The Creeping

“Don’t make you what?” I cock my hand on my popped hip.

“Tell your dad what you’re doing. I’ll tell the police, too.” He says it uncertainly. He doesn’t want to cause me trouble. He cares about me, and what can I say in response? If I push it, maybe he really will tell Dad. Maybe I really will be sent to my mom’s. And there will be no Caleb there to whisk me away.

I sigh. “Just forget it, okay? It was stupid of me to ask. Stupid of me to think I’d crack a case the police can’t.” I walk around him to catch up with the others. I think he calls my name, but I don’t stop. Eventually, he joins the group, and I try to shake off being annoyed with him. How can I be angry because he wants to keep me safe? Wouldn’t I want the same for him? I’m disappointed, though. Caleb was my last chance at recruiting another to help Daniel, Sam, and me.

When we’re halfway to the cove, Drew or Dean says, “My boy saw that psycho Daniel Talcott back in town.” I cringe at hearing Daniel’s name in this jerkwad’s mouth.

“Dude, it was probably Daniel who hacked up his mom and sister. Or a father-son crime,” Taylor spits. He saunters up and flings his arm across my shoulders, binding me to his side as we walk. “That whole family is screwed up. I heard they’re into incest.” His skin is clammy, venomous sweat seeping into mine. I throw his heavy arm from my back and stomp forward. I grind my teeth, willing a billion verbal lashings silent. For Zoey. Only because I know Zoey brought Taylor to make me happy.

I look to Caleb for a distraction, but he’s making gooey eyes at Cole and asking her about California. I drop to the ground, pretending to be engrossed in tying a shoelace to lose him. It doesn’t work, since Taylor waits for me to finish. “Are you afraid ’cause Mr. Talcott is out of jail? We could pay him a visit for you, kick his ass.” I look up at Taylor, disgust rising up with bile in my throat. His head blots out the sun like a lunar eclipse. Drew and Dean hoot in agreement, arms waving like a couple of monkeys. No, monkeys are smarter.

“Jeanie and her mom weren’t hacked up. And the cops let Mr. Talcott go because they didn’t have any evidence that he did it,” I snap, getting to my feet and jogging to catch up with Michaela. “Anyway,” I add, “Daniel loved Jeanie. Neither of them are guilty. I would know.” I hope I sound convincing enough. They lose interest anyway and drone on about the logistics of luring a hog into the pool of a rival school as a senior prank as we empty out onto the shore. I spread my towel next to Cole’s, and Taylor beats Michaela to my other side. Just fan-freaking-tastic. I’ll be stuck with him all afternoon. How on earth was I completely into him seventy-two hours ago? He’s still hot, but it doesn’t come anywhere near to making up for his personality.

“I brought shots,” Cole squeals, retrieving a bottle of raspberry-flavored vodka from her purse. She passes out little lime-green plastic shot glasses and begins pouring the first round. Zoey strips her shorts off and wades into the water. Caleb shouts for her to cover up. Drew and Dean follow like eager puppies after a bone as she waggles her finger at both of them.

Taylor lies on his side, facing me. He pops a giant wad of gum into his mouth and says, chewing noisily, “You want to swim, babe?”

I grab a filled shot glass from Cole and knock it back before she can even pour herself one. “No thanks, I want to sunbathe for a while,” I say. He shrugs and cracks his gum loudly.

“Whoa there, bobcat.” Cole giggles. “Want to wait for me to take one too?” I thrust the glass out for her to refill. Cole raises an eyebrow and then shrugs, filling me up again and topping off a red party cup that Caleb offers up. If I have to pretend to have a good time while the rest of the town goes mad and Daniel loses his whole family, then I’m going to need a good buzz. Luckily, I don’t drink much, so I’ll be nice and fuzzy after two or three.

“Pace yourself, slutini!” Zoey yells from where she sits atop one of the D’s shoulders. “We’re going to have a bonfire when it gets dark.” I grin back at her, showing way too many teeth for her to think it’s sincere. There’s no way, no how that I’m spending my whole day here. I need to remember things. I need to research past disappearances. I need to check that Daniel’s okay. I need to see Sam. Cole clicks her shot glass against mine and throws her head back, gulping the cloying vodka that goes down like maple syrup. I do the same, letting its warmth spread in my stomach.