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By Root 500 0

been killed by one of two men he owed a great deal of money to: Shane Gokey or Gordon Pelletier, both of whom were now dead. Everyone seemed glad to accept this version of eventsan answer, however horrible, was better than simply not knowing. Crowley made it clear that the case was by no means closed, which meant, to Rhonda, that there would always be the possibility of being caught. Rhonda was no idiot. She knew that with modern forensics, some small piece of evidencea hair or a buttonand they would be caught. Even Rhonda, who hadnt known about the murder but had helped to hide the body, and later, when she learned the truth, said nothing. She also knew that the truth had a funny way of surfacing when you least expected it. Ten years down the road there might be a knock on her door, and there would be Crowley to say, I know what you did.

THE WORST THINGis, Clem said, we may never know what really happened. And of course theres part of me thatll always kick myself in the ass for not loaning Daniel the money he asked for that summer to pay back those guys. The money that might have saved his life.

The little radio in the corner of the kitchen was playing softly, and Van Morrison came on. Clem walked over and turned it up. God, Daniel loved this song, he said. He held the radio in his hands, swaying a little as he gazed out the porch window, his eyes focused on an imaginary figure in the distance.

He has no idea, Rhonda thought. No idea what Daniel was doing to Lizzy, about what had really happened that last night. And if Daniels best friend didnt know, maybe their secret was safe.

Justine came into the kitchen, wearing a sensible black dressno sweat suit today. Her arms were loaded with dirty plates and bowls. She set them down in the sink with a small crash, stirring Clem from his dreams.

Need some help? he asked his wife.

She shook her head, started to fill the sink with water, squirted in the soap, her back to Clem, Rhonda, and the radio.

Rhonda remembered the third degree her mother had given her each time she came back from spending the night at Lizzys house:What did you do? How late were you up? Was Aggie there? Peter? Daniel?

Daniel.

Oh my God, she knew all along.Rhonda nearly said the words out loud. For an instant, she imagined placing her hands on her mothers square shoulders, turning her around so that they were face-to-face, and saying,You knew what Daniel was doing, didnt you?

She gripped the back of a kitchen chair instead.

You sure we cant give you a hand? Clem asked. Theres a lot of cleanup.

Thats okay, dear. Cleaning up is what I do best, Justine said.

A chill ran through Rhonda, beginning at the scar on her forehead and racing all the way down to her toes.Cleaning up . Was it possible that Justine knew not just about the abuse but about what finally ended it? Had throwing away Lizzys bloody clothes been more than just simple housekeeping?

Rhonda squeezed the chair tighter.

Can you turn that up? Justine said, her back still to them. I want to hear the weather.

Clem turned the radio up and the DJ came on to give the top of the hour news. The lead story was that Ernestine Floruccis body had been found by some campers on the north side of the lake early that morning.

Rhonda let out a squeaky sigh, felt her fingers slip off the chair.

Im sorry, Ronnie, Clem said, still holding the radio in his hands. He set it back down on the counter carefully, like it might be a bomb.

Rhonda went out to the porch, where Suzy and Kim were giggling over their cards. You girls want to take a walk? she asked.

Suzy nodded, said, I know where theres a submarine. Rhondas stomach went cold as she followed the skipping girls across the yard and down the path that led to their old stage.

Rhonda hadnt been into the woods in years. Shortly after the play, theyd all stopped using the path that connected their houses, choosing to walk back and forth the long way, down the road. Now Rhonda understood why.

The woods seemed smaller, to Rhonda, closer somehow. The trees