by Jennie Marts
“That’s just it. I didn’t really hang out with them. I mean, I saw them at school, and I went to the mall with Luna once. We didn’t really do anything there except walk around and look in some lame stores. I think she may have lifted a pair of earrings that day, but that wouldn’t be enough reason for someone to kill her.”
Claire marked a few notes on the paper. “What else?”
Piper scrubbed the heel of her hand against her forehead. “I don’t know. It’s not like we were besties. We basically just dressed the same. I was pretty angry when I first started that school. I wasn’t looking for friends or to hang out with anyone. I just wanted to be left alone. That’s kind of the point of the whole Goth thing. Most kids who are into it, especially ones in high school, are mad at the world. They’re angry, and they show it through their clothes and their makeup and their hair. And their attitudes. We weren’t sitting around having deep conversations. We were all too busy brooding in our own garbage. I wasn’t that hardcore, like with all the music and gauges and stuff, but I did feel like the black clothes and dark hair and makeup sent a message to people that I didn’t want to talk to them and to leave me alone.”
“And the sullen expression helped too,” Edna pointed out. “You were one pissed-off kid. I remember when Cassie first brought you to book club. I don’t think you said one word the whole night, but the anger rolled off of you in thick waves of resentment and rage.”
Memories of that time—those feelings, swirled through Piper, and she avoided looking at her mom. Both of them knew why she’d been so angry and resentful. “The point is, I didn’t really hang out or ever go out with anyone. I didn’t go to parties or school events. I went to school, then came home and shut myself in my room. Until Cassie dragged me to her book club, and I was adopted by a crazy bunch of her friends.” She offered a small smile to Sunny and Edna. “And then I met Drew. And everything changed. I changed. I dropped the Goth act, and stopped hanging around those kids. But I still didn’t go out much, except to a few of Drew’s soccer games.”
“There has to be something that connects you,” Sunny said. “Could it somehow be the Goth thing?”
“I can’t imagine that. We were angry. But I don’t think we hurt anyone besides ourselves. We didn’t talk to anyone. How could we make anyone upset enough to hurt us? Besides, I was only hanging out with that crowd for a couple of weeks.”
“Keep thinking.”
“I will.” She pushed back from her chair and stood. “Sorry guys, I’ve got to get ready.”
“Get ready for what?” Claire asked.
“I’ve got class today, and I work this afternoon.”
“Are you joking? Do you remember what happened last night? There’s no way you’re leaving this apartment.”
“Of course I remember. But what am I supposed to do? Stay home the rest of my life and hide in my room?”
“Yes,” Claire cried. “Yes, that is exactly what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to do whatever it takes to keep you safe…and alive.”
Her mom’s words struck a chord, but she couldn’t just hole up in their apartment. “I can’t skip class every day. And I can’t hide in my room until this guy is caught.”
“We are not saying every day for the rest of your life,” her mom said, mimicking her daughter’s sarcasm. “Just until we feel like you’re safe.”
“That could be months from now.” She planted her fists on her hips. “If I hide, then he wins.” She knew her reasoning was sound, she just wished she felt as brave as she was acting.
“I hear what you’re saying,” Fitz said gently. “But you staying safe is what matters to all of us. I know you want to go to class. I’m happy to walk you to campus again.”
“But what about your classes? I know you have Computer Science this morning.” This was turning into a thing again. And everyone was staring. She hated people making a fuss over her.
“I can miss one class.”
“Nobody has to miss any of their classes,” Jake said, raising his hands between them. “I have the day off, and I’m planning to walk Piper to class and sit in with her. That’s what I’m here for—to be the muscle.” He shrugged his well-defined pecs at Fitz. “Sorry dude, no offense.”
Fitz shrugged back. “None taken. I know my strength lies in my brain over my brawn.”
There was no arguing with Jake’s brawn, but still, Piper hated to have him spend his day chaperoning her around. The whole point of her moving out was to show everyone she could take care of herself. “No one has to walk me to class. I can manage on my own.”
