Save Me - Lisa Scottoline [42]
“Of course.”
“Kristen is young, and she has lots of growing up to do. She needs to learn judgment.”
“Do you really think so?” Rose asked, defensively. “I think she’s such a great teacher.”
“Experience tells, in my opinion.” Mrs. Nuru sniffed, glancing at the other teachers. “I should go, they’re waiting. Will Melly be in school tomorrow?”
“I’m not sure I’ll send her.” Rose remembered that Mrs. Nuru thought Melly was too sensitive, so she didn’t elaborate. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“If she’s well enough, I’d send her. If you decide not to, give her my best.”
“Will do, thanks. Bye now.” Rose turned and went back to the line, trying not to notice that people started whispering among themselves when they spotted her.
“Everything okay?” Annie asked, when Rose got back to the line.
“I guess. She’s upset. They all are.” Rose was troubled by what Mrs. Nuru had said about Kristen, and now heads were turning and people were talking about them. “Um, look around.”
“I know, I noticed before you did. And here comes the press.”
Rose turned to see Tanya Robertson approaching from the left. Her crew followed, switching on klieglights, and the cameraman started filming, his camera perched on his shoulder.
“Ms. McKenna, please.” Tanya thrust her microphone forward. “Can’t we chat for a moment?”
“No comment.” Rose put up a hand, though she knew it would make her look bad on TV. “Please, show some respect.”
“We’re on public property, and if we could speak one-on-one, as I did with Eileen, this would go much easier. Did you see my interview with her? Do you have a response to her allegations about you?”
“I said, no comment.” Rose didn’t look over. She didn’t know Eileen had made allegations against her. The women in front of her edged away, and other people in the line kept turning around, whispering, and staring at them.
Tanya held her microphone out. “Eileen alleges that you intentionally left Amanda because you think she teases your child, and you’ve even called her about that. Do you have animosity for Amanda?”
“Stop it!” Annie interrupted, stepping over. “Are you insane? If you knew this woman, you’d never say anything like that!”
“Annie, no, it’s okay.” Rose put a hand on her arm, but Annie wasn’t listening.
“This is harassment. I’m calling the cops. Where are the cops?” Annie looked around, then tried to flag down a funeral home employee in a gray suit, who was directing traffic. “Sir? Sir!”
“Annie, that’s okay, no.” Rose wanted to defuse the situation. Everyone was watching, and a short woman in a black pantsuit got out of line and stalked toward them, her forehead creased with anger.
“How can you show your face here?” the woman shouted, and people reacted with shock, chatter, and nervous laughter.
Rose edged away from the woman. The situation was getting out of hand, and she hadn’t counted on the press being there. “Annie, we should get—”
“Aren’t you ashamed?” The woman kept charging toward her, then pointed down the street. “Get out of here. You don’t belong here.”
“What?” Annie shouted at the woman, in disbelief. “What’s the matter with you? She didn’t do anything wrong, and she has every right to be here. What is this, Salem?”
Tanya held the microphone out, recording audio. The cameraman zoomed in, the large black lens telescoping forward and back.
The woman was yelling, “She abandoned a child in the fire, to burn alive!”
“You’re wrong!” Annie yelled back. “She tried to get the girl out, but she must have run back in!”
“How dare you blame that child? She’s a child! A little girl!”
“Ladies, please!” The funeral home employee came over, waving his hands. He was bald and on the slight side. “This is inappropriate at such a time. Please.”
“Sorry, we’re leaving.” Rose took Annie’s arm, but she pulled it away and pointed at the woman.
“This woman is insane!” Then Annie pointed at Tanya. “And this woman is harassing us to sell commercial time on TV, so a grateful nation can have enough toothpaste, beer, and deodorant!”
“Let’s go.” Rose hustled Annie away,