The Complete Burn for Burn Trilogy: Burn for Burn; Fire With Fire; Ashes to Ashes (87 page)

Danner opens her mouth, then closes it, then stands up. Grimly she says, “Let me get another piece of letterhead into the printer. I didn’t save my original, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to channel all the wonderful things I wrote about you the first time around, but I’ll try to pull something adequate together.”

Thank freaking God.

Danner leaves the room, and a few minutes later old Evelyn comes shuffling in wearing some amazing silk pantsuit and kitten heels, even though she’s ancient. I love Evelyn. The feeling must be mutual, because when she sees me, she brightens like her big honkin’ diamond ring.

“Oh, Kat, good. I didn’t realize you were working today.” She hands me a stack of papers. “Can you file these? I have no idea where they go.”

“Sure, Evelyn.” It’s the least I can do.

I walk out to the file cabinets in the hallway and start putting things where they belong. Press releases in the media file, contractor bids in the development files.

A power of attorney document? No clue where that goes.

It’s from Greenbriar Sanitarium.

In light of current medical concerns, Erica Zane has been awarded by the state full authority to execute all decisions, financial and otherwise, for her sister, Elizabeth [Bette] Zane.

Underneath that is a deed transfer. Mary’s house. Donated to the Jar Island Preservation Society.

I don’t get it. That house has to be worth a mil. It’s one of the oldest on the island, and a landmark. I figured Mary’s family is well off, but not enough to give away a house like that for free.

I’m relieved, obviously, because clearly Aunt Bette, or Aunt Elizabeth, is getting the help she needs.

But what about Mary?

There are other papers too, stapled to this one. I set the rest of the pile of filing on top of the cabinet and take this stack back to Danner’s office. I’m about to slide them into my bag to show Lillia, when Danner comes in.

“What are you doing?”

Shit. Think fast.

“Sorry. I was filing these papers but I thought I heard my phone ring.” I stand up. “Congrats on the Zane house. I’m glad it went through.”

Danner eyes me suspiciously. She takes the papers out of my hands and replaces them with an envelope. “Best of luck to you, Katherine.”

M
ILKY
M
ORNING’S OATMEAL CUPCAKES WITH
chocolate frosting are Alex’s favorite. So I have six of those, and two chocolate chip cookies. I’m standing outside his pool house, working up the courage to knock on the door. I know he’s home. His car is right out front. Maybe I should just leave the bag and go. He’s not going to want to see me right now. It’s my fault he got punched in the face.

I set the bag on the ground, and that’s when the door opens. Alex is standing there holding a bag of frozen peas to his face. “Hey, Lil.”

I take a deep breath and say, “Alex, I am so sorry for what happened today. You were just trying to help me, and then you got hit for it. I swear to you I wasn’t trying to pull you into anything.”

“I know that.”

I let out the breath. “Really?” I bend over and pick up the Milky Morning bag and hand it to him. “Here.”

Alex takes it and looks inside. “Thanks.”

“Of course. I really am sorry, Alex.”

“What the hell happened with you guys?” He shakes his head. “Never mind. It’s none of my business. Thanks for stopping by, Lil.”

I nod, and then I run back to my car. As I’m driving home, I have to force myself not to turn around and go to Reeve’s. I heard he was suspended for three days. I know he’s suffering right now too. I wish so badly that I could be the one to comfort him.

*  *  *

When I get home, Kat’s waiting for me on my front steps. Crap. I was able to avoid her at school today by hiding out in the library, but now here she is. She jumps up as soon as I reach the steps. “Why haven’t you been answering your damn phone?”

“Sorry—”

“Never mind that. What the hell happened today, dude? I heard Tabatsky sucker-punched Alex in the freaking face!”

“Um . . . yeah.” I sit down on the steps, and Kat joins me. What do I say? I want to tell her the truth, but I’m afraid, because of Reeve and also because if Mary’s leaving her out of it, there’s no reason to get her involved. It’s safer for her not to know. “Reeve and I were fighting, and Alex stepped in, and then Reeve punched him.” Kat’s eyes go huge and she opens her mouth to ask another question, and I speak before she can. “Reeve and I broke up.”

Her jaw drops. “Are you serious! Why? You guys are crazy for each other!”

What reason can I give that she’d believe? “He . . . he cheated on me.”

