Second Nature (2 page)

“Can you find somewhere
to be today after school?” I ignored her dramatics and asked it like I didn't
have another meaning, but I had been trying to have my sister stay away from
here as much as possible.

Mom was one thing, but a
killer stalking me, lighting my house on fire, and leaving a dead body in my
yard had me rattled. It had been almost a month since we’d heard from the
killer, but that didn't mean he wasn't out there, waiting for the moment to
strike.

His last message had been
so threatening. We had a week to solve the murder before it happened. But we
had solved nothing. We hadn’t even spoken of it much at all.

We hadn’t had time.

The moment when
investment in Crimson Cove was threatened by Mr. Henning betraying
Crimson Cove Inc. to the Blacks and the Van Harkers
, our families went
into overdrive.

Scheduled wasn't the word
for it.

We were paraded about,
proving that this was the life everyone wanted. Crimson Cove was safe and
sound, so much so that the girls who had been friends with Rachel Swanson, the
dead girl, didn't even pause their social life to mourn her passing.

It was disturbing.

And it was a secret.

One I wasn't going to
tell Mazy about. How did you tell a little girl that we had received
threatening texts from my dead friend’s cell phone?

All I could do was ensure
she wasn't roaming the hallowed halls of this nearly haunted mansion.

“I guess I can go to
Emily’s again.” She sounded even more down with that option. “But Tom is even
worse than Mom. Ever since Ashton went missing, he’s been a real dic—”

“Don't! Don't cuss!
You’re eleven
,
don't swear
. You
don't want to sound like you grew up on the docks.” I sat on the bed next to
her, realizing I sounded just like Mom. “Tom’s just stressed and worried too.
It’s been a hard summer on everyone. Rachel was murdered and Ash went missing.
Mr. Henning died. Mom suffered because of that one.” I rolled my eyes for her
but continued on, “Everything is a mess. And out of this house we can’t even
show our feelings or worries. We all have to truck on, pretending we’re cool
with it all so the paparazzi don't get wind and make it worse. They could ruin
Crimson Cove by saying it’s dangerous here. Which would ruin Dad and Tom and
Mr. Allen.”

I wanted to tell her it
was dangerous but there wasn't any point. The week after Rachel’s death had
been bad but everything had died off after that.

We had yet to receive one
threat, one message, or even one sign that the killer was stalking us.

“People are saying Ashton
killed Rachel and fled.” Her bright-blue eyes widened. “I can’t even say I
blame him.”

“Don't say that! That's a
lie!” It came out harsher than I expected, but I softened right away. “He is
not guilty, and he wouldn't have ever hurt her, even if she was mean. I think
he’s scared. I saw him leave the party the night she died, and she was still
alive when he drove off. Whoever killed her was still at the party. And Tom is
worried about that too. You know how Ashton is his favorite.”

“Yeah. He and Mom should
hang out.” Her words were so innocent, but she didn't know that half the town
was having an affair. Our mom and Tom would be a match made in heaven. Two
miserable grumps criticizing the failures they were surrounded by. It was the
most frightening thought.

“Just finish getting
ready, and I’ll drive you.” I dragged the dress on over my tank top, leaving my
leggings on. Mommy Dearest would have to pry those from my cold dead body.
Which, at this rate, could be anytime before first period.

The locker police

The car ride was heaven.

Mostly it was from just
being out of the house, but a small part of it was that I was finally driving
my own vehicle, thanks to convincing my dad not to buy me a sweet-sixteen car.
I desperately didn't want the Volvo he was determined I should drive. He and
the safety features sheet were a deadly duo.

I pressed the gas,
hearing the super ecofriendly Fiat hum. It didn't purr the way Lindsey’s crazy
car did, but it also didn't pollute quite the same either. It was white and
reminded me of Italy, the first place I ever drove. The thing I loved the most
was that it was similar to a VW beetle but not as crappy.

Mazy waved her hand out
the window, flying it like the car had one wing. “Do you think the Halloween
ball will still happen?”

“Of course.” I laughed.
“I don't think one thing is going to change out here. That could scare
investors or prospects from the town. Trust me, everything will be the same. I
told you, no one wants the gossip rags to realize the fabulous town of Crimson
Cove is having problems. It will be the same Halloween ball as every year.”

“Except of course that
Rachel won’t be planning every moment of your lives.” She said it cautiously,
like she wasn't sure I would agree.

“That is the one thing I
won’t miss about her.” It was a lie. There were dozens of things I wouldn't
miss. The way she called Lindsey ugly was top of the
list,
just under the way she treated Ashton. I hated that.

“I bet there’s tons of
things you won’t miss.”

“We have to be polite.
She’s dead. We can’t say mean things, even if she did them. That's how death
works. Her sins are forgotten, washed away.”

“Everyone still brings up
Voldemort and says all the means things he did.”

