Last to Die: (Rizzoli & Isles 10) by Tess Gerritsen

Author:Tess Gerritsen [Gerritsen, Tess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective
ISBN: 9781409030362
Google: KXO3wWt34jMC
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2012-08-15T22:00:00+00:00

CHICKEN KILLER.

Though no one said it to her face, Claire knew what they were whispering as they leaned their heads together and shot glances at her from the other dining tables. She’s the one. Everyone knew that Claire had tried to kick Herman a few days ago, outside the stables. Which made her the chief suspect. In the court of gossip, she’d already been tried and convicted.

She speared a brussels sprout and it tasted as bitter as her resentment, but she ate it anyway, chewing mechanically as she tried to ignore the whispers, the stares. As always, Briana was the ringleader, backed up by her princesses. The only one who regarded Claire with any obvious sympathy was Bear the dog, who rose from his usual place at Julian’s feet and trotted over to her. She slipped him a morsel of meat under the table and blinked away tears when he gave her a grateful lick on the hand. Dogs were so much kinder than humans. They accepted you just the way you were. She reached down and buried her hand in Bear’s thick fur. At least he would always be her friend.

“Can I sit at your table?”

She looked up to see Teddy holding his dinner tray. “Be my guest. But you know what’ll happen if you do.”

“What?”

“You’ll never be one of the cool kids.”

“Never was anyway.” He sat down, and she looked at his meal of boiled potatoes, brussels sprouts, and lima beans.

“What are you, a vegetarian?”

“I’m allergic.”

“To what?”

“Fish. Shrimp. Eggs.” He used his fingers to count down his list of allergies. “Wheat. Peanuts. Tomatoes. And maybe, but I’m not sure, strawberries.”

“Geez, how do you not starve to death?”

“I’m as carnivorous as you are.”

She looked at his pale face, his matchstick arms, and thought: You are the least carnivorous-looking boy I’ve ever met.

“I like meat. Yesterday, I ate the chicken.” He paused, and his cheeks suddenly suffused with pink. “Sorry,” he murmured.

“I didn’t kill Herman. No matter what they’re all saying about me.”

“They’re not all saying that.”

She slapped her fork on the table. “I’m not stupid, Teddy.”

“Will believes you. And Julian says a good investigator always avoids snap judgments.”

She glanced at the other table and caught Briana’s sneer. “Bet she’s not defending me.”

“Is it because of Julian?”

She looked at Teddy. “What?”

“Is that why you and Briana hate each other? Because you both like Julian?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Briana says you’ve got a crush on him.” Teddy looked at Bear, who wagged his tail, hoping for another morsel of food. “And that’s why you’re always fussing over his dog, to make Julian like you.”

Was that what everyone thought? She gave Bear a sudden shove and snapped, “Stop bothering me, stupid dog.”

The whole dining room heard it and turned to look at her as she stood up.

“Why are you leaving?” said Teddy.

She didn’t answer. Just walked out of the dining hall, out of the building.

Outside it was not yet dark, but another lingering summer twilight. The swallows were whirling and looping in the sky.

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