“Not only that, but her folks announced last week that they’re
“And Sheryl doesn’t want to move?”
Bailey gave her an astonished look. “Are you serious? Sheryl grew up here, with the rest of us. She’s a junior. She doesn’t want to go anywhere
“Where are they going?”
“Kansas City. That’s where her mom is from, and they’re going to live with her grandparents until her folks figure out what to do.”
Casey felt sorry for Sheryl. Her parents, too. She knew what it felt like to be separated from all you hold dear. She hadn’t seen her mom or brother in close to a year now, and she hated it. The house she’d shared with Reuben and Omar was on the market, and she hadn’t stepped foot in her
“I invited Sher to come live with us, but her parents didn’t think that was a good idea. I don’t know why not.”
Casey smiled. “Because they’d
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Huh. But anyway there’s this private school they said they might send her to— there are scholarships, you know—but the only way they’ll even apply is if she stops getting in trouble.” She sighed. “Ever since they told Sheryl last month, she’s been doing stupid things. Cheated on a test, snuck out at night —”
“But don’t you
“—stole some lipstick from the drugstore. She’s a mess. So that’s why she doesn’t want to call the cops on you—she’s been seeing them way to much these days.”
They were nearing the shed, and Bailey held up her hand. “Anything around?”
“Nothing but corn and soybeans. And dust.”
“Like I said, you know, about the excitement?”
Bailey stopped the car beside the shed and Casey opened the passenger door. “You coming in?”
“Wish I could, but that trip to the store ate up all my time for the school day. I have to get home.”
“And if your dad saw you driving away earlier?”
“I’ve got all kinds of stories.”
“Good, I hope he believes you.” Casey opened her mouth to say something else, then shook her head. So now she was advocating kids lying to their parents. Some role model she was. Hitting up kids for money, using their phones and erasing messages, beating up strangers, then preparing to harass them as they lay in their hospital beds…
“You sure you won’t let me help?” Bailey looked at her pleadingly. “I’m afraid of what you’re going to do.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to safe places.” At least, they were safe for everyone else, unless she took it into her head to maim them.
“I didn’t mean that,” Bailey said. “I meant with the hair color.”
“Oh.” Casey smiled. “I do think I’ll survive that.”
“Yeah, but I’m not sure your hair will.”
Casey got out of the car and leaned back in, clutching her bags. “Thanks for everything, Bailey. If I don’t see you, I’ll send you the money to pay you back.”
Bailey lunged across the seat, grabbing for Casey’s arm, but was jerked back by her seat belt. “What do you mean if you don’t see me? You’re coming back to the shed tonight. I’m going to get that info for you about Pat.”
Casey turned to look out at the fields. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. I’ll see how things go, okay?”
“You
“I did?” She did?
“You said you would let me see how you look. And I said I wouldn’t run screaming. Remember?”
Was that a promise?
“I’ll try, Bailey, okay? It’s the most I can say.”
Bailey’s lips pinched together. “Fine. That’s the last I’ll be helping
She gunned the engine and looked back over the seat. Casey jumped out from the door and slammed it shut, watching as Bailey speed-reversed down the lane to the road, where she skidded into the gravel, sending up a plume of dust.
“Way to go,” Death said, standing beside her and coughing as the dust blew their way. “You sure know how to make friends and influence people. It’s a talent you have.”
Casey glared at Death and went into the shed, where someone else was waiting for her.
Chapter Eleven
“Terry?” It was the pudgy one.
He got up from the five-gallon bucket, where he’d been sitting. His bike leaned against the wall in the corner, with his overloaded backpack on the floor beside it. He cleared his throat. “Is she gone?”
“You heard the gravel flying.”
“What’s she mad about this time?”
“She’s mad a lot?”
“All the time. But she gets over it quick.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, then took them out again. His eyes flicked to the right and left, not looking directly at Casey, and not seeing Death lounging against the doorway.
“What is it, Terry?”
“Nothing. I just…”
Casey overturned a bucket and sat on it. “How did you get here so quickly? Didn’t school just let out?”
“I’ve got study hall last period. They don’t care if we stay or not. At least, they don’t say anything.”
“And you decided to come see me. By yourself?”
Terry shuffled his feet, then sat down across from her. “I didn’t want the others to know I was coming.” He glanced up, meeting her eyes briefly.
Casey waited.
“It’s…Sheryl.”
Ah. Yet another kid worried about Sheryl. “What about her? Other than the fact that she doesn’t like me?”
“It’s not
“Could’ve fooled me. She was ready to turn me in last night.”
“Not really. It was a show.”
“For what?” Or for
“She just…it’s any adults. She doesn’t trust them.”
“And you do?”
He made a face. “My parents are…well…lame, I guess, but they’re not bad.”
“And hers are?”
“I didn’t say it was her parents.”
“You didn’t have to. You went right from ‘adults’ to ‘parents.’ Sheryl’s folks must be the problem.”
Terry closed his eyes. “I didn’t mean… Look, it would be a lot better for Sheryl if you would just…leave. Okay? She doesn’t need anything else right now. She’s having a hard time.”
“Oh,
Casey studied the boy’s face. Death was right. Casey didn’t figure the whole being in love thing was reciprocated, from what she’d seen the night before, but Sheryl did seem to at least be the kid’s friend. “Terry, I don’t want to make things worse for anybody, believe me. But I’ve got a few things to do before I take off. Sheryl