“Not the same.” I
chuckled as I pulled into the parking lot of the elementary school and gave
Mazy a nod. “Have a good day.
If you want a ride home, text
me.
Or message Dan. He’s looking for ways to avoid Mom.” Mom’s driver
had been washing the vehicles thrice daily since the fire.
Anything
to get away from my mom and her misery.

“Okay. I think I’ll try
to go to Emily’s or see if we can both go to Rosie’s house. Her parents are
both gone for the next two weeks.” She hopped out, slamming my door like
always. “And her nanny is the nicest lady ever. She’s like a Filipino Mary
Poppins.”

“It’s a light door!” I
shouted after her as my car vibrated from the slam again, like always. “And I
don't think you should call her that.”

She waved and found her
way to Emily who offered me a shy grin. Emily was the sweetest girl. Not fake
sweet the way Sage was. She was truly sweet.

Thinking that brought
memories of once upon a time when Sage had been sweet too. The fake aspects of
her personality had developed over time, like a response to the world we lived
in. Her skin had thickened a little, making her a touch harder as the years
went on. Rachel was the least of the vicious things in our life. In fact, she
had been downright tolerable, compared to Tom or my mother.

I drove around the
drop-off circle and headed right onto the main road to our school. We were one
of the few seaside academies in the US. If you were standing inside the
building you could easily imagine being in Australia. If you were outside in
November you knew it wasn't a tropical climate. A good nor’easter left you with
no guesses as to where the school was located.

Thankfully, the first
week of September was still as warm, just not as humid as August. There was
a freshness
to the air from how cold it became at night.

I parked in my usual
spot, next to Lindsey’s fancy car, and climbed out, adjusting my dress. It was
my junior year, and I didn't feel a single ounce of excitement. If I didn't
clear his name, Ashton wouldn't be here. He was the only senior I ever
daydreamed about as I stalked him mercilessly.

Not that it mattered
anymore. Not since having to worry that I might not live through the year to
write my SATs or apply to college.

No, the year held nothing
for
me but danger and misery
. I needed to solve this
mystery so we could have the junior year we deserved. But even more, I needed to
get my friends back to worrying about it with me.

I shouldered my hobo bag
and locked my car, ambling toward the front door with a sad look owning my
face.

“Lain!”

I didn't have to turn around
to know who was calling me. I paused and let Lindsey catch up. She nudged me
and offered a weird look with her dark-blue eyes. Like she was searching my
face for something. “You all right?”

“No.” The answer was the
truth. With her I didn't have to lie or smile or pretend. There wasn't any
point to it. She was like a Jack Russell hunting a rat when it came to lying.
She knew everyone too well.

“Did something happen?”

“No.” I almost asked what
she could mean, but I knew what she meant.

“Dreading the year?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I
am, and it hasn't even started.”

 
“I know.” She sighed and leaned against
me, laying her head on my shoulder. “Me too.”

I turned to see if Vince
was following her, but he wasn't there. “Where’s Vincent?”

“Talking on the phone. He’s
got some meeting in New York with the Young Republicans. It’s creepy. I think
they’re a form of Old World masters, like Masons or something.”

“Yikes. It’s the first
day of school. He’s already hitting the campaign trail?”

Lindsey snorted. “No.
He’s just trying to keep his options open, on the off chance we somehow live
through the next year. He may actually end up at college.”

“Anything else figured
out from the list I gave him?” I had asked him to look into some things for me
because he was the most powerful kid our age. There was no denying the fact
Vincent Banks was a big shot from the moment he was born.

“He has no idea why the
power went out at the party the night Rachel was killed. Nothing. The police
asked every person at the party, including staff, and have found nothing. No
one even knows where the power could have been cut off at and then turned back
on so quickly. The house never lost power, only the dock, pool, and pool house.
An electrician is looking into it, and Vincent’s source at the police station
will let him know.” She looked up into my eyes. “And he can’t find that driver,
the one who poisoned Mr. Casey’s driver and then took his place to drive us to
the party. No one has seen him again and Mr. Casey’s real driver remembers
nothing. He’s useless. He was too sick with the slight poisoning he got that
night.”

“But we all agree the guy
with the beard who was making out with Rachel was the driver?”

She nodded. “I think so.
So does Vince.”

“And what about the man
you heard your dad call on the cell phone, Hendricks?”

Lindsey’s eyes widened.
Regret filled them, but I didn't care. I hadn’t told anyone what she had told
me. She struggled but then nodded. “Vincent knows who Hendricks is.”

“He does?” My stomach
tightened.

“Yeah. He’s some dude who
works contract for rich men. Vince used the word ‘cleaner.’ He handles things
that need to be handled sensitively.” She gulped.

My mouth went dry a
little as a flash from the movie
Pulp
Fiction
soared about my brain. “Your dad knew him already? A cleaner?”

“Yeah. So did your dad
and Vincent’s. Sierra’s dad, Sage’s, Rachel’s; they all know him too. He’s done
work for Crimson Cove Inc. before. They all know him.” Her voice had become a
whisper and the wind felt colder for it. My arm hairs were standing on end and
my skin crawled. “What does that mean?”

