“Because there was a Barbara Moore.”
“And she was murdered?”
“Who said she was murdered?”
“Your father ... Zoe ...” Melissa stuttered.
“My father said that?”
Melissa rubbed her temple. The headache caused by drugs was gone, replaced by one caused by looking ridiculous.
“I guess he didn't exactly. He did say something happened and I just thought that ...”
“Barbara Moore disappeared. That's the long and short of it.”
“Then she could have been murdered.”
“I suppose, but you have to include all the other possibilities.”
“Such as?”
“Such as she was young — just about your age. She had taken up with a kid that lived a few states over. They were seen all over town together, and she was sporting a ring. Folks figured she eloped. That's what it was called way back then.”
“You mean got married? But why not tell her parents?”
“By parents, you'd be meaning her mother. Don't know. Word was that she was a handful.”
“Yes, your dad mentioned that it happened a long time ago.”
“Forty years would qualify as that.”
“And The Innocents?”
Todd laughed, running his fingers through his cropped hair.
“Zoe must have gotten an earful from somebody.”
“Then you know about them? They're real?”
“Real? Well, the talk is real. And there were a bunch of high school kids that got themselves mixed up in some hocus pocus out there in the woods. Never got any further than that, at least not that anyone knows.”
“Then you’re not sure.”
“I guess not. There was no real investigation since there was never a reason to question them about what they were doing. Meeting up in the woods isn't a crime, you know. Can't just haul people in without them at least breaking the law. That even applies to young people staying up really, really late, but they all turned out okay. Just put it down to a bunch of kids wanting to be cool.”
Blinking nervously, she'd made a fool out of herself. A blush coming to her cheeks, she avoided his kind eyes.
“Who reported me missing?”
“That would be Ms. Velofsky. Your roommate noticed you hadn’t slept in your bed, but thought you’d spent the night with your alleged amour. When she saw Jeff in the cafeteria eating breakfast, she asked him about you, which led to them going to Ms. Velofsky for help.” Smiling, he patted her hand. “Now if you really want to leave, I can drive you back. Or you can call my father.”
“Think I'd rather call your father. I don't want you to waste any more time on an impressionable idiot that can't seem to take care of herself.”
“You're being way too hard on yourself. And does not wanting to ride with me have anything to do with why you didn't call?”
She stiffened, her eyes bolting open in wide surprise. She reached for an answer that was out there, but didn't want to be reeled in.
“Never mind,” he calmed, rubbing her arm. Pulling his hand back, he didn’t want a caring gesture to be misunderstood. Standing, he grabbed his hat off the table. “I should be more careful about getting personal when conducting business. It's just that you seem so vulnerable, and I have this badge,” he said picking at the metal emblem. “Even if there's never anything else between us, I want you to know that this is at your disposal whenever you need it.”
A look of earnestness coloring his handsome features, the vow of allegiance was so endearing. Melissa's heart went out to him. If it wasn't for her rigid rules and strict schedule, she would have called him.
“Well, in that case,” she teased, “maybe I'll borrow that badge and stick it in Zoe’s thigh a few times. That ought to teach her.”
He chuckled, scratching his eyebrow with his thumb.
“A rookie member of Holybrooke's finest can't condone violence so I'll pretend I didn't hear that,” he quipped. “If there's nothing more.”
“You gonna ask Zoe about the drugs?”
“Already did. She denies knowing anything about them. And they are prescription.”
“Her parents?”
“Called them and they said they weren’t theirs, and Ms. Velofsky did grant us permission to search her room. Nothing in there except a lot of wet leotards drying on a rack. If I can't link A to B, I can't get to C.”
“Sorry. I have this mad compulsion that I can do everybody's job better than they can. It's one of my less endearing qualities.”
He stopped at the door, his eyes solemn in their appeal.
“I doubt there'd be anything about you I'd find disappointing. Good day, Ms. Solange, and thank you for your time.”
Before she could say a word, he was gone. Falling back on the bed, she grasped the covers to her. After a few breathy exhalations, she started to cry.
ChapterFifteen
“Yes, I'm fine. Really,” Missy assured.
Upon returning to the academy Una insisted that she repeat the sentiment to her very worried father. Bringing her to the annex, she let her use her office to make the call. Kenneth had been about to call out the National Guard when he got the news that his lovely daughter had been found—and was safe and sound.
“I love you, too. Bye, Daddy,” she said, happy to let him know she was still very much alive.
Taking the phone from her, Anna, hovered in the background.
“Oh, darling! I would never have forgiven myself if something happened to you,” Una explained. “When I gave permission for everyone to break curfew and stay out, I had second ... and third thoughts. You are all adults, but ... I had a bad feeling here,” she said pointing to her heart. “But you are here,” she said hugging Melissa to her. “What a blessing. What a very big blessing.”
“Thank you, Madam Velofsky. I'm sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
“Don't you ever let me hear you talk such nonsense!” she lectured. “You had an accident, that's all. You were probably exhausted, and what with staying up late, it was all too much. The hospital assured me that there was no alcohol found. If you had been drunk, you would have gotten a hug … and a stern lecture, but that is not the case. Now again, are you sure you're alright?”
