relief to have that over with,” Shaundra said. She poured ketchup on her burger. “You’re sort of super-quiet today, Terri. You okay?”
    â€œYes, sure. I have things on my mind.”
    â€œAll the cares of the world. Tell Aunt Shaundra your troubles, my child.” She grabbed Terri’s arm. “Terri, there goes George Torrance!”
    â€œWhere?” Terri’s face warmed.
    â€œOver there, walking past the pretzel shop. Oh my god, he’s stopping to buy a pretzel.”
    â€œDon’t point, Shaundra.”
    â€œI’m not pointing . Do you think he sees us? Do you see him? Do you see him?”
    â€œI see him,” Terri said. “He’s with Christopher.”
    â€œIsn’t he darling ?” Shaundra said.
    â€œGeorge or Christopher?”
    â€œBoth of them!”
    â€œI thought you said George had greasy hair.”
    â€œI’ve changed my mind. I think he’s very nice. I was talking to him the other day, and I decided I’m going to do everything I can to bring you two together.”
    â€œShaundra! You didn’t say anything about me?”
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m not that dumb.”
    Terri slid her bracelets up and down her arm. “Shaundra—we are best friends, aren’t we?”
    â€œYes, of course.” Shaundra bit into her hamburger. “That’s why I like George now.”
    â€œYes, but I don’t mean that. We should be able to telleach other anything, don’t you think?”
    â€œYes,” Shaundra said with her mouth full. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
    Terri took a small bite of her cheeseburger. “I want to ask you something. What if someone you thought you knew everything about . . . really knew . . . what if you found out that person did something that was, that was bad ?”
    Shaundra leaned forward. “Terri, are you in trouble?”
    â€œNo, not me . Someone else. What if it was your father that did the something bad—”
    â€œHe did,” Shaundra said. “He divorced my mother!”
    â€œI mean something much worse.”
    â€œWhat’s worse than that? Murder?”
    Terri set her bun down on the plate. The smell of the fried potatoes rising from the paper cone made her feel nauseous. She pushed them away.
    â€œHey, Terri—” Shaundra slid down in her seat. “Are you sick or something? You don’t look too good.”
    â€œShaundra—if I tell you something, will you swear never to tell anyone?” Shaundra nodded. “You’ve got to swear,” Terri said. Shaundra nodded again and held up her hand. Terri didn’t want to think about her father by herself anymore. She told Shaundra what she had overheard and what she had figured out. It was hard to say. “I think . . . my father killed that man.” She wanted to call the words back.
    â€œTerri, do you really think it happened that way?” There were little dots of sweat on Shaundra’s upper lip.
    â€œI don’t know—” She felt like crying. “I don’t know, but what else could it be?”
    â€œOh, god,” Shaundra said. “That’s terrible.” She leaned forward. “I’ve heard my father say there’s murder in everyone’s heart. I thought that was gross, but maybe it’s true. Oh, Terri. I don’t know what to say.”
    Terri turned her head. “Don’t say anything. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
    â€œAll right, we won’t then. We’ll talk about other stuff. I’ll tell you about my seven loves.”
    â€œSeven?” Terri managed a weak smile. “I thought it was