Schooled In Lies
Page 24
I felt restless after leaving Claire’s funeral. I drove around for a while to think. I had tried to call Carl to explain what had really happened the night he came over and saw me getting into Lewis Watt’s car. But I when I dialed his cell phone number, I found out it had been changed. I even tried to get his new number from his mother. No such luck. She basically told me I’d fucked up and it was my loss. Her son was better off and I needed to leave him alone so he could find happiness with someone else. So, I did. His mother was right. He wanted marriage and babies and needed to find someone who wanted those things, too, because that person wasn’t me. And I didn’t know if it ever would be.
Hours later, I found myself parked in front of Rollins’s house. If nothing else, I always had a friend in him. At least I thought I did. I hadn’t seen him since our dinner at Estelle’s. Even after my latest caper hit the papers, I hadn’t heard a peep out of him, which was strange. I noticed the car parked in the driveway behind his gold Mercedes and figured it was his daughter Inez’s car. As far as I knew, she was still living in the apartment over his garage.
I let myself into his backyard and walked up on his deck, my hand poised to knock on the sliding glass door. But the lights were down low. I cupped my hands and looked in. Rollins was inside and he wasn’t alone. I could hear music playing. It sounded like Ray, Goodman, and Brown’s “Special Lady”. Rollins was slow dancing with someone I couldn’t see at first. Her head was resting against his shoulder. I couldn’t move. All I could do was watch. Finally, the woman lifted her head and I saw her face and wanted to scream. It was Detective Trish Harmon.
Now all of the new clothes, hairdo, and attitude were understandable. She was in love…with Rollins! I watched as he leaned down to give her a kiss, then they turned and left the room hand in hand, heading for the bedroom, I assumed. Was this what he meant when he asked me to let him move on? He’d met Trish Harmon and wanted to be with her? I felt dizzy and had to sit down on the deck steps. Well, what did I expect? He had every right to be happy. But with Trish Harmon? This was not happening.
Later, I was sitting in Frisch’s devouring a mountain of hot fudge cake when my cell phone rang. It was my best friend, Lynette.
“Did you hear?” she asked, sounding highly agitated.
“Hear what?” I was not in the mood for any more bad news.
“Stephanie Preston’s gone.”
“She died?” I said, not at all surprised since last I’d heard she was on death’s door. I was relieved I wouldn’t have to testify against her.
“No, Kendra, she escaped from custody.”
“What?” I sat straight up in my chair. “How? I thought she was dying?”
“Everyone did. They found out the prison doctor treating her was one of her ex-johns from back in the day when she was hooking in Vegas. He purposefully got assigned to the prison she was in to be near her. He’d been lying to everyone about her condition so he could help her escape. She wasn’t dying. She was getting better. Now they’re both in the wind. Nobody knows where they went. I’m scared. What if she comes after us and tries to kill us again?”
I was speechless.
“Kendra, you there? Aren’t you scared?” she asked when I didn’t answer her.
I was scared to death all right. And what’s more, I‘d never felt more alone in my life.
Discussion Questions for Schooled in Lies
1. Did you enjoy high school? Why or why not?
2. Do you go to your high school reunions? Why or why not?
3. Are you surprised that Kendra wasn't popular in high school?
4. Have you ever been bullied or been a bully?
5. Do you think Kendra was right to be worried about all the time Carl was spending with his ex wife?
6. Do you think Ivy Flack was right when she said everyone has secrets?
7. Do you think Kendra was wrong not to go to the police when she found out who was behind the accidents and threats to the reunion committee?
8. Do you think people who’ve committed serious crimes as teenagers can change?
9. Were you surprised that Kendra was so conflicted about marriage? Can you relate to her feelings?
10. What surprised you the most at the end of the novel?
About the Author
Angela Henry lives in Ohio and works in the library field. She is also the founder of the award-winning MystNoir Website, which promotes African-American mysteries. This is her fourth Kendra Clayton mystery.
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