Unbearable Losses by Jennifer L. Jordan

Author:Jennifer L. Jordan [Jordan, Jennifer L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781883523688
Google: HZDJAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1883523680
Barnesnoble: 1883523680
Goodreads: 78809
Publisher: Spinsters Ink
Published: 2006-03-01T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

I slinked down the stairs and peered around the corner. Lori was on one end of the couch, staring straight ahead, emotionless. Donna sat on the far end, hunched over, crying softly.

I cleared my throat, and they both looked up.

"Is it safe for me to come back in?" I asked, forcing a faint smile.

"Sure," Donna said wearily. Lori shrugged.

I remained standing, leaning against the doorway. "I need to level with you, Lori. The threats seem personal, and Donna needs to be involved. Have you two talked about them?"

"In minute detail," Lori said nastily.

I stayed calm. "Good. Obviously they're coming from someone who has access to the Academy. If the threats are directed at you, they could be aimed at your family, too. It wouldn't hurt to take precautions."

"Such as?" Lori asked.

"Calling the police, for one."

"I agree," Donna chimed in, coming out of her slump.

"Absolutely not," Lori retorted.

"You're so stubborn."

Lori responded to Donna's remark by glaring at me. "I told you from the beginning, I won't do it."

"You value that damn business over me and Erica, don't you?"

"Of course not. But the police would laugh if we tried to bring them in."

"They might be aware of a pattern," Donna said pleadingly. "Something that hasn't been disclosed to the public. Remember the Capitol Hill rapist—he assaulted five women before the media released information. What if other learning centers have received threats?"

"She just said she thinks it's personal."

"Why do you think that, Kris?" Donna asked, wringing a tissue in her hands.

"Every time I interview someone, it comes back to a relationship with you." I directed my attention toward Lori, who avoided eye contact. "For example, why did Robert Hoppe accuse you of killing someone?"

"The man's deranged."

"He didn't say anything negative about the Academy," I pointed out. "Only you."

"You can't go by what he said alone."

"I'm not," I said, my throat constricting. "I also interviewed your ex-employee, Rebecca Ramirez, and she told me—"

Donna interrupted with, "Rebecca quit?"

"I let her go two months ago. Didn't I mention it?"

"No."

"What did Rebecca have to say? She probably hates my guts," Lori said.

I looked at her in surprise. "She has enormous respect for you."

Donna slid across the couch and nudged Lori on the arm. "Why did you fire her? She was your favorite teacher."

Lori didn't divert her stare from the wall. "Sloppy lesson plans and lack of self-motivation," she said dully.

"She always had those weaknesses," Donna objected. "You spent extra time mentoring her because you said she had a gift for breaking through learning barriers."

Lori threw up her arms and raised her voice. "Whatever talent Rebecca had couldn't compensate for her pathological disorganization. I had to let her go. I had no choice."

I moved into Lori's line of sight and said, my voice steady, "Did Deborah Kennedy influence your decision to fire Rebecca?"

Lori's eyes exploded in panic. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Who is Deborah Kennedy?" I pressed.

"I've never heard the name."

Donna, furious, said, "Your friend Deb from high school, Lori. You have her photo next to your computer upstairs.

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.