How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters

Author:Julian Winters [Winters, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Interlude Press
Published: 2019-07-01T21:04:19+00:00

14

Message from Remy Cameron

Is that me?

Sent Oct 29 10:10 a.m.

Message from Free Williams

Yes. And your mother. Do you remember her?

Sent Oct 29 10:41 a.m.

Message from Remy Cameron

She looks like you. That means you’re…

Sent Oct 29 10:44 a.m.

* * *

Rio’s bedroom is filled with the sounds of noisy indie rock. But I don’t hate it. I also don’t know what that says about me nowadays.

“Who is this again?”

“Why? Do you like them?” replies Rio without looking at me.

“Maybe.”

“Shocking, considering your music taste is the equivalent of Clover’s daily dump.”

I smirk. “Why am I your best friend again?”

“Because the Witness Protection Program couldn’t afford to hire you a better one,” she says without missing a beat. “Also, your life would be pathetic without me.”

“Don’t you mean my life would suck without you?”

“Don’t go quoting Kelly Clarkson in this sacred space, Romeo,” Rio says sternly, but with this subtle fondness. “I’m not above tossing your scrawny ass out my bedroom window.”

“Promises, promises.”

Rio doesn’t respond. She’s studying the wall closest to the window while I begin examining the ceiling of K-pop horror above me. Pre-teen Rio was so much fluffier than this current Mad Tagger-obsessed incarnation.

“Any new clues?” I ask.

Again, Rio’s silent. I expect that much. She’s in front of her SUSPECT WALL—capitalized, because Rio’s dramatic like that. Most of the wall is covered by a giant map of Maplewood. Red X’s signify where the Mad Tagger has left their calling card. Polaroid photos of all their art are pinned to the map. Cutout yearbook snaps showcasing all the prime suspects and lists of evidence dangle from red pushpins.

Ford Turner. Lexi Goodwin. Malcolm Stone. Hiro Itō. Andrew Cowen.

Wait…

“Is that Ian?” My voice is strangled.

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” She keeps her back to me. “He’s an art geek. He has a car, access to the school after hours via his dad. None of us hang out with him outside of lunch. We don’t know much about him—”

“He’s Brook’s best friend,” I counter.

“Does that give him a pass? Andrew Cowen is Brook’s friend, too, but he’s a suspect.”

“So? If they’re both connected to Brook, why isn’t he on the list?”

Rio makes an annoyed noise. “Brook Henry is the living definition of a stuffed teddy bear. There’s no way he’d do it.”

“Cute and cuddly doesn’t eliminate potential criminal status,” I argue. My heart is pulsing strongly, like a warning. I need to shut up.

“Do you have any reasons why Ian’s innocent other than the Brook connection?”

Yes, waits on my tongue. That almost-kiss vibrates against my mouth. The ghost of his hand in mine chills my skin. “No,” I whisper.

“Then he stays,” says Rio, firmly.

“But…” I can’t finish. I can’t tell Rio, my best friend, about Ian. About Ian and me. Not that there’s an Ian and me, but still. Besides, Ian’s just a face in a bizarre line-up that also includes Principal Moon, Mr. Riley, and Chloe’s dad. The whole wall is a love letter to old-school murder mysteries, ransom-note-style.

Music talks for us. It’s a happy, clappy song, so I can’t complain.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.