“Yes, I really feel fine.”
“Are you sure?” Una probed, her eyebrows raised like an all-knowing owl.
Melissa felt a strong affection for this woman who cared. Even if there were no company position in the crystal ball, she’d met a legend. A conciliatory prize, it would have to be good enough.
Kissing both cheeks, Una embraced her one more time, finally letting her go.
“Now rest is good, but the cafeteria is open. I want you be sure to eat something. You know, this starvation nonsense that some girls try is no good. You must eat to be strong. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand. And thank you again,” she replied shyly, humbled by a luminary taking such an interest in her well-being.
Walking into the hallway, Anna followed, whispering for her to stop. The frail old woman catching up, her past grace was still present as a corsage pressed between the pages of a scrapbook.
“Melissa, I have something to say to you.”
It was the first time she had heard Anna speak. The old woman had a tremulous voice. Soft and birdlike, there was a strong accent obscuring some of the words. Taking in her features, Anna’s skin was firm and unlined. Her eyes rimmed in dramatic make-up, they were still as vivacious as in the preserved black and white images that she’d seen. Her bone structure strong, her small mouth was the cherry on a cake. Dainty and pursed, its ends curled up in a mischievous smile.
“My dear, I, too, am so very glad that you’re alright, but unlike my Una, I knew you would be because .... because he is here.”
Missy’s forehead pinched together as she tried to unwrap the riddle.
“I'm sorry, Madam Tritta. I don't know what you mean. Who is ‘he’?”
Anna
reached out, resting a long withered hand on her forearm.
“My Pushka. He has come back to me,” she sighed sweetly.
Melissa still didn't understand. Wondering if it were a language barrier, the look of confusion caused Anna to laugh.
“Don't think so hard. You couldn't know. I'm speaking of my late husband. He's here. I've seen him. And if he is here, everything will be alright. You will see.”
The alarm bells in her head went off. Anna was speaking about seeing her dead husband. The claw on her arm stopped being pleasant. Trying to back away and end the conversation, Anna’s grip held firm.
“I can see that you still don't understand. I don't mean that my Pushka is actually here. I mean that he looks so much like my Pushka that it makes it seem he has come back to me. It is a good omen.”
“Angel,” Una stepped into the doorway, interrupting the bizarre conversation. “I need your help and Melissa needs her rest.”
“Of course,” Anna answered. Giving a final wink, she muttered, “You will see ... you will see.” Nodding knowingly, she followed her daughter into the office.
Grateful that Anna wasn’t seeing ghosts, she didn’t have a clue as to who she was referring to. Pausing a moment before running down the stairs, she was anxious to get into a fight that had been building.
Her strength regained, she was ready to rumble with the person she held responsible, and that person wasn’t Zoe. To her, Zoe was like her mother—a lost cause. Having no feelings for anyone other than herself, she wasn’t about to waste her breath in explaining common decency to someone without a conscience. Besides, she’d only deny everything and ask if Missy had a pleasant night sleeping in the forest. Not in the mood to hear it, she’d let the police handle Zoe’s fate.
Her rage building at the one that handed the knife that Zoe had plunged into her back, she sprinted up the staircase, stomping down the final corridor. Barging into her room, she surprised her roommate that was about to get slammed.
“Melissa! I was so worried about ...” Brandi started, leaping up from the bed she was resting on—Melissa's bed.
“Yeah, I can see how it affected your sleep ... NOT! And how dare you use my bed! Maybe you were counting your chickens before they hatched, because apparently, I'm not dead! That would be no thanks to you, lame-o!”
“I, I, I, I thought you were with Jeff. I thought you were ...”
“You thought that? Don’t you mean that you were told to think that by the shrew you know is a fucking liar!”
Backing up, Melissa stalked her like a jungle cat about to take down a meal.
“I don't know that! She's a nice girl and ...”
“A nice girl that went off on me at that stupid party ... a party you invited me to! I wouldn't have even known about if it weren't for you and your big mouth! And speaking of that mouth that doesn't ever appear to close, you had to blab about my mother! Why don't you just rip my heart out while you’re at it?”
Brandi had reached the length of the room. Her back pressed into the knobs on her set of drawers. Extending her arms out, she tried to keep Melissa from closing in. Missy heeded the boundary, but only just.
“I didn't tell her! Honest! I didn't! I don't know how she found out, but it wasn't from me! It wasn't! I would never repeat that to anyone!”
Melissa had had it with the cover-ups and lies. If she’d died in those woods, this idiot would still be making up excuses.
“Shut the fuck up! No wonder you like Zoe! You're both fucking liars!”
“Melissa, you don't have to swear like that ...”
“FUCKING LIARS!” Melissa screamed even louder. Who the hell was this idiot to tell her that she couldn't swear? “And did you know I was drugged? Did you know that somebody slipped a sedative in my soda? Do you even care?”
“What?” White showing around her brilliant blue eyes, Brandi’s hand went to the heart that was beating much too rapidly. “Of course, I care! I had no idea.” Her eyes traveled the room looking for answers. “Are you sure?
The question set Melissa off like a match ignites a firecracker.
