Someone Knows

by Lisa Scottoline

  The phone rang on the wall, and his mother lifted the receiver from its cradle. “Hello? Hi, Julian. Hold on, he’s right here.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Kyle Gallagher

  Kyle kept his head down as he walked Buddy, hiding his face. He felt the worst he’d felt in his entire life. The interview with his father had been in the newspaper this morning, and his emotions were all over the place. He let Buddy sniff a tree, and the old lady neighbor watched him from her window.

  He turned away, feeling people’s eyes on him, whether they were or not. Everybody on their street got the newspaper, and they would all know his story, sooner or later. His mother had spent the morning crying, finally taking the phone off the hook because so many reporters were calling. They’d figured out the last name was bogus. Sharon stayed over to keep her company and talk her out of moving again.

  Kyle quickened his pace when he reached the corner. Neighbors were emerging, pulling into the driveway after church or heading out for errands. He kept moving, tugging Buddy along, out of the neighborhood, away from where the houses were close together. Ordinarily he would’ve gone to the left, heading for the fancy houses like Sasha’s, but now he turned right. He’d seen her AIM messages asking him if he was angry at her, so she must not have read the newspaper yet. He’d been so weirded out by her friends trying to get him to play Russian Roulette, but he knew it had been a joke. They weren’t the type of kids who played Russian Roulette.

  He broke into a jog, and Buddy trotted along, panting. Kyle felt himself running quicker, away from the neighbors, the news story, his mother and Sharon. He caught sight of the basketball courts and hustled toward them. They were empty, and he could just be by himself, alone with his thoughts. He had to get his head right. He kept trying to, but he couldn’t. He felt so disgusted and furious at his father.

  Kyle ran and ran, almost at the courts. He flashed on how many times he had heard his mother cry at night, how many phone calls with Sharon, how many phone calls with the lawyers. He’d watched her get sadder even as she said she was getting stronger. She never complained about what she was going through, only what Kyle was going through.

  He beelined for the courts, heading off the sidewalk and onto the grassy border. She was the best mom anybody could ask for, and no matter what Kyle did, he could never get her to stop worrying about him, and he was realizing more and more that he himself was the problem, that he was a burden to her, that she could get through anything if she didn’t have to worry about him.

  His chest heaved, his thighs burned. He could never outrun anything that had happened. No matter how hard he tried, no matter what he told his mother, she’d always worry about him, and when she’d asked him if his father had ever touched him, Kyle had lied. He had lied to the therapists and the lawyers from the court, too. He’d told them all that his father had never done anything to him when he was little.

  But that hadn’t been the truth. Kyle remembered that his father had. They were memories, but they were real. Kyle had been little, but he knew what his father had done. He tried not to remember, but he couldn’t help it. The thoughts kept coming back, and Kyle would sneak a drink from the bottle he hid by the recycling. It had helped him sleep. It had helped him keep the memories away.

  Kyle reached the trees around the basketball courts. He found himself falling to his knees. His hands covered his face. His knees hit hard dirt. His forehead buried in pine needles. Buddy came over panting hard, his tail wagging.

  Kyle started to cry, his body wracked with hoarse, choking sobs.

  He had lied, but he couldn’t forget.

  Ever.

  CHAPTER 36

  Allie Garvey

  The sun sank behind the houses and trees, painting the twilight sky a weirdly hot pink. Allie spotted David waiting for her at the head of the trail, and it made her forget about everything else. He looked so tall and strong, wearing a white polo shirt and gym shorts with slides, and no red bandanna. His hair was tucked behind his ears. She couldn’t believe that a boy like David liked her. She felt lost, confused, and alone, except when she was next to him. She hoped he’d hold her hand again and try to kiss her. She felt her lips almost tingling.

  “Hi.” Allie reached him, and David took her hand, the way she’d hoped. Her stress floated away as soon as he wrapped his palm around hers. She’d never liked any boy as much as she liked him. She didn’t know how you knew for sure, but she had to believe this was her first love.

  “Hey, you.” David grinned crookedly, and they held hands as they walked together into the woods. “Like your dress.”

