Page 17 of Scorched (Killer #2)

“Ms. Johnson, mind if we come in?” Two students Paul had seen in Elise’s class appeared at the back door of her house, one on each side of Luke, each holding one of his hands.

“Mom, watch this!” Luke reared back and swung forward, kicking his feet high in the air. He flipped over and landed on his feet, still holding onto the teens’ hands.

Paul muttered a curse beneath his breath for the untimely interruption. He’d wanted to reassure Elise in some way before she faced the others.

“Wow, Luke, that’s amazing.” Elise’s voice was strained, not her typical soft, melodious sound and her face had lost most of its color. “Kendall, Alex, what brings you here?”

The young man held up a notebook. “You wouldn’t believe all the information Kenny and I have come up with on Jack the Ripper. We are so going to make an A on our research paper.”

Paul opened the screen door, cringing inwardly at the subject Alex mentioned. Jack the Ripper? Why do a research paper on a killer who was never caught? He glanced at Elise.

Her mouth turned up on the corners, though her lips looked a bit too tight for the smile to be natural.

As he held the door for the kid, Luke shot through and headed straight for his room. “Alex, come see the Spider-Man action figure Aunt Brenna sent me,” he yelled over his shoulder.

“I will, in a minute.” Alex grinned, following Kendall through the door.

“I had a collection of Spider-Man and Hulk action figures when I was a kid. I know, it’s hard to picture now.

” He tipped his head to the side. “Come to think of it, I might still have them buried in my closet. I should dig them out. Luke might like them.”

Kendall turned toward the door. “Brandon, aren’t you coming in?”

A sullen Brandon tromped up the steps and entered.

Paul released the door and stood back.

“Brandon, go wash your hands for dinner, please,” Elise said.

When the boy complied without argument, Paul knew he probably was still traumatized by the writing on the wall in Elise’s bedroom. He gave her door a wide berth as he passed, his gaze flickering to the wall inside .

Kendall’s pale brows inched up her forehead. “You don’t mind, do you? Us coming over and all?”

Elise waved her hand absently, her gaze dull. “No, not at all. But do your parents know where you are?”

“Yeah, I told Mom I was going to get some help on my history homework.” Kendall beamed. “Not that I need help on that. I totally get it.”

“Uh, good, good.” Elise’s gaze flickered to Paul.

Paul stepped toward Elise and almost put his arm around her when he had second thoughts in front of the teens. “Maybe now isn’t a good time. Ms. Johnson is having an unusually bad day and needs some time to wind down.”

Kendall touched Elise’s arm. “Is that why your makeup is all smeared? I didn’t want to say anything.”

Elise scrubbed at her eyes and gave a shaky laugh. “That bad, is it?”

“No, not really, just a little black around the corners. But your eyes are a little red-rimmed, too.” Kendall’s lips compressed into a line. “Does your bad day have to do with what happened in class?”

Alex stepped closer. “Caesar was out of line. He shouldn’t have threatened you.”

Paul sent a piercing look at Elise. “What happened in class?”

She shrugged, her lips twisting. “One of my students has anger management issues.”

Alex harrumphed. “Understatement of the year, if you ask me. ”

Every protective instinct in Paul rose with the hairs on the back of his neck. “Was he the kid being chased across campus by the campus cop?”

“You saw that?” Alex’s eyes widened.

“Yeah.” Paul’s gaze remained on Elise. “I spoke with the police officer, too.”

Kendall nodded. “That would be our Caesar. Jumped out of the window of the classroom when Officer West came in. Did he catch him?”

“Unfortunately, no.” Paul faced Elise. “Could he be the one who threw the brick?”

Elise shrugged. “I told you, I don’t know. I didn’t see who threw it. Like I said, I was looking in the rearview mirror.”

Looking for him. Paul could have kicked himself for not tailing her more closely.

“Brick?” Kendall latched onto the word, her gaze on Elise’s pale face. “Someone threw a brick? Did it hit you?”

“No, it didn’t hit me. It did hit the windshield of my car,” she said, her voice low. She shot a glance toward the hallway where the boys had disappeared.

“I’m glad you’re okay, anyway.” Kendall wrapped her arms around Elise and hugged her. “That jerk should be kicked out of school.”

“Alex, are you gonna come see my Spider-Man?” Luke called out from his bedroom.

Alex grinned. “Guess I better check it out.”

Elise gave him a wan smile. “Thanks. ”

Alex sauntered down the hall, peering into the open bedroom doors. “Where are you, Luke?”

“In here!” Luke shouted.

Before Alex arrived at Luke’s door farther down the hallway, he came to a sudden halt in front of Elise’s bedroom door.

“Wait, Alex!” Elise lunged toward the teen.

