by Ann M. Noser
“Not much,” Kevin answers quickly. “I think we should keep it short and sweet. The more complicated the lie, the more difficult it is to keep it afloat.”
No kidding.
Kevin stands as an officer crosses the room toward us.
The uniformed man carries a clipboard of papers and peers at me over his glasses. “Emma Roberts, are you ready to make your statement?”
“Yes.” I rise and take a deep breath.
In this case, only lies will set Walker free.
he stocky policeman extends his hand. “Hello. My name is Officer Snyder.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shake his offered hand, hoping mine doesn’t tremble.
“We’ll use an interrogation room to give us some privacy.” He spins around and heads down the hall.
“Kevin,” I whisper. “Are there any mirrors or cameras in that room?”
“Yes,” he whispers back. “Why?”
I grab his arm before I even think about it. “Make him take us somewhere else, please. Otherwise weird things are going to happen.”
He rushes after the policeman. “Officer Snyder, Emma hasn’t been accused of any crime. Can’t we do the paper work at your desk?”
He shrugs. “Fine. Suit yourself.”
We approach his gray-green metal desk. I rub away the goose bumps on my arms, since the air-conditioning has been set to deep freeze. My heart pounds. Can I really pull this off?
“Have a seat,” Officer Snyder orders.
I drop so fast that the chair squeaks several inches across the floor.
Steve explodes in my head. “Calm down, idiot! Don’t blow this.”
Silence fills the room, except for the shuffling of papers.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” Officer Snyder suggests.
I choke on unspoken words. Should I start when Walker and I worked together? No. That won’t do. I can’t explain why he needed me without talking about my Book of Shadows. I glance at Kevin, but his purposefully blank face doesn’t offer much help.
“Oh, right, the beginning.” I take a deep breath. “I’m a good student, but even though I planned to take summer classes—”
“Which you never attended-according to your mother,” interrupts the policeman.
“My mother?” I gulp, trying to swallow my fear. “You talked to her?”
“Yes, of course.” He takes a long sip of coffee.
“Sure. That makes sense.” I clench my hands together so hard under the table that I leave painful fingernail dents.
“Please continue.” The cop holds his pen poised.
I smile weakly. “I was sort of sick of school. I’d heard of binder burnings, but I’d never attended one before myself. I thought it might be fun.”
“Why did you go all by yourself?” Officer Snyder interrupts. “Usually, it’s sort of a party.”
“Party of one, I guess.” I sigh. “You see, I’m a loner, most of the time.”
He waits for me to continue.
“I’m so sorry about the big fire. That was an accident. We never went camping when I was a kid. And I was never a Girl Scout.”
Steve chuckles. “Nice touch. Working the pathetic angle.”
Officer Snyder taps his pen on the desk. “Hence the three cans of lighter fluid found by the fire pit?”
“Yes.” I pause in fear. “Will there be arson charges, or anything?”
“No, I don’t think so. Do you know how you came to be knocked out?” He slides a picture across the desk.
My eyes widen as I pick up the photo. There I lay, bruised and bloody, atop a stretcher with the fire pit nearby.
Steve lets out a low whistle. “Wow, you look like shit.”
Enough of your running commentary, Steve. I tell him in my head. You’re distracting me.
He never listens. “Oh, look, the picture is moving! Did you do that?”
Steve’s right. Within the picture, smoke gathers and swirls around me.
Officer Snyder clears his throat. “I know it must be hard to see yourself this way.”
Kevin leans over to block the officer’s view of the moving photo.
“Yeah, it is. Sorry.” I tear my eyes away. “I remember something flying up and hitting me in the head. That must have been what knocked me out.”
“Something or someone? There are several reports of a young man wearing a red shirt in the woods that night.”
Kevin shakes his head. “Officer Snyder, I’m sorry I didn’t catch him. I still don’t know how he got away. If only I hadn’t tripped over that log.”
“You’re in far better shape than the rest of us,” the cop chuckles, resting a hand on his belly. “If you couldn’t catch him, then none of us could.”
“Sounds like the other cops eat too many doughnuts,” mutters Steve
I force my lying face to appear angelic. “I didn’t see anyone else there that night.”
“So you didn’t see Officer Walker?”
“No, not in the park.” I grip the desk edge. “But I did stop at his house before that.”
Officer Snyder points his pen at me. “So you admit to knowing Officer Walker?”
“Yes.” I hope that’s the right answer, but it feels wrong somehow.
Officer Snyder narrows his eyes. “How long have you known him?”
I swallow hard, glancing at Kevin before continuing. “We met last fall, after Mike Carlson died.”
Kevin pales.
“I see.” Officer Snyder pauses. “And how would you describe your relationship with Charlie Walker?”
“We’re… friends.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Just friends?”
“Yes. We’re friends, like I said.” I blush. Damn it! Why do I always have to get embarrassed at inconvenient times? “Actually, he was on a date that night. With someone else, I mean.”
The police officer pauses to take another gulp of coffee. “That witness reported a heated argument between the two of you right before you sped off.”
I shrug. “I have a bad temper, but that’s not Walker’s fault.”
The cop leans in closer. “What were you arguing about?”
