The Real Enemy by Kathy Herman

Author:Kathy Herman [Herman, Kathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, Sophie Trace, Great Smokey Mountains, Police Chief
ISBN: 1434767868
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2009-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Kurt opened the front door and let Emily squeeze past him, then followed her out to the kitchen.

“How come you’re so quiet?” he said.

Emily shrugged.

Kurt got the Tupperware container of peanut butter cookies and set it on the table, then poured two glasses of milk and sat across from Emily.

“Rough day at school?”

Emily folded her arms across her chest, her lower lip pushed out. “I knew they would laugh at me.”

“Because your mother hasn’t solved the case yet?”

“They think the cops aren’t telling people the truth about the red shadows. I told them the real story about how the legend got started. But Heath and Jeremy got the other kids not to believe me.” A tear spilled down Emily’s cheek. “Now everyone’s calling me ‘Jessup the Messup.’ I hate them. And I hate school. I want to go back to Memphis.”

Kurt stuck a cookie in his mouth and bit down hard, hoping Emily couldn’t tell how mad he was. Why did kids have to be so mean? “Was Jasmine in on the teasing?”

Emily shook her head. “She told them to stop.”

“Well, see. You have a real friend.”

“Could I ask her to come for a sleepover?

“That’s a possibility. I’d like to meet her parents first. Or at least talk to them.”

“They don’t pick her up from school. They work at the tire factory.”

“Does she stay with someone after school?”

“Her big sister, Rosa. She’s sixteen. That’s old enough to be the boss, if the parents say so. I remember when Vanessa was sixteen and I was little and she used to boss me around.”

Kurt smiled to himself. Just four years ago and it seemed a lifetime. “I’m sorry the kids at school were immature and mean to you. Did Kevin and Devin Nichols come back to school?”

“No. Mrs. Bartlett said they’re doing their work at home because they’re really sad about their mom. I would be too.”

“Well, don’t you imagine Mrs. Bartlett is sad that Mrs. Evans is missing, since they’re both teachers at the same school?”

Emily nodded. “There’s a substitute teacher in the first-grade class. I think everyone’s freaked out that Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Nichols might be dead.”

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