  I even love his voice. “Thanks. Sorry I’m late.”

  “No worries. Glad you decided to come.”

  “I wanted to see you,” Allie heard herself say with a giggle. She didn’t even know where that had come from. Beside him, she felt like she was on a cloud.

  “Hey, now.” David grinned again.

  “I wish they wouldn’t play the prank, though.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I doubt very much that Kyle will come.”

  “I hope he doesn’t.”

  “Sasha’s not as hot as she thinks.” David lowered his voice like he was confiding in her, which gave Allie a thrill.

  “You don’t think so?”

  “No.”

  “I don’t think Kyle will come, either.” Allie squeezed David’s hand, telling herself to go with the flow. It felt so good to forget everything at home. She could swear her lips were tingling. She pressed them together.

  “Where’d you tell your parents you were going?”

  “Um, my dad’s out,” Allie answered, faltering. She didn’t want to think about her father right now. She didn’t want to think about her parents at all. “How about you?”

  “Julian’s.” David moved a branch aside for her, and Allie spotted the bent tree ahead. It was dark underneath, and its leaves blocked what was left of the daylight. Julian’s white polo shirt and Sasha’s blond hair made bright spots in the dimness. They were sitting together, drinking.

  “Kyle’s not there,” Allie said, relieved. Now she didn’t have to worry. She could focus on David. She couldn’t wait to make out with him. She felt so sexy and pretty and flirty. She didn’t feel like herself at all.

  “See, I told you.” David smiled at her, and they approached the bent tree together.

  “Just in time!” Sasha rose, hoisting two large Evian bottles full of red liquid. “Gatorade and vodka, coming right up! Liter bottles!” She thrust a bottle at Allie. “Here, Allie, have some fun for a change.”

  “Don’t mind if I do!” Allie grabbed the heavy bottle, tilted it back, and chugged the alcohol. It tasted sweeter, but she didn’t care. She knew she shouldn’t drink, but she didn’t care about that, either.

  “Whoa, somebody wants to party!” Sasha cheered. “You go, girl!”

  Allie drank another big gulp, then another. She felt the lukewarm alcohol rushing down her throat. She swallowed it as fast as she could. She wanted to get wasted. She wanted to get trashed.

  “Allie?” David said, laughing. “Slow down, girl. Leave some for me.”

  “Do it!” Sasha clapped. “Go, go, go, Allie.”

  “Chug!” Julian joined in, clapping.

  “Woo-hoo!” Allie stopped drinking, swallowing her last gulp. She’d downed a full third and hoisted the bottle high, showing off. “Ta-da!”

  “Way to go!” Sasha grinned, a pretty white smile in the murky gloom under the tree.

  “My turn.” David reached for the bottle.

  “Go for it.” Allie passed it to him, sitting down.

  “Come here, you.” David sat down with the bottle and put his long arm around Allie. Her whole left side touched his body, and she felt something she’d never felt before. Chosen. David had chosen her over everyone, even Sasha. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to kiss her. She slid her arm around his waist, hugging him close, as if they’d been together forever.

  “This
is so great,” Allie heard herself say, and David chuckled, a deep sound that she could hear resonate in his chest.

  “You’re easy to please.”

  “Obviously, if she’s with you.” Julian laughed, leaning back on his elbow.

  Sasha sat down beside Julian, drinking. “I think they make a nice couple.”

  Allie loved the sound of that, feeling loose enough to speak her mind. “I’m glad Kyle’s not coming. I’m glad we’re not pranking him.”

  “I’m not. He’s been pranking us.” Julian sat up, newly animated. “Didn’t you see the news? Kyle isn’t who he says he is. His father is a child molester, in prison for molesting his own patients. Little girls. Babies.”

  “Are you kidding?” David took another swig from the bottle and passed it to Allie, who accepted it and took a slug.

  Julian was saying, “Dude, for real. Gallagher isn’t even his real last name. It’s Hammond.”

