Page 25 of Don't Say a Word

Sun Valley won game three and Angie got up to use the bathroom. She waved to Gina and motioned that she’d be back. Gina gave her a thumbs-up, and Angie stepped outside of the gym to the restrooms.

When she was done, Mrs. Clark was there waiting for her outside the door.

“Angie, a minute please.”

A demand, even though she said please.

“What?” Angie snapped. She liked Mrs. Clark, but she didn’t want this conversation.

“Why don’t we go to my office?”

“I’m watching the game.”

“You know the rules.”

Angie glared at her. Who the fuck cared about the stupid rules. No going to school events the day you have an absence. Blah, blah, blah.

“Angie,” Mrs. Clark said, her voice low, “you promised not to skip school again. I know you’re upset about Elijah—”

“No shit,” Angie said. She wassotired of being placated. It was why she didn’t want to come to school. Her friends, her teachers, everyone talking about Elijah. He was a statistic, so sad. Don’t do drugs, you’ll end up dead like Elijah. Laughter because Elijah was a teacher’s pet and ha, ha, he was a druggie. People looked at her as if she had been there, as if she had left him to die.

“Angie—”

“Just stop already! OfcourseI’m upset. He’s dead and buried and no one gives a shit.”

“That’s not true.”

“You think the police care? Sure, they care a whole lot, because they closed the case. He took drugs, he deserved to die.”

“No one thinks that, and your call to Detective King on Friday was unproductive.”

“How do you know about that?” Was her teacher now conspiring with the police against her?

“I talked to the detective just like I told you I would. I asked why they closed his case and if there was anything we could do to refocus their attention. She told me.”

“They think it’s his fault, and it wasn’t.Someone poisoned him. I know he didn’t do it on purpose. Someone gave him those drugs and I swear to God that he didn’t know. Hedidn’t know!” She was screaming and tears burned her cheeks. What if she was wrong? What if hehadknown?

She wasn’t wrong. Sheknewher friend. Even if he had been avoiding her the last couple weeks.

A parent frowned at them as she left the bathroom, then scurried by. Angie wiped her face. She would not cry. Shedidn’tcry.

“I haven’t given up,” Mrs. Clark said. “I want to find out what happened as much as you. I know you’re under a lot of pressure with college applications and—”

Angie interrupted. “Do you have a point you’re trying to make or can I go watch the game?”

Mrs. Clark bristled. Angie felt bad because the counselor had always been nice to her, but Angie suppressed the feelings. Shecouldn’tcare.

“Mrs. Martinez hired a private investigator. She would like to talk to you.”

“What the fuck can a PI do that the police can’t?” Angie demanded. “She can’t arrest anyone, she can’t do anything.”

“If she finds something, she can go the authorities with the information.”

Angie threw her hands into the air. “If, if,if. Why would the police even listen to her? What aboutthey don’t give a fuckdo you not understand?”

“Do not swear at me, Angie,” Mrs. Clark said calmly.

Angie felt bad, her face heated, but she couldn’t stop herself.