“Non-negotiable, kiddo.” Jake picked up another donut and nodded toward Sunny and Edna. “I’ve been given my instructions by these two that I’m on bodyguard duty today, and I am much more scared of them than I am of you.”
Edna pointed a sparkly pink nail-polished finger at her. “That’s right. So, if you insist on going to class, Jake is going with you.”
“Fine. But I think we all know who the real muscle is around here,” Piper muttered.
“I’ll be with you at work,” Fitz said. “If you still want to come in for your shift this afternoon. Or we can cover for you if you’re not feeling up to it.”
Piper glared at him. “I’m not an invalid. I can make coffee drinks and serve some muffins. I’ll let My Bodyguard walk me to class and will cover my own shift at work. I really doubt he’s going to come into the coffee shop and attack me while I’m making lattes.”
“Okay. Okay.” He offered her a cautious grin. “We get off at the same time tonight, and I’d be glad to give you a ride home. Not because I don’t think you can take care of yourself, but because I want to spend time with you.”
She begrudgingly agreed, her heart doing a little flip at his words. She wanted to spend time with him too. Just not because of some wacko dude who was out to get her.
“All right, it’s settled then,” Edna said, resting a hand gently on Piper’s arm. “I know you hate anyone making a fuss over you and you want to be brave and independent, but we’re doing it because we care about you and don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
Piper’s shoulders sagged, and she gave the elderly woman a quick hug. “I know. I just want this to be over.”
“I know you do, sweetie.” Edna reached into the front of her shirt, pulled a pink rectangular box from her bra, and handed it to Piper. “But until it is, I want you to take this. Put it in your bra or your pocket—wherever you can get to it the easiest.”
“What the hell is that?” Jake asked, peering down at the pink box.
Piper knew what it was, and she zipped it into the front pocket of her hoodie. She recognized it from the night before. Edna had given her The Terminator.
Piper kept the pink stun gun in her pocket all afternoon. It made her feel like she had at least a tiny amount of control.
Jake had walked her to and from class and dropped her off at the coffee shop without even a hint of trouble. She tried not to even think about the fact a killer was out there and might be watching or waiting for her.
Although walking around campus with Jake by her side instigated plenty of other people’s stares.
She’d spent the last several hours distracting herself by helping customers, making lattes and cappuccinos, and trying to figure out how to nonchalantly ask Fitz to meet her in the back storeroom to make out.
He’d found plenty of ways to brush up against her or stand so close that their hands or their hips touched. He’d even given her a quick hug when she’d shown up for work, but a quick hug wasn’t enough to cut it. She wanted more. She wanted to throw her arms around his neck, to mash her lips against his, to taste the caramel flavoring in the latte he’d just drank, to melt into him.
She wanted to forget about the rest of the world and the psychopath who was hunting her, and just be a girl who ached to be kissed by a boy.
The coffee shop had just emptied, and Piper thought they might have a chance to sneak in a kiss.
Then the bell above the door rang again, and she let out a groan as she turned back to the register, already pasting a smile on her face.
Her welcoming smile turned to a frown as she took in the two women who had just entered the coffee shop. “What are you doing here?”
“What?” her mom asked innocently. “Can’t I just have a coffee with my sister?”
Cassie feigned innocence as she avoided eye contact with her niece and studied the pastries in the glass display case.
The bell dinged again, and Sunny, Maggie, and Edna walked through the door.
Edna stopped and put her hand to her chest. Her voice took on her southern damsel imitation as she said, “Well, my heavens, what are you two doing here? What a coincidence.”
Coincidence, my foot.
“Seriously?” Piper arched an eyebrow at the Page Turners. “You don’t have to babysit me.” They were all trying to look so innocent she wasn’t about to tell them that a part of her was glad to see them and felt loved by their thoughtfulness.