Paul realized their mistake at about the same time as Elise and they collided at the entrance to the hallway.

Alex stood transfixed, staring into the bedroom. “Wow, Ms. Johnson. Someone did a number on your wall.”

“It’s nothing.” Elise reached for the door handle, but before she could close the door, Kendall ducked around her and entered.

“Holy crap!” the blond-haired teen said, her jaw-dropping. “Who did this?”

Elise stared at Paul, her eyes pooling with more tears. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, my God!” Kendall’s hand covered her mouth. “Does this have to do with the woman they found dead? She was a blonde, wasn’t she?” Kendall faced Elise, her eyes wide. “Was this why you were all creeped out when I stopped by the other day?”

Paul pulled Elise into the crook of his arm, unconcerned about what the teens might think of their relationship.

Her body shook as though she were chilled. “Yes.”

“Oh, Ms. Johnson.” Kendall reached for her hands and held them. “This is terrible. Did you go to the police?”

“She went to the FBI,” Paul answered for Elise.

Alex’s eyes rounded. “You’re an FBI agent?”

Paul nodded.

“Wow.” Alex’s teeth shone in a huge grin. “That’s so cool.”

“Alex! Ms. Johnson could be in trouble. She’s blond and everything, like the note on the wall.”

Alex looked at her sideways. “Kenny, so are you, in case you didn’t notice. And so are half the girls at school.”

Kenny’s face blanched. “That’s right.” She stood for a moment, staring at the wall, then she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her cell phone and held it up and clicked a button.

“What are you doing?” Elise grabbed her arm and pulled it down.

“Getting a picture.” Kendall turned the phone over and viewed the picture she’d just taken. “We could be involved in an honest-to-God murder case. This is evidence.”

Elise snatched the cell phone from Kenny’s hand. “You can’t show this to anyone.”

“Why? It’s part of solving the case. The police need to see it.”

“I have my reasons.” Elise clicked the buttons on the phone, trying to delete the picture. “How do you delete it? You have to delete it! ”

“It’s okay, Ms. Johnson.” Kendall reached around and touched her finger to two buttons. The display asked to cancel or delete. Kendall pressed the key for delete and the picture of Elise’s wall disappeared. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have taken the picture if I’d known it would upset you so much.”

“No, I’m sorry.” Elise shoved the phone back in Kendall’s hands. “I shouldn’t have overreacted.”

“Is there anything we can do? Do you want me to keep the boys while you talk with the police?” Kendall asked. “I’ve had the Red Cross CPR and babysitting courses.”

“No, no. We’ll manage.” Elise placed a hand on Kendall’s arm and one on Alex’s. “Please, don’t say anything to anyone about this. Please.”

“We won’t, Ms. Johnson,” Alex answered automatically.

Kendall bit on her bottom lip but didn’t say anything.

Alex jabbed her in the ribs. “Right, Kenny?”

The teen frowned and rubbed her ribs. “Right, right. We won’t tell anyone. But I think you need to take it to the police.”

Elise’s hand fluttered up to Paul’s chest. “I have the FBI working on it. They know what to do.”

Paul grabbed her hand and held it trapped against his shirt, wishing he’d thought to close the door before Alex and Kendall saw the writing. The more people knew about it, the more likely it would get around. Elise’s new life looked to be blowing wide open .

Alex grabbed Kendall’s arm and pulled her toward the door. “Come on, Kendall. Ms. Johnson has enough to worry about. Let’s go home.”

“Thanks, Alex,” Elise said. “I’ll see you two tomorrow.”

“Seven-thirty, right?” Kendall asked.

Elise’s brow furrowed. “Seven-thirty?”

“Didn’t you need help setting up for a movie?”

Elise softly snorted, her smile unconvincing. “Yes, yes I did.”

“We’ll be there,” Alex said.

“Good, I might need help with the old audio-visual equipment. We’re supposed to watch a DVD I found in the library for class tomorrow and I haven’t a clue how to work the machine.”

Alex’s face lit up. “Cool! I like working with antique electronics.” Then he toned down his enthusiasm, his face getting serious. “Be careful, Ms. Johnson.”

Elise leaned against Paul and tears glistened in the corners of her eyes. “Thanks, Alex, Kendall. Go straight home, will you?”

Kendall’s shoulders pushed back, and her jaw set firmly. “Don’t worry, Ms. Johnson.” She dragged Alex out the front door and the room faded into silence.

“I guess I should be packing my bags.” Elise pulled away from Paul and stood looking around her living room, her eyes swimming with unshed tears.

Paul reached for her, but she stepped away. “You can’t give up now. ”

“I feel as though there is a line forming to throw more bricks my way.”

“I’d say the brick was the act of a juvenile—an angry juvenile.”