Page 100 of Misdirection

It wasn’t that she cared about money. She didn’t want a lot. But she had nothing for her future. For college. To support herself. To find a place to live.

For a moment, an overwhelmed feeling consumed her. Her head spun until she feared she might pass out.

Despair was a real thing. She’d never known what it was like until three weeks ago.

If she wasn’t careful, hopelessness would consume her. She couldn’t let that happen.

She didn’t know if there was any coming back from a pit that deep.

She’d read the statistics. Only 50 percent of children in foster care graduated from high school. Of those, an even smaller percentage went to college and graduated. Five percent in total of kids from foster care ended up getting a college degree.

Olive wouldn’t be directly in foster care, but the facts remained the same. She was a girl without a family or support system.

But she was determined and smart. She would figure things out. She had to believe that despite the odds—which were clearly stacked against her.

What other choice did she have?

“Are you okay?” Tom touched her elbow.

When she looked at his kind eyes, she realized that staying with him was a good move. He seemed like a good man.

He was so different from her father.

Her father had been jovial and boisterous and charming—often all three at the same time. Whatever fit the situation best.

But Tom was quiet and reserved and thoughtful. And Olive was pretty certain the man couldn’t tell a lie if he wanted to.

She’d tried to trick him once. She’d asked if his wife was happy that Olive was going to live with them. Olive knew the woman wasn’t. She’d overheard one of their arguments.

She expected Tom to try to make her feel better by making up an excuse to make her feel more welcome. Instead, he’d told her that Jill would come around.

Olive’s trick hadn’t worked. Tom hadn’t lied.

Tears filled Olive’s eyes as she stared at the house. It wasn’t that she wanted to stay here or even that she’d miss this place.

In fact, every time she saw this house she’d only be reminded of everything bad. It was better if she stayed away.

“Ollie . . .” Tom’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She glanced at him. “Yes?”

“I know what you’re thinking.”

She stared at him, trying to figure out where he was going with this. “You do?”

“I don’t know who did this to your family. It was obviously someone without a conscience. Someone who’s very dangerous. You need to stay away from this and let the authorities do their jobs.”

Her hands fisted at her sides. “The authorities aren’t doing their jobs. Why haven’t they found the killer yet? It’s been three weeks.”

Tom grimaced, but he didn’t lie. “It’s complicated, Ollie.”

She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed. “I hate when adults say that.”

“Sometimes it’s the truth. We have a lot of layers to peel back. But we’re working on it. I can assure you of that.”

Olive stared at him and saw the sincerity in his gaze.

He really meant those words.

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