“That’s ridiculous,” Edna claimed. “We didn’t even know your mother and aunt would be here. Even though I’m sure they are just worried about you and want to make sure you’re all right. As for the three of us, we just felt like having some Frack-uccinos.”
Piper chuckled. “I think you mean frappuccinos.”
“Whatever.” Edna waved a hand in dismissal. “I’ll take one of those. Chocolate with lots of whipped cream. And do you have any of those little chocolate chips you can stir in there? I’m feeling adventurish tonight.”
“Sure.” Who was she to stand in the way of a chocolate and whipped cream adventure where a blue-haired old lady was concerned?
Edna jerked a thumb at Maggie and offered Piper a wink. “And Maggie’s paying, so you can get one too.”
“Thanks.” She took their orders as Fitz came out from the back to help make their drinks. He grinned and waved hello to the group.
“No one is trying to babysit you,” Maggie said, as she handed Piper her debit card. “We’re just worried about you. I know your real mom is back, but you’ve got four other women who’ve been filling in for her the last several months and it’s hard for us to relinquish that role.”
Piper nodded. “Thanks, Mags.” She knew Maggie got it, knew she understood. Of all the Page Turners, Maggie was the most fiercely independent. Not only did she have to prove herself in the courtroom as an attorney, she’d been through a pretty rough divorce and tended to have her own fairly significant chip on her shoulder at times.
“Why don’t you take a break and sit with them,” Fitz said as he handed Maggie her chai tea—no fluffy whipped up coffee drink for her. “Since they did all accidentally show up here at the same time and will coincidentally end up staying for the next few hours, I’m sure.”
“True,” she said. “And I could use a break.” She looked around the otherwise empty shop. “You could use a break, too. We should be dead for a while. Why don’t you come hang out with us?”
They each grabbed a drink and pulled up chairs next to the Page Turners group.
Before they could get too deep in conversation, the shop door opened, and Kyle walked in.
“Hey bro,” Fitz said, waving him over to the group. “You look awful.”
“I feel awful,” he said, slumping into an empty chair next to his friend. “I’ve got a class in half an hour, and I’m trying to get it together and show up. Otherwise I’m going to flunk out.”
Fitz clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You can do it.” He gestured to the women around the table. “You remember Piper? And this is her book club. She can introduce you while I make you a drink. What do you want?”
“Mocha latte with a triple shot.”
“You got it.”
“Um, well, this is Kyle,” Piper said, acting like they didn’t all already know who he was and hadn’t spied on him during an undercover mission at the dive bar. “He dated Brittany, my roommate.”
He eyed the women as Piper introduced them. “Some of you look familiar—like I’ve seen you before.”
“Well, I wouldn’t presume to know where,” Edna said, the southern belle voice back in attendance.
Fitz strode back and handed Kyle a to-go cup. “Here ya go. It’s on the house.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“No worries. You covered our drinks the other night.”
He groaned. “Yeah, about that. I wasn’t really in my right head that night, and I’m sorry for telling you all that crazy stuff. I get way too chatty when I’ve been drinking.”
“It’s okay. It’s a rough time.” He glanced at Piper, then back at Kyle. “I’m not sure if you heard, but another kid from our school got attacked last night. His name was David Taylor, but I think he went by the nickname Dragon.”
Kyle’s eyes went wide. “No shit? I knew that kid. He hung around with Lisa.” He lowered his voice. “You know, that girl I was telling you about.”
“Yeah, Piper knew them, too. And we were talking about them this morning. Trying to find a connection between them. We were wondering if it might have anything to do with them both being Goth. Like a hate crime or something. What do you think?”
“No way,” he said, taking a drink of his coffee. “It can’t be that. Because Lisa didn’t look like that anymore. She’d totally changed, got rid of the black hair and all the makeup. When I saw her on campus, I almost didn’t recognize her. And no way could Brittany ever be considered Goth—I don’t think she even owned any black clothes.”