“Motherfucker!”

I nod my head. “Yup.”

“Who’d he cheat on you with?” she demands.

“Just some random girl. She . . . she doesn’t live on the island. I found some texts on his phone.”

“That’s it. I’m gonna kick his ass.” Kat starts to stand up, and I quickly grab her arm and make her sit back down.

“Please don’t go over there, Kat,” I beg. “It’s so humiliating. I don’t ever even want to think about it again.”

“But he can’t just play you like that, Lil—”

“No! Swear to me you won’t say anything to Reeve, Kat. Swear it.”

“Fine.”
Kat starts chewing on her thumbnail. “You’re all right, though?”

“Yes. I mean, I’m sad. But I just want to forget any of this ever happened.” I force a smile. “Your tan looks amazing. Did you have a good time on Tim’s boat?”

“It was killer,” she says. “But don’t change the subject. You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I swear! I just don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s been such an awful year.” My eyes fill with tears.

“Okay, okay. Don’t cry. I’ll change the subject.” Kat squeezes my knee. “I have something crazy to tell you about Mary.”

I think I stop breathing.

“It’s literally crazy. Mary’s aunt is in the loony bin!”

“What?”

“Dude, it’s a long story, but basically I found a power of attorney form at the Preservation Society office! Mary’s mom had her committed!”

“Oh my gosh,” I breathe.

“Yeah, so mystery solved. Mary’s back with her parents and away from her freaky aunt.”

“Right,” I repeat. “Mystery solved.”

I
NSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT HOME
after leaving Lillia’s, I drive to Mary’s house.

As I get out of my car and walk up the path, I almost can’t believe the state of it. Mary’s house is rotting at warp speed. Strangely, it looks way worse than the last time Lillia and I came here to look for her, which was only three months ago.

The grass in the yard is overgrown. There are mushy leaves everywhere, and it gives the whole front lawn that decaying smell. Every window in the house is dark. The mail slot in the front door is stuffed full, and the overflow is in a messy pile on
the front step, waterlogged and brown and pulpy. The biggest tree in the yard must have fallen in a storm or something. It’s gone. Only a stump is left, but the perimeter bushes where it fell are crushed and aren’t growing back. I watch a bird fly from a telephone wire into a small hole in the attic vent.

I guess I get why Mary’s mom was cool with giving the house away. There isn’t much left to save.

It looks like that old Volvo was towed away. And in its place the Preservation Society has parked two big Dumpsters, and they are full of Mary’s family’s stuff. A floral armchair, a couch, some paintings. I’m looking for a recent photograph of Mary, but they’re all of when she was younger, when I didn’t know her. I lift up an old curtain and find a huge stack of books underneath. Weird old books with cloth covers.

The first one is titled
The Sleeping Mind: The Power of Dreams and Semiconsciousness.

Hells yeah, that’s my jam. Underneath that are other ones, occult-type shit, spirits and whatnot. Some aren’t even in English. Real Wicca-type stuff, the kinds of books you can’t find in a regular bookstore. Bet I could make a killing off them on eBay.

After checking over both my shoulders, I lift a couple of them out, the ones that haven’t been rained on and ruined. I put them into my trunk.

O
N HIS FIRST DAY BACK
after his suspension, Reeve spends an hour getting ready. Clean shave, some product in his hair, and a couple of different outfit changes before he decides on jeans, a polo, and a pair of aviators. I can tell he’s nervous, because he applies deodorant three times. I get why. No one has called him since his fight with Alex. Not one of his friends. A few times Reeve scrolled through his phone, probably to reach out, but he never went through with it.

Before he backs his truck down the driveway, he stares into his rearview mirror and touches the puffy dark circles under his eyes.

He hasn’t been sleeping well. I’ve made sure of that.

When we reach the school parking lot, Reeve turns up his car stereo loud and sticks his arm out the side window, like he’s out for a springtime joyride. The weather has turned nice, and there are lots of kids hanging around the fountain. It’s been turned on again.

I can’t help but think of that first day of school, of confident, cocky Reeve hanging with his friends, not a care in the world.

Reeve tries to project that same attitude, but I can see the cracks. His pace is too quick. He keeps looking around, waiting for someone to see him and give him a wave or a “What’s up.” But it’s as if he’s invisible.

