Page 76 of Reading Between the Lines
“I’msuggestingmaybe your sister brought her boyfriend to the cabin in the woods for a little private time on the day heaccidentallyfell into the river. I’msuggestingthey weren’t at the library like she claimed. Like she swore to the police. Like Weston told his mother.
“Is that where you were last Sunday, Londyn? Because we talked to the librarian, and no one remembers you and Weston studying that day.”
I glanced at Diem. The lie crossed his lips with grace, no sign implying the statement wasn’t true. Talking to the librarian was on our list for later that morning, but the library wasn’t open yet.
“You don’t know shit,” Loyal said, but his certainty had vanished.
“Did Weston cross lines you didn’t like? Did you run away? Shove him in the water when he chased you down? Did you watch him drown?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Loyal yelled, stepping forward as though he might go after Diem.
Diem didn’t move or flinch.
Something caught Londyn’s eye, and she pulled from her brother’s hold, putting a few feet between them. Her wide blue eyes swam as she tracked an approaching teen. Duke, the kid from the diner, the one built for playing football, sauntered over. He searched Londyn’s face, seemingly noting her distress, but aimed a comment at her twin brother.
“Saw you getting harassed again. Mr. A’s on his way to take out the trash.”
Londyn squirmed, glancing between Duke and her brother. “Loyal, he can’t find out.”
“Shut her up, Duke. For fuck’s sake.” Smirking at Diem, Loyal added, “There is nothing wrong with our club. We’ve got nothing to hide, so how about you fuck off and leave us alone.”
“No.” Diem stood his ground.
Duke took Londyn’s hand and whispered something I didn’t catch. She leaned into him and nodded, eyeing her brother. Duke brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, fingers lingering intimately by her neck. She leaned into the touch.
At that same moment, the English teacher, Hugh Abercrombie, exited from a side door and immediately located us in the parking lot.
“Hey!” He stormed in our direction, animosity written all over his face.
“Shit. We better get out of here, D.”
“No fucking way.”
“But—”
“No.”
Loyal adopted a smug expression as he moved his sunglasses to cover his eyes. Duke released Londyn, who glanced nervously between the teacher, Diem, and her brother, still an unnatural shade of gray.
“Get inside right now,” Hugh Abercrombie barked at the teens the instant he was upon us.
“We were just—”
“Go.” Abercrombie pointed to the door, interrupting Loyal’s attempt to explain.
Loyal hesitated for half a beat but relented.
“And ask Mr. Howie if he could please step in for me at the start of first period,” Abercrombie said. “I clearly have something to take care of. I’ll be there when I’m done with this mess.”
Loyal nodded, ducked his chin, and joined his sister and Duke as they aimed for the same door the teacher had exited. Before they entered the building, Loyal glanced back, exchanging a snide look with Diem. Considering the teacher’s attitude, I wasn’t sure Loyal was as confident about evading trouble as he made it seem. Time would tell.
My head spun with the tidbits of information I’d picked up while watching the exchange. Londyn’s meek response to her brother. Her fear. Loyal’s dominance. Duke’s unexpectedaffection. I stored it for later, needing all my focus to ensure Diem didn’t piledrive the teacher and get us arrested.
19
Diem
“What is the meaning of this?” Hugh Abercrombie snapped after the kids entered the building. “I thought I told you to stay away from the school and students.”