“How dare you ask me a question like that! The hospital did blood tests, you stupid jerk! Besides, you saw what I was like at the party! What did you think made me not be able to stand? Diet soda?”
A part of Melissa was being tapped—a part she feared. It was the place where all her repressed anger and hurt was stored. Squeezing her eyes together, she tried to stop the anger from accessing that limitless well.
“I HATE YOU!” she shrieked, shaking from the incredible will power it took to turn away and not just start pounding in the face of the traitor that stood inches away. Melissa grabbed her dance bag, pillow and cover from her bed.
“Where are you going?” Brandi sputtered between tears.
“Anywhere other than staying in here with you! And don't you dare use my bed! Do you understand! You keep off my bed!” she yelled, clasping a black track suit in her clenched fist. She had to get out of this room. If she didn't, something bad would happen—something very bad.
“You can't leave! You can't! You need to rest!” Brandi sniffed, trying to catch the girl that slipped out the door.
Spinning around, Melissa confronted her in the long narrow passageway.
“Don't you fucking tell me what I can and cannot do, you stupid bitch!”
“Melissa, please! Please come back! We need to talk about this! I didn't want anything to happen! I just thought that ...”
“You never think, that's the problem! You have stuffing for brains!”
“I can understand why you're angry, but I didn't do anything! I didn't do what you said!”
“I HATE YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME? I SAID I HATE YOU AND WISH YOU WERE DEAD! NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP BEFORE I DO THE WORLD A FAVOR AND GET RID OF YOU MYSELF!”
Seeing the shock register on Brandi's face was the trigger Melissa needed to put the brakes on her torrent of hateful words. The click of locks and creaking of hinges told her some had opened their doors to investigate the heated exchange. Let them see. Let them hear. She didn't care. It wasn't against the law to get mad and she had every right to be furious. She didn't care what that fucking numbskull had to say.
Sneaking into the annex, she crept up the stairs and past the office where she’d made the phone call home. Successfully reaching her destination, once in the empty studio, she threw her belongings on the floor. Turning up the heat, she flung herself next to her bag. Taking out her pillow, she wrapped her comforter around her.
Uncontrollably weeping, she had a lot to think over—most especially the man she had seen dancing in the woods. Seeming so real, she tried to separate fantasy from reality. Wondering why she hadn't told Todd about him, there was no rationale. Debating whether she should, the young police officer seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Positive that he’d listen to her, he wasn't like certain spoiled, rich little assholes that got their way by using their parent's money.
Her tears subsided. Brushing them away with her sleeve, her eyelids were already closing. She was so tired. Not wanting any dinner, she just wanted to sleep ... and have a nice, long talk with Todd … tomorrow.
ChapterSixteen
The first rays of dawn broke through the window dappling Melissa's face with a splatter of light. Although the wake-up call was softer than a kitten's purr, it struck an alarm in her. It meant that she’d spent the entire night in the studio. The first time that she'd ever done that, despite the enormity of the argument, she'd intended to sneak back to her room after Brandi was asleep.
Hurriedly collecting her belongings, she dashed down the stairs and across the lawn. Slipping through the back door, she made it up to the third floor without being seen. Ducking back into the stairwell to avoid two dancers walking to the communal bathroom for their morning shower, the minute they disappeared, she ran full force down the hall. Key in hand, she first tried the door, finding it open. Bracing for the inevitable confrontation, she found the room empty.
&n
bsp; Brandi’s bed was made; a note pinned to the pillow. Assuming that it was left for her, her roomie had probably left early to avoid contact. Goddamn her for not being able to resist writing down a few choice words.
Missy dropped everything on her bed. Kicking off her boots she sat for a moment debating on whether she wanted to read anything that little bitch had to say. Probably another weak denial of any wrongdoing in divulging Missy's secret, she hoped she hadn’t tried flipping the script. Last night would be nothing compared to what she'd say if she saw even one word about how it was Missy causing problems for poor little Zoe.
Rubbing her eyes, she took down her hair. Brushing it a few times before satisfied that all tangles were removed, she stared at her reflection. Steadying herself, she was as ready as she was ever going to be. Marching over to the pillow, she discovered that she'd been wrong. The message was for the school.
Dear Madam Velofsky -
Thanks so much for the great opportunity, but I've decided dancing isn't
for me so I'm going home.
Bye,
Brandi
Not comprehending how this could be possible, Brandi loved dancing more than anything and was super excited about the upcoming performances. She’d never throw that out the window, but she had.
Slumping on her bed, she was now about ten times angrier with Brandi than last night. She hated the fact that Brandi had just tossed away what she would give her eye teeth to achieve, and for what? Capricious youth? God, how she hated her, but was she really gone?
Having serious doubts that her roommate would be that dumb, she pushed herself up, checking the dresser drawers that should have been chockfull of expensive dance clothing. Pulling out the first one, it was empty. The second. Empty. The third. Empty. All her roommate’s drawers emptied, the closet space was as well. Even the top of the bureau was cleared of Brandi's toiletries. Not stopping to figure out why she didn't notice that when she walked in, people saw what they expected to see, and not necessarily what was there.
Black Adagio Page 12