Dead Girl in Love

So I reached out for his hand, cringing as his warm fingers curled in my own because it felt like I was cheating on Eli. “Can’t we just see what happens?” I asked him.

He stiffened a moment before his fingers relaxed in mine. Then he murmured “okay” and suggested we finish looking at the gallery.

I faked an interest in bronze monkey sculptures, all the while thinking about Alyce. We’d been friends for so long, sharing everything — or so I thought. Apparently she’d kept more than a few secrets from me. I thought back but couldn’t remember her ever mentioning Zachary. She’d talked about her teacher, Tobey, but nothing about a guy who admired more than her art talent.

So maybe she was clueless about Zachary’s interest. But she should have told me about the “Bones” portrait—her painting. She had a similar skull sketched on the back of her purple notebook. Why had she made up the name “SAM” for her signature instead of using her own name? Why hide her identity when she should be proud? She had her work displayed in an important gallery and had never told me. What did I really know about my best friend?

Not much, obviously.

What else hadn’t she told me?

As we came to the last exhibit in the gallery, I sensed a change in Zachary. He kept sneaking glances at me, as if I was on exhibit and he was searching for hidden meanings. Was he deciding whether to ask me out on a second date? Was he wondering if I’d let him kiss me good-bye? Or was he considering switching schools to avoid any future contact with me?

I might have found the nerve to ask him if my cell phone hadn’t picked that moment to burst with music. Expecting Dustin, I looked at caller ID with puzzlement. Who was Edna Charles? I didn’t know anyone named Edna, but when I answered, it was clear that Edna knew Alyce.

“Alyce!” said a woman with a slight Indian accent.

“Uh … yeah?”

“You must come … now!”

“N-Now?” I sputtered. “What’s going on?”

“You asked me to call if it happened again — and it’s worse than last time!” The woman’s voice rose with agitation. “I can’t stay much longer, so you better get your ass over here before your mother gets hurt.”

“My mother!” I cried, glancing over at Zachary, who came to stand beside me with a concerned look. I was visualizing my real mother sick or injured until I realized that Edna meant Alyce’s mother.

“She was lucky I’m the only one working late,” the woman continued. “If the boss saw her like this … well, you know.”

The problem was I didn’t know, but it had something to do with Alyce’s mother. She must still be at her job. I knew she worked at First Trust Insurance, but I didn’t know the exact location. Alyce wouldn’t need to ask directions to her mother’s office. How could I ask without raising suspicions?

“I’m not sure I can get there … uh … to the insurance company?” I added uncertainly. “I’m not at home.”

“Where are you?”

“Downtown.”

“That’s only a ten minutes drive. You do have a car, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Ten minutes,” she cut in. “I won’t wait any longer.” The line went dead.

“Damn!” I stared at the phone, snapping it closed. It would take me more than ten minutes just to hike back to Alyce’s car.

“Did something happen to your mother?” Zachary asked with concern in his dark brown eyes.

“I’m not sure,” I said.

“Is she at a hospital?”

“No, at her job. She works at First Trust Insurance.”

“An insurance office is open this late?”

“She stays late sometimes, after it closes. She should have gone home by now.” I bit my lower lip. “I don’t understand what’s going on — just that I need to go to her and I don’t know the way.”

“You don’t know where your own mother works?”

“Uh, she helps out at different branches.” That sounded so lame, no wonder Zachary was giving me such a weird look. “All I know is that she’s at a branch ten minutes from downtown.”

“I’ll find it with GPS,” Zachary said, pulling out his BlackBerry. “My car is right over there, so I can get you there quick. It’s not far. Come on.”

I didn’t need to be asked twice, and followed Zachary to his car.

When we reached the insurance company, it was dark except for a light in the lobby where a petite woman with black hair piled on her head peered through a crack in the door. As soon as she saw me, she waved frantically for me to come in.

Before Zachary could offer to come with me, I thanked him for the ride and said I needed to do this alone. But suddenly, he switched to this macho attitude and insisted on coming in. I didn’t have the energy or time to argue, so I took off through the door and hoped he wouldn’t follow.

No such luck.

The woman, Edna, recognized me immediately, which felt weird since we’d never met. “Alyce, hurry!” she exclaimed, taking my arm.

“Where?” I asked.

“My office,” she said, in a tone that hinted I should know where she meant. But I didn’t, so I hurried to keep up with her. Behind me, I was aware of Zachary following, which probably wasn’t a good idea. But I’d deal with him later.

I followed Edna away from the lobby doors and down a side hall. When we reached the end of the hall, she turned and opened the last door.

At first all I saw was a typical office, with a desk, shelves stacked with files and books, and metal cabinets.

“Where’s my mother?” I asked, looking around but seeing only an empty desk chair and some papers and random objects scattered on the floor.

Edna pointed underneath the desk, and that’s when I saw Mrs. Perfetti huddled into a ball. Her hair, usually held back in a tidy bun, was loose and tangled around her wide-eyed face.

“Alyce!” she cried shrilly. “I’m so glad you’re safe!”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I moved closer, bending toward her.

“They might get you! Come under here or they’ll find you!”

I glanced uncertainly at Edna, who just shook her head at me. “Mrs … Mom, what’s going on?”

“Shssh!” She put her finger to her lips. “Don’t speak too loud, you never know who’s listening. They’re watching and now they’ll get you too, like last time. Hurry and hide with me! I won’t let them take you!” Her voice rose hysterically.

I glanced around, for a moment expecting a Dark Lifer to grab me with shiny gray hands. But I only saw Alyce’s mother, Edna, and Zachary.

Zachary came up behind me and whispered. “Is she on drugs?”

“No!” I said, a bit too sharply because I felt guilty for wondering the same thing.

“Then what’s wrong with her?” he asked.

“She’s had some panic attacks before, but nothing like this,” Edna said. “One minute she was fine, helping a nice young family open an account, then suddenly she rushed out of the room and locked herself in the bathroom. I calmed her down enough to get her to come in here, but that was over an hour ago. If she doesn’t get herself together quick, I’m calling 911.”

“Please don’t!” I cried, glancing anxiously at Alyce’s mother, who was rocking back and forth in a pitiful ball underneath the desk. I had no idea what to do, but I knew Alyce would never abandon her mother. So I said that I’d handle this. Then I reached out a hand to Mrs. Perfetti. “Everything will be okay,” I told her. “I’ve come to take you home.”

“Home?” She blinked.