I tapped the table, remembering.
“That was the day we got our college
acceptances. I got into a teaching college.
We were all going to celebrate at Mrs. Davies‘
house.”
“When we got there, her parents had made a
huge meal. Bigger than Christmas.”
“I was the youngest. They sat me next to Mrs.
Davies.”
My voice was calm, even.
Like I was describing a feel–good movie.
“Some of the guys wanted to drink. They sent
me to get the beer.”
L
I smiled, remembering the moment.
“I stood outside and pushed the button on the
remote. Then Mrs. Davies‘ house exploded.”
“Windows shattered, black smoke poured
out.”
I got excited, waving my hands as I spoke.
“Everyone ran outside, asking what
happened.”
“I went inside. The whole house was charred.”
“Luckily, no one lived next door, so I only
killed my classmates.”
Dr. Evans frowned. Her sympathy was gone,
replaced by disgust.
く
“Some of them were torn to pieces. Some
were burned black. You couldn’t tell who was
who.”
“When I went upstairs, Mrs. Davies was still
holding her beer. Frozen in time.”
“My bomb stopped her forever.”
I got more and more excited. Tears almost
came to my eyes.
Everyone in the room looked sick.
Harding slammed the table.
“Enough! Tell us why you killed them.”
“Ashley, don’t play games with me. There’s a
reason.”
く
I knew Harding was pushing me.
He wanted the real reason.
I frowned, pouting.
“What reason? There’s no reason.”
“You want me to make one up?”
It was almost a whine, but coming from a
murderer, it was terrifying.
“Detective, I confessed. Can’t you just put me
in prison?”
I rattled my handcuffs.
“These are uncomfortable.”
Г
Harding stared at me, watching my face.
Then another cop came in.
He whispered something to Harding and left.
Harding turned to me. “You got a scholarship
to Harvard?”
“Then why did you take the SATS? Why go to
a teaching college? Shouldn’t you be going
Ivy League?”
I shrugged. “I choked.”
Another cop came in. “Detective Harding, we
found the deceased’s ex–wife. She says he
abused his kids. He used to hang them upside
down.”
<
“She divorced him because she couldn’t take
it anymore.”
Harding’s sharp eyes landed on me. He
reached out and rolled up my sleeve.
But my arm was clean.
I stared at Harding, laughing. “Officer, if he
only abused me, why would I kill the whole
class?”
Chapter 2
“You’re saying you killed them because of
something else?”
I stayed silent. Harding kept staring.
He didn’t push me. He turned and sat back
down, lighting a cigarette. “Tell me why you
didn’t go to Harvard.”
He slid a notebook across the table.
“Your diary shows you wanted Harvard your
whole life. You made it. Why give it up?”
I looked down at my wrists, already red from
the handcuffs.
“No reason. Mrs. Davies and the others didn’t
want me to go.”
Dr. Evans looked confused. “That’s a lie! She
would have been so proud! Why wouldn’t she want you to go?”
“We don’t get kids going to Ivy League often. Please, don’t lie anymore ”
く
She slammed her hand on the table.
I glanced at her. Yeah, a teacher not wanting
a kid to go to Harvard? Sounded crazy.
Harding gave Dr. Evans a look. “Dr. Evans,
hold on.”
“Why didn’t they want you to go?” He asked.
I sighed. “Because I was the youngest…‘
11
“They took care of me, loved me, helped me.
But they wouldn’t let me go to Harvard.”