“They’ve clearly had a
mess to cleanup before.” The dread in her voice matched the feelings inside me.

“Clearly.”

“Bitches!”

I jumped and spun,
scowling when I saw Sierra strolling up in her shortest skirt. The wind caught
it and lifted it so I got the full view of her white silk underwear.

“Sierra! My eyes!”
Lindsey shouted. “The dress has to be longer than the vag, dude.”

“What?” She looked down
and tugged at the skirt. “I think I grew over the summer. Is that possible? My
shit is
all shorter
this year. And let’s be real, it
was short last year.” She nudged me like we should laugh together over it.

“You started menstruation
later than the rest of us so you will grow a bit later.” I couldn't even stop
the answer from blurting out. “It’s likely this is your last year of growth.”

“Thanks, Doc.” She winked
one of her bright-azure eyes at me and tossed her red hair about before
scanning the schoolyard. “Any hotties we don't yet know reporting in for duty?”
Sierra had been going from her old slutty self to a bitter addict on regular
rotations. I was sort of glad she was back to her old self for first day of
school. Cleaning her up off the bathroom floor at every party we’d been forced
to attend over the last month hadn’t been a treat. Neither had being the one
person she fessed up to about her desperate love for Vincent. I hated that I
knew that sad fact, and she had the fortune of forgetting she’d ever told me.

“We just got here. I
drove up about three minutes before Lain. Where’s Sage?” Lindsey said with a
note of hostility. Since she had started dating Sage’s ex there was tension
upon tension. Exes were off limits, sort of a hos before bros mentality. But
Vincent Banks didn't listen to rules. If he decided he wanted something he got
it. Lindsey had been that thing that Vincent had always wanted. I still sort of
felt like he had used the bad things that had happened over the summer to worm
his way into Lindsey’s heart. But I would never have said that to her. I didn't
think I even needed to. She saw the flaws in the machine. She knew starting a
relationship in the midst of such toxicity was a bad idea.

Sierra rolled her eyes.
“Sage is with Rita. They came early to make sure they were in all the same
classes. Apparently, they plan on being BFFs this year. Whatever.”

“Maybe it will help her
bounce back,” Lindsey offered. “She isn’t even drawing anymore.
And no photography this year.
She said she wasn't going to
be in the class anymore because she and Rachel took it together.”

“I honestly don't care. I
took geography with Rachel. Can I be excused too? Like really. Sage needs to
pull her tampon out and stop being a little bit—”

“Dude!” Lindsey laughed.
“Lower your voice if you’re going to trash talk. Yikes and stripes.” She
glanced over at the front door, bringing my gaze with hers. “The bell is about
to ring.” She looked at the old clock above the front door.

The school was starting
to get crowded, and I really wanted to get to my locker. I hated being late.

Sierra linked her arm in
mine and started toward the school. “Okay, crazy. I see the wild look in your
eyes. Let’s go in before we’re late. We all know how much you hate that.”

They both knew me far too
well.

“I’m going to grab Vince
and see you guys inside,” Lindsey called out and walked toward the side of the
building where I could see Vince on his iPhone. He looked upset, but not like
he was talking to the Young Republicans. He looked emotional.

“Oh, to be in love,”
Sierra moaned. “Except then I would be stuck with only one boy and that would
never do.” She sashayed us both to the front door. “Have you seen Jake yet?”
She winked.

“No?” I didn't understand
the question. Why Jake? She wasn't the only person asking me about him lately
either. Even my mom was questioning me on his whereabouts.

“I haven’t either.”
Sierra’s cheeks flushed, and I wondered if maybe she liked him and that was why
she was asking. Had I missed her having a crush on him because of everything
else that was going on? Was her telling me about the undying love she had for
Vincent an act?

No, she had been too
drunk to act. Maybe Jake was the act.

I started to lead when we
got inside, noting the smell was exactly the same as last year, and the one
before that. It was learning, inspiration, friends, and that weird smell no
school can avoid that gets even worse in the dead of winter. I always suspected
it was moldy food in the lockers.

“It’s going to be weird
without Rach.”

“Dude,”—her grip on
me tightened—“I don't want to talk about that.” Her eyes widened and lost
most of the humor they usually had in them.

“I know.” I didn't
either, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. “But we need to know who’s
watching us. Just because we haven’t heard from the killer, doesn't mean he
isn’t out there.”

“No, that's exactly what
that means.” Sierra turned and shook her head. “The fact we haven’t heard from
him means he isn’t out there. The killer said someone else would be dead, and
we had one week to solve the murder before it happened and then nothing
happened. No one is dead. It’s been a month. No phone calls, no texts, and no
letters. The killer is probably gone now. Maybe he was here for the
summer—someone who Rachel offended—and now she’s gone and we
haven’t heard a single word since that week. I am going to assume the killer is
gone. That's my stance on this.”