Carl introduced the conversation Nancy had been so concerned about. “So, did we miss anything while we were away?”
Looking at Tony, she said, “I’m sorry to say yes. Something terrible happened while you were away.” She told them about Kerry’s tragic death and the police investigation.
Tony immediately grabbed his cell phone off the charger and reviewed the messages his friends had sent him about Kerry. They repeated the same information. Kerry had a party on Saturday night. Her father and sister found her dead in the pool around noon on Sunday. Kerry and Alan had a fight at the party.
“We were away for two weeks,” Carl said. “When did this happen?”
“I heard about it on the radio literally while you were on your way to the airport to start your trip. Then Alan was arrested. From what I’ve read in the papers and seen on the news, the police believe Alan went back after the party was over and killed Kerry.”
“So Mom, they found her in the pool Sunday morning, around the time Dad and the limo picked me up at the Acme?” Tony asked.
“That’s right, Tony, and I hope you’ll understand why I didn’t—”
Waving her off, Tony said, “No, Mom. That’s okay. Did the papers say anything about Jamie Chapman?”
“Jamie Chapman?” Nancy said incredulously. “No, why would they?”
“That was the Sunday Dad and I left on the trip, right?”
“Yes,” Nancy answered. “Dad left here in the limo and picked you up at Acme, and you went straight to the airport.”
What he was trying to remember came back to Tony. “I noticed Jamie’s sneakers,” he said. Then he blurted out, “He had new sneakers. He was showing them off to everyone. I know he was wearing them on Saturday because he asked me a bunch of times if I liked them. But he wasn’t wearing them on that Sunday. The ones he had on were all scuffed up. I asked him why he changed them. He said they got wet because he was swimming in the pool with Kerry after her party.”
His mother and father stared at him. “After her party?” they both said in unison.
“Are you sure that’s what Jamie told you?” his father asked.
“Dad, I’m positive.”
Walking over to the phone, Carl said, “Tony, you have to tell the police what you just told us.” He began dialing the number of the Saddle River Police Department. They took Carl’s name and phone number and said they would immediately notify Detective Wilson of his call.
55
Marina Long and her husband Wayne had been concerned about Valerie ever since they moved from Chicago to Saddle River. They understood that it had been an abrupt and dramatic change for her, but had hoped and expected that her new school, which was highly rated, would bring her around. At her previous school, even though she was innately shy, she’d had many close friends. They had now been in New Jersey for nine months. That should have been enough time to make new friends. But where are they? Marina asked herself. Valerie always seems to be alone.
Marina had taken the afternoon off. She had hoped to spend some time with her daughter. But when Valerie came home from school, she went straight to her room and closed the door behind her. When Marina called her for dinner shortly after Wayne got home, she was her usual distant self. They both tried to initiate a conversation by asking about the outlook for this year’s lacrosse team. Her one-word answer was “Good.” It was over coffee and Valerie’s favorite apple pie dessert that Marina broached the subject with her.
“Valerie, Miss Dowling called and asked us to meet with her. We went over to the school this morning.”
Valerie half-closed her eyes as though in denial. “She had no right to do that,” she said fiercely.
“She had every right,” Marina said. “Apparently, the teachers are worried about the way you are in class.”
“What’s wrong with the way I am in class?” Valerie asked defensively.
“You appear to be distracted, and your marks went downhill shortly after we moved here.”
“They’ll go back up,” Valerie said.
“Is there any reason why your marks changed?” Wayne said gently.
When she did not answer, he said, “Look, Valerie. I think you have resented my presence since your mother and I got together. Let’s see if we can clear the air right now.
“My first wife and I always hoped to have a daughter. Of course, that didn’t happen, and Lucy died around the same time as your father. I know what it’s like to lose someone you’re very close to. When you lost your dad, you were heartbroken. I know I can’t replace him, and I don’t want to. But I want you to know that I want to be close to you. I consider you the daughter I never had.”
Valerie looked away.
“Val, we know that the move was abrupt,” Marina said, “and I told you that Wayne had gotten a big promotion. That was absolutely true. But the fact is that the Chicago office where he worked was being closed, and if he didn’t accept the offer in New York he would have been out of work.”
Valerie did not answer. Marina looked at her and said, “Valerie, your father loved you very much. I’m sure that it’s a great comfort to Daddy to know that Wayne is here for you, and he loves you.”
Valerie considered telling what was really happening, but her lips would not form the words. She had told Kerry, the only person she felt she could confide in, and Kerry was dead. She shook her head, as though dismissing what her mother and stepfather had told her. She pushed back her chair and abruptly left the table.
Marina followed her up the stairs.
“Valerie, something is upsetting you that you won’t talk about. But you can’t live with it. You’ve lost Daddy and your grandmother. I think what