My mind goes blank. “His mother?” Why did I say that?
“Interesting.” Officer Snyder covers a slight smile with his hand. “And now we come to the issue of your injuries, which you seem to have recovered from rather quickly.” He clears his throat. “Almost too quickly.”
“Yes, I’m good as new.” I flex my hands and arms to prove the point.
“How is that possible?” The policeman shifts through papers. “According to these documents, you had extensive bruising, broken ribs, and fractures to both hands.”
I hold up my perfect hands and wriggle them. “I’m a fast healer. And I drink a lot of milk. Perhaps the doctors were over-cautious.”
“I am surprised you’re walking around already,” says Officer Snyder. “But how did you obtain all these injuries?”
I pause. Oh, right. The bike. Talk about the bike. “I took up mountain biking this summer, and I’m not very good at it. I’ve had a couple of accidents.”
He checks his papers. “There are no hospital reports of this.”
“I didn’t go to the hospital. It was no big deal, really. I’ve always been clumsy. I fall down a lot.”
Kevin frowns. That’s right, I wasn’t supposed to say that.
“I see.” The officer pages through more documents. “Did anyone else go bike riding with you?”
Damn it. Kevin didn’t cover this. Was Phoebe supposed to be with me or not? “I usually went by myself.” I chance it. “Like I said, I’m a loner.”
As the policeman scribbles away, I sneak a peek at Kevin. He winks. Good. I said the right thing.
Officer Snyder clears his throat. “Emma Roberts, are you aware that Officer Walker has been arrested on charges of assault, battery, and attempted murder?”
“Yes,” I whisper, a sick feeling in my stomach. When will this be ove
r? “That’s why I’m here. I came as soon as I could to clear his name.”
“Are you willing to sign a written statement declaring him innocent of all these charges?”
“Yes.” I nod, perhaps over-enthusiastically. “Of course.”
Officer Snyder collects his papers and stands up. “I’ll type this up and be right back.”
As he leaves the room, I turn to Kevin. “Did I do okay?”
He leans close to whisper. “Be careful, Emma. Someone might be listening.”
I shiver as the walls of the room seem to quiver and close in on me. “I need to see my dad. How much longer will this take?”
“Don’t hold your breath. We’re not out of the woods yet.”
After I sign my name what seems like half a million times, Officer Snyder escorts us back to the lobby. I stiffen the instant I spot Walker waiting near a tall counter to be released. His face droops like he hasn’t slept in days. His clothes are wrinkled and his chin unshaven. I cringe when I notice his black eye, no doubt obtained while he was in jail. My heart floods with guilt. I did this to him. It’s my fault. Kind of like everything else-or so it seems.
I hold my breath as his entourage crosses near us.
I step toward him. “Walker, are you okay?”
His eyes flick up, but drop back down before reaching mine. His shoulders slump as if the whole ordeal has left him utterly defeated. His mother and sisters surround him like pissed off bodyguards.
Mrs. Walker steps in between us, her arms crossed. “Leave my son alone.”
“But I have to talk to him.” My hand reaches for Steve’s letter. “I have something to give him.”
Mrs. Walker narrows her eyes. “Maybe you didn’t hear me. I said to leave my son alone. He wants nothing to do with you. He’s had enough of your kind of trouble.” Then she and the rest of her family brush past us, heading for the front door.
Steve screams inside my head. “Give him the letter! Give him the letter!”
“Walker, please, I’ve got to talk to you!” I beg.
Kevin holds me back. “Leave him alone right now, Emma. Give him time to adjust. And give his family some space. They’ve been through a lot.”
“But this is important.” I wait for Walker to glance back at me, to let me know that he isn’t angry, to let me know that I haven’t ruined his life. “It’s about Steve.”
Walker pauses at the mention of Steve’s name, but he doesn’t turn back. After a long moment, he walks away from me and into the sunshine.
He isn’t going to talk to me.
Maybe not ever.
hat am I going to do?” I squeak. “I need to talk to Walker. There’s something important I have to give him.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait,” Kevin says. “He doesn’t want to talk right now. I don’t blame him. Don’t make a scene.”
I glance around the police station. All law enforcement eyes are on me.
“Then get me out of here,” I mutter.
“My car’s in the back lot.” Kevin ushers me out a side door.
We step into the fresh air. Wait a minute… Where’s Jake? I crane my neck but there’s no sign of him.
“If you’re looking for Charlie, just don’t, okay?” Kevin warns.
“No, that’s not it. I’m looking for someone else.”
“Who?” He beeps open the locks as we approach his car. “Your mom went back to the hospital and everyone else went home.”
I pause before sliding into the passenger seat. “You might not like hearing this, but I brought someone back with me.” Or else Steve did. Whatever.
Kevin stiffens. “It’s not Mike, is it?”
“Not this time. I’m sorry. It’s Jake.”
He puts his keys in the ignition. “Jake? I don’t know a Jake. What’s he look like?”
“He’s about your height, short hair, sort of muscle-y.” I flush and change the subject. “Could you drive me around the main parking lot to see if he’s there?”
“You promise this isn’t about Charlie?”
I cross my heart. “Promise.”
