Chapter 40
May had arrived and with it came prom, followed by graduation. Not all of it had been ideal. I found I couldn’t celebrate as much as the others seemed to. Many of them had grown up together and gone through school together. I had come in late and never felt attached.
Graduation was bittersweet and while I didn’t have a large contingent of family to cheer me on, it made me happy to have Anne and Ben. There had been no party, either. Almost everyone was hosting Graduation parties but Anne and I had gone to dinner with Reece, Jericho and Ben, which somehow seemed even better. Afterward we gathered back at the house where we had dessert. Ben had made a graduation cake for me and Reece and while we simultaneously blew out the candles, Anne could be heard complaining that she had misplaced her camera. But no matter, the moment had been seared to memory and it was a good one.
While we were passing around ice cream, Reece spoke up. “I’m going to head over to Amber’s and spend some time with her.”
My heart dropped and I rebuked myself for it. Of course he should see her. She was his friend too. I stayed silent but Jericho didn’t. “This was sudden. And it’s rude. You should have mentioned it earlier son.”
Reece nodded as he took a bite of cake and ice cream. While he did he caught my eye and winked at me.
“I know. Sorry dad. She called and told me she would like my company.”
Not much else was said while we finished dessert. Reece didn’t invite me to go with him and I wasn’t going to invite myself so when it was time I waved goodbye as he headed out the door. As soon as he left I felt lonelier than ever.
Hours passed and dark descended, but with it came a stillness that seemed ominous. Everyone had gone, leftovers had been put away and the house had been cleaned. It was just Anne and I with Pandora resting at her feet. Anne was flipping through a recipe book and other than the occasional swish as she turned a page, there was no other sound except for the rhythmic ticking of a ceiling fan. I wasn’t the least bit tired although the clock had struck midnight a few minutes before. I looked at Anne who seemed unusually into her cookbook, told her goodnight and began to head up the stairs. I whistled for Pandora and as she maneuvered herself onto all fours, Anne brushed her lightly with her bare foot. I had taken my make-up off and was half undressed when I received the call. Reece didn’t sound like himself and he insisted I drive to Amber’s right away. Before I could ask what was going on, Anne, sounding alarmed, called out from downstairs. She was talking to Jericho and had been told the same thing. We needed to go.
Anne was solemn as she drove and Pandora was alert. Anne had tried to keep Pandora inside but Pandora sensed our distress and wouldn’t leave our sides. It didn’t take more than ten minutes to reach Amber’s home. It was as old as Anne’s but smaller. The house was on a small section of land right off the road with nothing but woods in back and then the mountain. I quickly scanned the area, which was void of any kind of light. I made out Reece’s truck parked near the dirt round-a-bout, and behind it was his dad’s Harley. I didn’t have time to wonder. Anne parked and we hurried up the stairs. Pandora began to growl furiously and I gripped her collar tight. Before we could knock, Jericho opened the door and hurried us in. Once inside Pandora began barking and tried to bolt, but I commanded her to stay and she obeyed.
“Amber’s room,” Jericho ordered. “They are in Amber’s room.”
We followed him quickly and with each step forward, dread took over. The knowledge that something terrible had happened overcame me because no matter how fresh it is, there is no mistaking the scent of death.