What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen

Author:Tracy Bilen [Bilen, Tracy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781442439511
Google: uA91Ut1tpFwC
Amazon: 1442439513
Goodreads: 12723460
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2012-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

The ride to Brian Paterson’s house takes us from one dirt road to the next.

“Looks like we’ll get a ride through the car wash out of this,” says Alex.

“Sorry. Those things freak me out.” And so does Dad’s voice in my head. Don’t even think of leaving.

“It’s a little cold to be playing with hoses, but if you insist.”

“Uh-huh.” I will find you.

“Is this helping?”

“Is what helping?” Guaranteed.

“Is my talking about completely useless things helping you forget about whatever it is that’s freaking you out? And I’m not talking about the car wash.”

I smile.

“Yes and no. The distraction is good.” Because I’m close to losing it. “But I also need to think.” Because there’s got to be something I’m missing.

“I’ll shut up now.”

“Thanks.” Where are you, Mom?

As we churn up the dust on Mr. Paterson’s driveway, I try to imagine my mother living in the plain brick ranch that’s ahead of us. There’s no sign of her car.

A chill is in the air, so I pull on my hooded sweatshirt as we walk up the stone path to the front door. I ring the bell.

“Please tell me we’re not doing the Jehovah’s Witness thing,” says Alex.

I hear him, but I’m not really listening, so I don’t say anything.

“Crap. We are doing the Jehovah’s Witness thing. Okay, you do the sales pitch and I’ll stick my foot in the door when they try to slam it in our faces.”

A woman answers the door. Not my mother. I just kind of stare at her. Finally Alex nudges the side of my shoe.

“Hi,” I say. “We’re looking for Brian Paterson. He’s a friend of my mom’s. Michelle Peters.” She doesn’t react, she just stares back at me, zombie-style.

“Is he home?” Alex prods.

“Just a minute,” she says, turning away from us. Toenails click on linoleum and one of those slobbery Labrador retrievers looks up at me. Definitely not my type. Or my mom’s. Which is also what I think about Brian Paterson when he appears on the other side of the screen. Square glasses with giant frames. Reddish-brown hair. Mustache. And he’s short. Quite short, actually.

“Hi, Mr. Paterson. My name is Sara. Laurie Young said you were a friend of my mom’s.”

He stares at me just like the woman had. “And your mom is …?”

“Michelle Peters.”

“Oh, yes, of course. We used to work together. Is your mom still at Essence? Sorry about not recognizing you, Sara. When you first moved here, you must have been this high.” He put his hand roughly at the level of his Labrador’s head. Surely I had been taller than that. But I let it pass. “How is your mom?”

Either this guy hasn’t talked to my mom in months or he’s a really good actor.

“Fine,” I say. I hope.

“Would you like to come in?” he offers.

I start to say no, but figure I should at least take a peek inside. Just in case there’s something I’m missing.

“Sure, thanks.”

He holds the screen door open. As I step into the entryway, the slobbery dog presses his slimy nose against my wrist and licks my hand.

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