The Silent Girl: An absolutely gripping mystery thriller full of suspense by Kelly Heard

Author:Kelly Heard
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800194359
Publisher: Bookouture

Twenty-Nine

Nathaniel doesn’t speak, so I wait a few moments. “It was my fault,” he says, finally.

Lincoln’s a fast little boy and it wasn’t my fault that he fell. I know that. But it would be better if it were my fault than for Nathaniel to feel this way; I could forgive myself for a mistake. “I saw him running that way and I didn’t catch up fast enough.”

Nathaniel shakes his head. “I was so far away.” He speaks in a low, breathy voice, mumbling through his hands. “I knew I needed to move, and I couldn’t.”

“You did move,” I say. “You were there by the time I got him out of the water.”

“I didn’t know you could swim.” Now, he turns to focus on me.

“I wasn’t a hundred percent sure either,” I say, moving past it. “It’s nothing, really. Lincoln is fine, okay?” He knows that, though, and I see that there’s more at work here. I hesitate, then let myself reach over to rest a hand on the back of his neck, sweeping softly over his shoulder blades. “Your boy’s fine,” I repeat, letting my voice drop low and soft, resisting the inclination to slip my hand under the collar of his shirt. With an honest curiosity, I lean over to look into his eyes. “Hey, look at me. What about you?”

“Huh?”

“Are you okay?” I ask. He nods his head, too quickly, and I watch him waiting for his real answer.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he says, talking through his teeth. My palm comes to rest just beneath his shoulder blades, and suddenly I feel him flinch, drawing slightly away from me.

I pull my hand back, closing it into a fist, as if I could keep something of him, though I know I can’t.

“Can I say something?” When I speak, he turns to face me. “I don’t know you—I know that. But there’s something that’s plain to me, as an—” I pause and choose my next words carefully. They ring hollow. “As an objective observer.”

“What’s that?”

“You, and Selena? It’s out of balance. Something isn’t fair. Whatever this is—” I try to indicate this weight he carries. “It has reins, and she is steering it. I’m not saying her reasons are wrong, I don’t know those, but it isn’t quite right, either.”

He sighs, and I see that he knows this, somehow. He’s punishing himself, then. “If you knew, you wouldn’t say that.”

“Try it. I bet I would.” I shrug. “You can tell me. I might remember where my real home is and be gone in the morning.”

“What was it like?” he asks. “Jumping in after him, I mean.”

“It happened fast, honestly. I didn’t really think about it. But that pond water—yuck!” I tilt my head, wondering if he understands, then see a sly smile. “Don’t change the subject.” He stretches his hands out, cracking knuckles.

“So, back up, I guess, fifteen years. I grew up an hour or so from here. Enlisted the year after high school. Didn’t know what else to do with myself, and, honestly, I thought I could get my education paid for.

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