The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike

Author:Christopher Pike
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2022-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

9

Sheila Hardholt drove Dusty Shame back toward Chino. Along the way they stopped at a McDonald’s and had a hamburger and fries. Dusty had trouble eating with his arm in the cast and she had to help him a few times. He was curious about the murders, and asked her a number of questions while they ate. But she was not in the mood to talk and, besides, Lt. Black had asked her to keep the matter confidential. She made no mention whatsoever of Captain Gossick and Madame Scheimer. Dusty was pleasant company, though, and she was glad to have him with her. She wished she wasn’t obsessed with Matt and could have gone out with Dusty instead, just for fun.

Dusty’s arm must have been hurting worse than he let on. In the car he popped Tylenols like they were candy. She told him that he could overdose on them, but he just laughed off the warning. He said that he knew his limits.

At his house she walked him to the door. The housekeeper, Mrs. Garcia, was sitting on the front porch but quickly got up and went inside as they approached. She flashed Sheila the strangest look before she disappeared—it was almost one of relief. Sheila paid it little heed.

“Thanks for coming,” Sheila told Dusty, giving him a quick hug. “You made the long drive each way so much more enjoyable. Thanks for buying me a hamburger, too.”

“Our first date and I took you to the best of places,” he joked.

“Hey, I’m a single girl now. If you want to take me some place else, I’m available.”

His face became sad all of a sudden. “Are you serious?”

She hesitated. She had been joking. No one knew better than she what lousy company she was these days. But she did like Dusty, and wouldn’t have minded getting to know him better. Just for fun, she thought again.

She didn’t know why her invitation had depressed him so.

“Sure,” she said. “I’d love to go out with you.” She chuckled and socked him on his good arm. “Don’t look so gloomy about the prospect!”

He forced a smile. “It’s not that. I just…” His voice trailed off and he shrugged.

“It’s just what?” she asked gently.

He fidgeted and looked at the ground. “You don’t know me very well, Sheila. I’m not like the other guys at school.”

“That’s good. It makes you an individual.”

He glanced up. “No, it’s bad. It just makes me different.” He took a deep breath and expelled it on a sigh. He really was struggling with something, Sheila could see. He coughed as a tremor appeared to go through his body. “I have trouble with relationships,” he said.

“In relating to girls?”

He nodded. “It’s always been hard for me, you know, to be myself around them. No, that’s not it. I don’t want to be myself around them.”

“Why not?”

He shook his head again. “Because I’m not that nice a guy.”

She laughed. “Dusty! You are absolutely the sweetest guy I know at school. Look, you just need to get out more and get experience with girls.

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