Piper swallowed and glanced at Fitz. They both knew it didn’t matter if Brittany was Goth or not, because she wasn’t the intended victim.
“Can you think of any other way in which Lisa and Dragon could be connected?”
“Nah. I never really even talked to the kid. I just saw him sometimes at school. And he was at that party I was telling you about. I remember seeing him talking to this cheerleader and thinking she was way out of his league, then later he was passed out in this big chair in the living room, and she was curled up in his lap. Everything about that night was crazy.” He stared at his cup, twisting it in his hands. “I wish I never would have gone to that stupid party. If it hadn’t been the end of the season, I wouldn’t have risked it. But it was Senior Sneak Day, and everybody was going.”
“Wait a minute,” Piper said, a flash of memory sparking at his words. “Did you say it was Senior Sneak Day?”
Kyle nodded.
“Did the house, the one where the party was, did it have a little pond with a cool waterfall in the backyard?”
“Yeah, something like that. I didn’t really check it out, but I remember some kid walking around in his boxers because he’d said he’d fallen into a pond.”
“I remember that kid. I saw him, too. He had on purple boxers and was wearing a twelve-pack box on his head.”
“Yeah, that’s right. What an idiot. I told you that night was crazy.” Kyle drained the last of his drink then stood. “I gotta get going. Thanks for the coffee. Nice to meet you all.” He tossed the cup in the trash as he went out the door.
“See ya around.” Fitz absently waved then turned back to Piper with a quizzical look. “I’m confused. How did you see that guy? The one at the party in the purple boxers?”
“Because I was at that party, too.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t remember that night.” Piper chewed on her lip trying to recall the events of the night. “It wasn’t until he brought up Senior Sneak Day that it hit me.”
“But I thought you said you never went to parties,” Fitz said.
“I didn’t. And I didn’t really go to that one either. Well, I guess I went, but I didn’t stay.” She shook her head. “I didn’t put it together before, but I remember now. It was just a few days after I’d started school, and that week is still kind of a blur. After that first day, I started sitting with Luna and Dragon and a couple of other kids at lunch, and I remember them talking about Senior Sne
ak Day and how it was so fun because all the seniors skipped class and partied. I didn’t care about the partying, but I was all-in when it came to skipping school.” She shrugged at her aunt. “Sorry. I was a mess then.”
Cassie nodded. “I know. And I knew about Senior Skip Day. I was just glad you’d made a friend and wanted to leave the house.”
“I hadn’t planned on leaving the house at all. A skip day to me meant hanging out alone in my room, but Luna invited me to some party—insisted that it was going to be the event of the year. I didn’t want to go… I was even more antisocial than what I am now. But she wouldn’t take no for an answer and came to the house to pick me up. She was driving this fancy black Lincoln. She said it was her dad’s car—she probably stole it. I remember it was the nicest car I’d ever been in, all leather and these huge back seats. And it smelled like Old Spice, and money, and just a little bit like stale weed. I never could figure out if that weed smell was from her dad or from the other kids in the car.”
“Who were the other kids?” Cassie asked.
“There were four of us. Dragon and I were in the back and…” She searched her memory, trying to recollect the fourth person. “I can’t remember the kid’s name who was in the front with Luna. It was a guy, but I don’t think he said a single word to me. All I can remember is he had this really long, kind of greasy hair, and it hung across one side of his face, like completely covering it, so it looked like he only had one eye. Oh, and he had this tattoo along his arm of a dragon with a sword stuck in his neck, and I kept staring at it and thinking Dragon should be the one with a tattoo of a dragon on his arm. I remember finding that much more amusing than it should have been. It was probably just my way of distracting myself from the torture ahead of me, because the closer we got to the party, the more I was dreading it. I don’t like beer and cigarette smoke gives me a headache. I don’t like being around people all that much anyway, but I hate being around people I don’t know. And I loathe being forced to make stupid small talk.”
