Envy by Gregg Olsen

Author:Gregg Olsen [Olsen, Gregg]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Bullying, Social Issues, Suicide, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Paranormal, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Fiction, United States, Law & Crime, Twins, Sisters, Siblings, People & Places, General
ISBN: 9781454901808
Google: mPg6qAAACAAJ
Amazon: B007SRW3BM
Publisher: Splinter
Published: 2011-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

chapter 27

THE WOOD-FIRED PIZZERIA in Poulsbo was one of those strange restaurants in that its appearance didn’t match its cuisine—like a sushi bar in a log cabin. The tiny building on Front Street was like a lot of the themed edifices there, a Norwegian-style facade with stucco and exposed beams. The Ryans didn’t care how the restaurant looked as long as the pizza was good, which, thankfully, it usually was.

The outing was supposed to help cheer everyone up. Hedda still had not returned, and Valerie in particular thought a change of scenery was in order. However, Hedda was just one item on the twins’ growing list of worries.

Hayley texted Taylor in the car on the way over.

HAYLEY: YOU BRING IT UP.

TAYLOR: CAN’T U?

Kevin, Valerie, and Hayley shared the spicy Portuguese sausage, the Linguica, while vegetarian flip-flopper Taylor ordered a small Herbivore. While they waited for the pizzas to bake, all melty and crispy in the woodfired oven, Kevin and Valerie talked about the events of the day over a couple of beers. Ordinarily the girls didn’t mind hearing such updates. Their mother was very discreet about the patients at the institution. She never mentioned a name or any specifics that anyone could use to positively identify who it was she was talking about. She dropped a few words, however, that usually ensured that the interest meter was going at full speed.

“A screamer today stabbed a student nurse with a plastic fork,” she said. “Other than that it was the same crazy, just a different day.”

Kevin set down his beer and surveyed the quiet restaurant. A couple two tables away sat side-by-side, a seating arrangement that was meant to be cozy but always looked like another party had stood them up.

“Mine wasn’t much better,” he said. “Except my crazy is my editor who thinks my book is going to be done on time. Still can’t get the perp to give me an interview. Now she wants the questions in advance.”

“You’ll charm your way around that,” Valerie said. “You always do.”

With her sister engrossed in texting Colton, Taylor saw a break in the conversation and she went for it.

“Mom, Dad, we need to talk about something.” Her tone came off as a little strange and she worried for a second that her parents would think she was going to drop some major bomb on them—that she was pregnant, gay, or both.

“What is it?” Valerie asked, clearly anxious as she reached for her drink.

Kevin didn’t say a word. This was Valerie’s territory.

“Wait, it isn’t anything about me or Hayley.”

Both parents deflated a little and relaxed in their chairs.

“Of course not,” Kevin said. “Didn’t think anything was up, not at all.”

Our parents are such dorks! Cool sometimes, but dorks! Taylor thought.

“We need your help. We think—” Taylor said, noticing that Hayley had finally put down her phone. She thought Hayley’s thumbs must need a good soaking after they’d had such a workout texting. “We think,” she repeated, “it’s really only a hunch …”

Kevin narrowed his focus on the girls, looking at one, then the other, ping-pong style.

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