“Okay, then.” Kevin pulls out of his spot and heads for the front lot. Near the police entrance, several vans are parked at odd angles, with news reporters flocking outside.
“There she is!” a woman shouts.
A dozen reporters charge our car.
I slump down in my seat, heart racing. “Oh, no. Don’t let them take any pictures of me. We can look for Jake later. Get me out of here.”
“Sure thing.” Tires squeal as Kevin speeds away. “What is it with you and cameras and mirrors, anyway?”
I ignore his question, too busy watching to see if anyone followed. After we are several blocks away from the police station, I relax. “I think you ditched them.”
“Good. Should I take you to the hospital now?”
“I guess so.” I waver. Will I be safe there? “I really want to see my dad, but I’m worried they’re going to run tests on me.”
“So what?” He makes a turn. “Are you scared of needles?”
“I don’t enjoy needles, but the real problem is that I’m not normal.”
Kevin stifles a laugh.
“No, I mean it. There’s someone else here with me, maybe more than one spirit.”
Kevin glances my way. “I thought you left him back in the parking lot.”
“No, that was Jake.” I cringe, wondering what happened to him. “Steve’s inside my body with me. And maybe some other spirits. Nobody’s said anything for a while and Father Joe doesn’t think they’re in there anymore, but I’m not sure.”
Kevin frowns. “You mean like Mike was inside that body suit last spring?”
“Yeah. Sort of. That’s why no one can take my picture. They’d see Steve instead, and maybe the others. I’m not sure. I can see Steve perfectly in the mirror, but the others were always faint, like a faint pencil image. But even if I couldn’t see them very well, they were still inside, causing me all sorts of trouble.”
“That is weird.” Kevin stares at my chest, which is super awkward, so I focus on rolling up my window. “You’re like… possessed.”
“I’m afraid so. Weird and possessed, that’s me.”
Kevin frowns. “I gathered that. So, what happens once we get to the hospital? Should we sneak in the back way, or maybe could you convince the doctors not to perform tests on you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t witches supposed to have powers of persuasion?” Kevin asks. “You know, like love spells?”
“Love spells?” I repeat weakly, avoiding his eyes. The first spell I ever witnessed was the love spell my old roommate Chrissy performed to snag Kevin. And it had worked. Big time.
“Or like Star Wars,” Kevin suggests. “You know, the old Jedi mind control trick.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“Have you ever tried?” he challenges.
I think back. “I don’t think so.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you could… uh… practice on me.”
“Really?” I lean back in the seat. “Okay. Let me think.”
“I better pull over for this.” Kevin parks on the side of the road and turns to me, his face pale. “You’re not going to make me streak naked through the middle of town, are you?”
“No.” I laugh. But that gives me an idea. “Don’t worry. I’m just going to try to make you say something.” Like an apology. “Now sit still. This shouldn’t hurt. At least I don’t think so.”
I close my eyes and attempt to center myself, but my shoulders remain tense. Flashes of swimming the river, of blood dripping in the shower, and Kevin and Walker fighting in the police station swirl in my brain.
Kevin jerks up in his seat, words bursting from his mouth. “I don’t hit girls, but if I did, you’d be the first in line!”
My eyes fly open.
Kevin looks at me, horrified. “What was that?”
<
br /> I remember. “That’s the last thing you said to me before…”
“Before now?” He shudders. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”
“I’m sure it will be fine. I just need more practice. Close your eyes again.”
I sit back. This time calm flows through me. Birds singing in the distance transform into violins. A warm breeze caresses my face even though the car windows are shut. My feet dig into a sandy beach. I open my eyes to the ocean breeze and swaying palms of the Healing Islands. Is Mike here? I scan the empty horizon.
“Um, Emma?”
Startled out of my reverie, I spin around. Kevin stands in front of me, red-faced, wearing a bright yellow Speedo.
I try not to stare. Or laugh.
Kevin holds out a dozen red roses. “Emma, I apologize for being such a prick to you. It’s not your fault Mike got drunk and wanted to go swimming.”
All I can see is the yellow Speedo. It’s awful. I take the roses to cover my eyes and mumble. “That’s okay, Kevin. I know you were just grieving for your brother.”
“But I was a jerk,” Kevin insists. “There’s no excuse. I told everyone it was your fault. I made your life Hell. I made Chrissy move out, and she was supposed to be your friend.”
I hold up a hand of protest. “Okay. Got it. You can stop now. Chrissy really wasn’t a very good friend, anyway.”
The breeze blows back my hair as I’m jerked forward. My head spins and I find myself back in Kevin’s car. I sneak a peek in his direction.
“Oh, good.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “You’re dressed normally again.”
Kevin looks dazed. “What was that?”
“We were on an island,” I try to explain.
He shudders. “Why was I wearing a Speedo?”
Steve speaks up. “Emma, you’re even stronger than before. What did God do to you in the church?”
“I don’t want to talk to you,” I grumble.
“Why?” Kevin asks. “What did I do now? I said I was sorry.”
“No, not you. Steve was bugging me again.”
“Steve?” Kevin stares intently at my chest again. I wish he’d stop that. “Why can’t I see him? Mike said they took turns in the body.”