  Allie only half-listened. She didn’t care what they were talking about. She took another big gulp, then another. She wanted this buzz to last forever. She wanted to make out with David. She wanted to do whatever he wanted.

  “I swear, it’s true.” Julian snorted. “He’s using an alias to hide his real identity. He’s a poser and now he’s busted. My mom can’t even believe they got into Brandywine Hunt. My dad will be so pissed.”

  “Are you joking?” David leaned over, and Allie took another swig, then passed him the bottle and resettled her arms around him. He had an amazing body, a trim waist with no fat and real abs. She could feel how strong his back was under his shirt. She realized for the first time that backs were unbelievably sexy. She held him tight.

  “It’s disgusting.” Sasha shook her head, holding her bottle. “He’s a disgusting liar, and his father is a pervert. He molested little girls in the hospital. Does it get worse than that? Gross!”

  Allie didn’t pay attention, her brain fuzzed. She felt so relaxed and so good, warm against David, whose hand moved to stroke the bare skin of her thigh. His tennis calluses felt cool and manly, and it made her tingle all over. She wondered when they were going to start making out. She waited for him to kiss her.

  David chuckled. “I thought my father was bad.”

  “Same here!” Julian burst into rueful laughter.

  “That’s nothing,” Allie heard herself say, but she didn’t want to think about her father now. She couldn’t think straight anyway. “My father’s worst of all.”

  Sasha waved them off. “At least you see your parents. I’m never in the same time zone as mine.” She raised her bottle in a mock toast. “To Bonnie and Clyde, the mom and dad who Mom and Dad bought me.”

  Suddenly David lowered his face to Allie’s, and his mouth was on her lips. She felt herself tilt her head back, not knowing how to kiss him because she’d never really kissed a boy, but she let it happen. His mouth was so soft and warm, and she felt his tongue flickering inside her mouth. She kissed him back, let her body do what came naturally. She breathed in his smell of spicy cologne, excited that he had put it on for her.

  His hand slid up her thigh and under the hem of her dress. She didn’t stop him because she wanted it, too. She wanted to lose herself in this feeling, forgetting everything else. Nothing mattered but him and her. She felt like she was melting under his weight and warmth, and she loved being kissed and held by him. Happiness spread throughout her entire body.

  Julian was making out with Sasha, lying on top of her on the ground, and Allie started to feel water dropping on her. She looked up from David’s arms, and all she could see was his handsome face, in front of inky branches swirling like shadowy spin art. A drop of water splashed on her cheek.

  “Is it . . . raining?” Allie murmured, too buzzed to tell.

  “Only drizzling. I’ll cover you.” David kissed her again, and Allie kissed him back, letting herself go, surrendering to the feeling. His hands were everywhere, up her dress and on her breasts, and Allie loved all of the sensations. She didn’t know how long they made out for, only that it was a long time, but still not long enough because she never wanted it to stop, ever, ever, ever. She became aware that someone was calling to them, and that Sasha and Julian were talking.

  David broke off their kiss and looked up. Allie looked over in a fog, but it was too dark to see much. She didn’t care anyway. She wanted to keep making out. She clung to David. They were boyfriend and girlfriend now. They were together.

  “It’s on, David,” Julian whispered. “Act like you don’t know about his dad.”

  Sasha stood up, waving. “Kyle, I’m waiting for you!”

  CHAPTER 37

  Allie Garvey

  Hey!” Kyle came down the hill, a tall, dark figure in a light T-shirt. He was with a yellow dog, wagging its tail.

  “Kyle, what kept you?” Sasha called to him. “You’re super late!”

  “So what?” Kyle called back, laughing.

  “Son, have you been drinking?” Sasha put her hands on her hips, like she was angry.

  “Totally!” Kyle reached Sasha, and Sasha gave him a big hug.

  “Hi, Kyle!” David called out, shifting away from Allie.

  “Kyle, you don’t have to . . .” Allie said, but she couldn’t finish the sentence. She felt so dizzy, she couldn’t even hold her head up. She couldn’t think, numb and wasted. She was totally trashed, just like she’d wanted to be.

