“Mr. Masson…,”
He held up a hand, and I stopped midsentence as he strode across the room again and closed the door.
“Mr. Masson, what am I going to do? I can’t just ignore this, but it was made very clear that I can’t tell anyone.”
“And yet you are here telling me? Why?”
“I didn’t think you would call in reinforcements. I was hoping you might help me. I don’t know what to do…and I have a feeling you know more about my mom than what you’re saying.”
The shock that registered on his face was brief, but I caught it.
“Now, why would you think something like that, Eden?”
I eyed him suspiciously as I took a seat in the chair across from him. His gaze never left my face, and he seemed at a loss for words.
We knew each other in school, Eden. A lot of the teachers who teach here were in school with me. Of course, he’d know what everyone called me! He was coming to this school at the same time I was.
Echo’s voice was far off like she was talking from the other end of a hallway, but I heard the defensive quality in her tone. Her feathers were ruffled, and I didn’t know why.
He stared off into, what I could only assume was a time gone past, and the lines of his forehead creased with concentration. He stayed that way for so long that I was starting to wonder if he’d ever get off of whatever train of thought his mind had taken him on. He blinked absently once, twice, three times, and then focused on me again.
“I knew Echo when she was alive. We’d pass each other in the hall regularly—hell, she was even in a class with me. We both sat in the front half of the room.” He offered me a smile as he continued recounting his memory of my mother. “Everyone knew her, sure there were the few girls that went out of their way to mess with her, but for the most part, most everyone liked Echo. I guess that is why it was such a shock to the community when she was murdered.”
My heart lodged in my throat, he’d actually known Echo—had talked to her. It made me wonder if maybe he’d known who my father was. So I took a chance and asked.
“Mr. Masson, did you know Daniel Vaughn, I guess back then you would have known him as Mr. Vaughn, I have reason to believe he’s my father.
Again he stared off, almost like he was allowing his mind to take him to another spot in time before he finally answered.
“Honestly, that was the one big subject that seemed to be the target of endless conversation before she died. There were a lot of speculations going on—I don’t remember that being one of them, but in truthfully, no one seemed to have a clue, and she didn’t feel the need to share with anyone, friends, or otherwise. I’m sorry I don’t have the answers you want to hear. Do you think he had something to do with your mother’s death and the attempts on your life?”
“No,” I sighed in disappointment, “and it’s okay, it’s not your fault. What am I going to do? I can’t go to my dad about this, but I can’t just knowingly walk into what is sure to end up with me dead, but if I don’t then Drew will die.”
My eyes stung as the tears started welling, and I fought them furiously.
“Well, I can tell you what you aren’t going to do. You aren’t going to go to the authorities. That would be like signing Drew’s Death Certificate. What you are going to do is exactly what they say. It’s the only option you have, Eden. As far as them claiming they are watching you. I seriously doubt that. I’ve been keeping an eye on most of the faculty, and I have reason to believe that it is no one who works here. Whoever this is found a way to get in and out of the school undetected.”
“Yes, and they also found a way to get in and out of my house—my bedroom, more specifically. If it weren’t for Jennifer coming over last night, I would have probably gotten bit by the copperhead they planted in my bed. Dad can’t figure out how they got by the security system in the first place.”
Mr. Masson’s expression hardened and took on an almost lethal-looking quality. I scooted my chair back from his desk, and his murderous look softened slightly. “Someone broke into your house?”
“No, they didn’t break-in. They got in and out without so much as tripping the motion detector, Mr. Masson. Dad feels like we are dealing with an individual who is trained. Not just some jealous ex-girlfriend of my biological father’s, like my father and I, first assumed. It may be possible that whoever wants me dead hired a professional.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter what the motive is Eden because, in the end, the bottom line remains the same; someone wants you dead. The reasoning for why is not the important thing right now, keeping you and Drew both alive is. So this is what I propose. You do exactly what that note says.”
“Mr. Masson, I already told you, though.”
“Told me what, Eden?” He shook his head, gave me a severe look, then glanced toward his closed office door.
When I looked at him confused, he mouthed, Talk about something else.
“I promise there won’t be any issues between Clarissa and me. I think it’s safe to say that neither of us wants to risk breaking any more bones.”
“Good see to it that Jennifer goes along with you two when you do your laps tonight. I want
