To Right the Wrongs
Page 26
Miss Blankenship pulls a photo from underneath the papers on her clipboard. I remember it from Miss P’s bulletin board. I took it down and put it in the liquor globe. What I didn’t realize at the time is that it is a photo of Miss Blankenship and Miss P in their caps and gowns.
“Wow. You look so different. But I don’t understand. Why were you such a…” I pause, searching for a diplomatic way to phrase my question.
“Stick in the mud?” she offers with a guilty smile.
“Yeah. Okay. I’ll go with that.”
She draws in a long breath. “Laura was a people person. People, especially kids, were her thing. She used to joke that she was Glenda … and I was the other one.” She pinches her lips into a thin smile. The first real one I’ve seen on her.
“She was definitely Glenda.” I remember the cheery glow that always seems to surround Miss P. It’s my favorite way to think of her.
“After all of this I’ve learned my lesson and I’ve made a pledge to try to be more like her,” Blankenship says. “Because that’s what she would want for me and for you and for the school, too.”
“This school meant a lot to her,” I say. I suddenly key in on one piece of the puzzle that I never figured out. “Did you leave a quote on a napkin in Miss P’s tribute globe?”
“You saw that, did you?” Miss Blankenship looks surprised. “It was one of our favorites.”
“So was it Tupac or Shakespeare?”
“Yes.” The twinkle in her eye suggests continued prying won’t get a better answer.
“I suppose I can allow one mystery to go unsolved.”
Miss Blankenship fingers a strand of hair that cascades over her shoulder almost as if it’s something foreign. “I hope you and your friends will give me another chance.”
“On one condition,” I say.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“You might have to let us call you Miss B.”
She smiles. “I think I prefer that to Blankface.”
The heat of embarrassment creeps onto my cheeks. “I-I don’t know—”
“It’s okay,” she says. “I asked for it.”
“Hey, excuse me. Can I interrupt just for a minute?”
I turn around, surprised to see Arletta Stone trying to get Victor’s attention.
Victor greets her warmly. “Arletta, right?”
“Yes.” She pauses, tapping a sealed envelope against her palm. “I don’t know how to say this, but I can’t thank you enough for reopening the Michaels’s case. It means a lot to me that he’s been cleared.”
Victor slips his arm around my shoulders. “Erin gets the credit for this one.”
“Well, you probably know that I testified at his trial … said some things I probably shouldn’t have. I’ve felt bad about those things for years.”
“I’m sorry. What are you saying?” Victor frowns.
“I didn’t lie exactly, I just repeated the urban legends we were told as kids. But my stories didn’t help his case. The worst part is I said those things because I wanted his building and I was hoping to force him out. Anyway, now when he gets out I want to help him get back on his feet.” She hands Victor the envelope. “This is a letter of commitment from an investment group who is willing to underwrite the historic hotel he wants. I’m hoping for a small museum … in one corner. But I’ll leave that up to him.”
Victor takes the envelope. “You want me to pass this along to Jameson?”
“If you would, please,” she says. “There’s also a letter of apology. Do you think that will be okay?”
“One thing I’ve learned,” Victor says, “is that it’s never too late to do the right thing.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book would not exist without the love and support of so many amazing people. Your checks are in the mail … but my love and gratitude is inscribed here for all to see.
To my partners in crime: editor, Melissa Frain, and agent, Jessica Regal, you bring out the best in me and make me look good.
To my other partner in crime: Yfat Reiss Gendell, you’re like my fairy godmother; this never would have happened without you.
To the amazing Tor Team: Kathleen Doherty, Amy Stapp, Diana Griffin, Zohra Ashpari, plus the whole fantastic publicity department. Thank you for getting me out there, making me look good, and keeping me on track.
To my writers group: Melle Amade Melkumian and Ingrid Sundberg-Gearheart. Thanks for the iron fist/velvet glove treatment. I needed the tough love, and you guys delivered.
Beta readers: Melanie Fishbane and Anna Craig, your keen insights were invaluable.
To Paul Kim, Forensic Club president, Ruben S. Ayala High School, my IRL Erin! Thanks for sharing your story about investigating the car accident on school property. I don’t know where you’ll end up, but I do know you have a great career ahead of you.
Science teachers: Gordon Bonnet and Mary Drumonde (Ruben S. Ayala HS), this book is full of your inside info, tips, and tricks.
Legal advisor: Shari Swanson, we are kindred spirits and I’d be lost without you.
My family: the true unsung heroes behind this book. Jerry Piatt, the man behind the curtain who pushes the buttons, pulls the levers, knows where all the bodies are buried, keeps me upright, and still never loses faith. This is all because of you! Jesselyn Yaeger, you were boots on the ground every time I needed them. Thank you both.
Stuart Fox, Lois Freeman-Fox, Mason Faulk, Jazmine Piatt, Connor Tate, Caden Piatt, and the Brunet family—I love you with all my heart. Your cheers lift me up and keep me going.
BOOKS BY SHERYL SCARBOROUGH
To Catch a Killer
To Right the Wrongs
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SHERYL SCARBOROUGH is an award-winning writer for children’s television. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives with her husband and writer-cats in Washington State, across the river from Portland, Oregon. She has always had an obsession with forensics. When she was twelve, her home was the target of a Peeping Tom. Sheryl diligently photographed his footprints and collected the candy wrappers he left behind. Unfortunately, he was never caught. But the desire to use evidence to solve a great mystery was sparked inside her all the same. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Acknowledgments
Books by Sheryl Scarborough
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
TO RIGHT THE WRONGS
Copyright © 2018 by Sheryl Scarborough
All rights reserved.
A Tor Teen Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Scarborough, Sheryl, author.
Title: To right the wrongs / Sheryl Scarborough.
Description: First Edition. | New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2018. | “A Tom Doherty Associates book.” | Sequel to: To catch a killer. | Summary: Even though sixteen-year-old Erin Blake and her best friends Spam and Lysa are ordered not to become involved in any investigations, they look into Spam’s boyfriend’s past and conduct research to help Erin’s uncle Victor and her boyfriend Journey re-examine evidence from the murder trial that sent Journey’s father to prison.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017039436 (print) | LCCN 2017054152 (ebook) | ISBN 9781466885493 (ebook) | ISBN 9780765381934 (hardcover: alk. paper)
Subjects: | CYAC: Mystery and detective stories. | Forensic sciences—Fiction. | Criminal investigation—Fiction. | False imprisonment—Fiction. | Kidnapping—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.S33 (ebook) | LCC PZ7.1.S33 Tom 2018 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017039436
eISBN 9781466885493
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: February 2018