  “Whoa, Sasha?” David said, laughing, and Allie looked over to see that Sasha was kissing Kyle now, not Julian.

  Julian flicked on a flashlight and shone it on Sasha and Kyle. “He has to play the game, remember?” His tone darkened. “We played the game, now he has to.”

  “I’m not playing your stupid game, dude.” Kyle let go of Sasha, his eyes narrowing. “Get that light outta my face.”

  Julian moved the flashlight. “Sasha, tell him he has to play. That was the deal.”

  “Oh, right. You have to play, Kyle.” Sasha let Kyle go, sitting down, and Kyle eased down next to her. The dog nestled beside him, chewing a stick.

  “Kyle,” Allie started to say, but her head rolled off to the side. She clung to David. Her thoughts kept sliding sideways. Her mouth felt soft and fuzzy. She could barely keep her eyes open.

  David clapped. “Julian’s right. You have to play, Kyle. We played, so you have to play.”

  “We left the bullet in yesterday.” Julian passed the gun to Kyle. “Take it and spin the cylinder, but don’t look at it. That’s how you play.”

  “Whatever, dude, I know this is a joke. I know it’s not loaded.” Kyle took the gun, spun the cylinder, and closed it, rolling his eyes. He put the gun to his temple and squeezed the trigger.

  Orange flame burst from the gun. The sound was loud as an explosion. Kyle slumped over sideways, his head misshapen and dark. His hair and T-shirt were drenched with blood. His body lay perfectly still, a gruesome, motionless shadow. The dog sprang aside, barking.

  Allie screamed in horror.

  Everything happened at once. David grabbed Allie by the wrist. He yanked her to her feet. She kept screaming. She could barely stand. David was yelling but suddenly Allie couldn’t hear anything. She reeled, almost falling.

  Someone picked up the flashlight, maybe Julian. Someone picked up the bottles, maybe David. They were shadows. Allie couldn’t see. Her eyes blurred with tears. She didn’t know what was happening.

  Sasha was crying, too, covering her mouth. Julian grabbed Sasha, pulling her to him. The dog barked at Kyle.

  David pulled Allie away. They ran crashing through the woods. Allie burst into tears.

  Julian took the lead. Allie began to be able to hear again, faintly. Somebody was saying oh my God, oh my God over and over. It was her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt sick to her stomach. David kept her running.

  Julian charged ahead but Sasha passed him, bolting between trees. David pulled Allie forward, faster than she could go, his legs longer, his stride wider. Branches and leaves scratch
ed her arms and legs. Rain fell harder, splashing cold on her head and bare shoulders.

  “Hurry, Allie!” David said. “Run!”

  Julian’s chest heaved. “I got the flashlight!”

  “I got the bottles!” David panted. “Everybody go home! Don’t tell anybody!”

  “Right!” Julian called out, frantic. “Go, go, go!”

  Allie ran breathless, crying, horrified. “Call 911—”

  “No, he’s dead!” Sasha spat out, edging away. “Go home!”

  Julian darted ahead. “Go to your room, don’t say anything! Don’t tell anybody! Don’t say anything!”

  Sasha ran off through the woods.

  “David, bro!” Julian clapped David on the shoulder. “Get rid of the bottles!”

  “I will!” David squeezed Allie’s hand. “Allie, go home! Don’t tell anyone!”

  Allie sobbed, her chest heaving. They were almost out of the woods. The rain fell even harder. She slipped in mud and almost fell.

  David took off, dragging Allie, who cried all the way.

  CHAPTER 38

  Barb Gallagher

  I’m worried.” Barb glanced at the clock on the stove. It was almost eleven, and Kyle had gone out around nine. She was sitting with Sharon in the kitchen. Barb sipped her coffee, which had gone cold. “He should’ve been home by now.”

  “He’s out with the dog.”

  “Where, for so long? And it’s raining.” Barb frowned, looking out the window.

  “I tell you, he’s probably waiting it out. It came on quick.”

  “But this is the longest he’s ever been out.” Barb got her mug from the table, took it to the sink, and rinsed it. “What if something happened?”