“How do you do it alone, Naomi? After everything Scout went through, and her father ain’t even lending a hand.”
Naomi’s gaze carried to the deck door.
“Scout practically raises herself. All I do is cook and keep a roof over her head.”
“And help her get on and off the bus every day, and keep her spirits high when she’s having a bad time. You deserve parent of the year.”
Naomi looked away.
“The truth is, I harbor a lot of resentment.” She waved her hands. “Not for my daughter or what happened, of course. But for Glen. I understand some of what my husband is going through. He’s guilty over the accident, even though it wasn’t his fault and he couldn’t have avoided it. But there comes a point when he needs to get over his feelings and be a parent. He hasn’t been a father to Scout for a long time.” Naomi looked to Serena. “But you know who has? Thomas Shepherd and your son. LeVar is like another father for Scout, and I couldn’t be happier to have him in our lives.”
Serena’s mouth hung open. She touched her lips and glanced at her shoes.
“I knew LeVar and Scout were close, but I had no idea.”
“You told me you’re proud of LeVar. He grows every time I see him. One day, he’ll make a great father.”
Serena sobbed into her palm.
“Thank you for telling me. I can’t express how happy that makes me.”
Naomi pressed her palms against her thighs and rose from the chair. With a wry grin on her face, she wandered to the deck doors and folded her arms.
“She’s playing hooky.”
Serena narrowed her eyes.
“Scout?”
“Oh, yes. Scout thinks she can pull the wool over my eyes, but nobody cut more corners in school than this one.” Naomi pointed a thumb at her chest, and Serena giggled. “I knew all the tricks. You remember the Campbell’s Soup scam?”
Serena laughed at the ceiling.
“Hide the can under your shirt, lock the bathroom door, and wretch while you pour the soup into the toilet. My mother fell for it every time.”
Naomi’s shoulders shook.
“Scout doesn’t go that far. But she skips school to run her online investigations.”
Serena strolled over to Naomi and peered into the backyard. White caps pounded the shoreline beyond the property.
“Don’t get upset with your daughter. She’s filling a void.”
Naomi’s hands dug at her pants. Scout had too many voids to fill—her paralysis, the lack of a father figure, no friends in school.
“I’m not upset. Scout keeps up with her studies, and she pulled an A-average last semester. There’s not much for me to complain about.” Naomi set her hands on her hips. “But sometimes I wonder what she’s up to, and what’s so fascinating about these cases she works.”
Serena’s eyes grinned with mischief.
“I have a brilliant idea.”
“Tell me.”
“After we take the pie out of the oven, how about the two of us wander down to the guest house and pay Nancy Drew a visit? I’ll pretend I’m dropping off something for LeVar. We’ll peek over her shoulder and see what she’s up to all day.”
Naomi gave Serena a high five.
“This is why I want you at Shepherd Systems. You’re full of the best ideas.”
“And I thought it was only my baking.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
October 31st
1:45 p.m.
Inside the high school library, Leland Trivett hid with Gardner Raimi between the stacks. The teenage boy dried his eyes on his shirtsleeve and turned away when three girls passed.
“I can’t believe he’s dead,” Leland said, whispering so nobody overheard.
Gardner exhaled and leaned against the bookcase, eyes fixed on the floor.
“Did the cops say who did it?”
Leland shook his head.
“They tried to pin it on me after they figured out Derek planned to spend the night at my place.”
“You told him about Derek’s stepfather, right?”
As though he’d bitten into something sour, Leland twisted his mouth.
“Yeah, I told the cops about that prick. Cole attacked Derek?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Gardner said, stuffing his hands inside his pockets. “He’s had it in for Derek since the fight. Cole wanted Derek out of the picture.”
“This is so messed up. Derek and Valerie performed that skit about the Halloween Man, and somebody stabbed Derek, like the killer was acting out the story.”
A laugh brought their heads around. A group of boys lingered at the end of the row, shoving each other while the library aides chatted behind the desk.
“Not so loud,” Gardner said, giving Leland a meaningful stare.
“It’s not like it matters. After Principal Dane makes his announcement, the entire school will find out.”
Gardner waited until Leland composed himself. The two boys wandered back to their table and collected their belongings after the bell rang. One more period, and this nightmare of a school day would finally end. Leland followed Gardner into the hallway and ran into Mr. Pierpoint, who’d been waiting beside the doors for the boys to exit.
“A moment with you, gentlemen.”
Leland shared a look with Gardner.
“You’ll make us late for class.”
“Not to worry. I already wrote late passes for both of you.” Pierpoint displayed the passes before slipping them into his shirt pocket. “Follow me to my office.”
Mr. Pierpoint’s office was tucked between the chemistry lab and the literature classroom. The office was a glorified closet with no windows, no airflow. His desk took up half the floor space. After Leland and Gardner squeezed inside, Pierpoint shut the door behind them and twisted the lock. Leland gave Gardner a worried glance.
“Sit,” Pierpoint said, motioning at the two chairs opposite his desk. The teacher slid into his chair and set his elbows on the table. Piercing eyes stared through Leland, as though Pierpoint viewed the boy’s darkest secrets. “I understand you met with the sheriff and a detective from Kane Grove. Is that true?”
Leland bit his lip. How did Pierpoint find out? It was as if the creep stalked his students all day. Below the desk, Gardner swatted Leland’s leg.
“I can’t talk about it.”
“What did you do, Mr. Trivett? And was Mr. Raimi involved? The two of you have