Actually, worse. No one wants to see him.

I know, because that’s how it was for me, after Reeve came to the Montessori. And I bet Reeve realizes the shift as quickly as I did. He’s a smart cookie.

Derek and PJ are tossing a Frisbee back and forth on the lawn. Reeve sees them, hustles over, and steals the catch in midair. “We gotta take advantage of this weather and get an ultimate game going stat. Maybe after school?” Reeve cocks back the Frisbee to join in the toss, but instead of holding out a hand, both Derek and PJ walk over toward him somberly.

“Look, I know what you guys are going to say. And you’re
right,” Reeve says, holding up his hands. “Me versus Lind was never going to be a fair fight. But—”

“Hey, man, is it true, what people are saying?”

Reeve’s smile doesn’t waver. “What are they saying?” he says lightly. Derek and PJ share a weird look. Neither one wants to say it. “What?” Reeve asks again, though this time his voice has changed. It’s quieter. Scared.

*  *  *

Reeve walks to homeroom with his head down. He immediately opens his notebook and starts writing a note to Lillia. He works on several versions of it all day. Sometimes it’s defensive, sometimes apologetic, sometimes rambling. He’s so distracted that his teachers have to say his name two and three times before he’ll hear them.

They are the only people who speak to him.

When the final bell rings, he jumps out of his seat, folds up his note, and runs to Lillia’s locker. She doesn’t show up.

As we ride back home, Reeve doesn’t even put the radio on for show.

“Do you get it now?” I ask him. “Do you see what’s happening?”

He doesn’t answer me, of course, and I don’t need him to. I know he understands.

Reeve comes through the kitchen like a bull. His mother is
trying to ask about his day, but Reeve doesn’t answer. Instead he opens the fridge, grabs a six-pack of beer, and takes it up to his room. He drinks them all.

Before I leave, while Reeve is peeing in the bathroom, I take the pocketknife out of his top drawer. With all the force I can muster, I ram the blade straight down into the wood.

He comes out of the bathroom at the sound. My present to him, quivering, the blade half into the wood.

He walks over and tries to take the knife out. But it’s stuck in too deep, and he has to work at it to get it free. He rubs his finger over the splintered wood, the gash in his dresser top. I can feel his heart racing as he says, “Tommy? Dude, what the hell?” His voice is slurry from the beer.

Tommy doesn’t answer.

Reeve turns the pocketknife over in his hands, examining it. As he does, I lean into his ear and whisper, “The sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll be out of your misery. Because I’m not going to stop until you’re gone, Reeve. That I promise you.”

I
DROP INTO THE SEAT
next to Ashlin, and I wish I had my freaking camera out, because the face she makes is classic.

“What are you doing here?”

“Hey, Ash.” I glance around, faking like I’m confused. Alex has just walked through the doors into the library, with PJ and Lillia right behind him. I hear Derek shouting out to someone down the hallway. “Oh, shit. Wait up. Is some kind of meeting happening here right now?”

“Yeah,” Ash says. “It’s prom committee—” She swats my arm. “Kat!”

I crack up. “What? You told me that I’m not allowed to bitch unless I show up to a meeting, so . . .”

Ash shakes her head. Derek and PJ both slap me five as they settle into their seats. It’s been like this ever since spring break. We’re friends.

Lillia gives me a smile, but then looks down at her lap when Ash leans across her to talk to Derek like she’s not even there. Those two are still on the outs, I guess.

We shoot the shit for a few minutes until Alex clears his throat and asks, “Does anyone know if Reeve’s coming?” Everyone shrugs their shoulders and avoids looking at one another.

Lillia keeps her eyes down, sweeping invisible crumbs off the tabletop. Neither of us have a clue how people found out about what Reeve did to Mary. I’ve been telling as many blabbermouths as I can to get their facts straight, the girl didn’t actually die, but it hasn’t really helped stem the tide. Gossip has a life of its own, and people are going to believe what they want. It’s hitting Reeve harder than hard. I feel bad for the guy, but what else can I do? He did do some effed-up shit. The thing I can’t figure out is who let that secret out. It definitely wasn’t Lillia. And even if Alex knew, he wouldn’t do that.

Finally Derek says, “Um, he might not be in school today. Or, if he is, he skipped our English quiz.”