Without Mercy - Lisa Jackson [85]
As if reading her mind, he stared at her a second too long, then turned away, leaving her to bob and weave her way past a few others on her way to the door.
Once outside, she took in a huge breath of air. Her nerves were as tight as piano wire from the ordeal of keeping up her facade, and she’d just arrived! Maybe it would get easier as she went along. She’d never been a great liar, and now she had to stay on her toes, not let anything slip.
Lost in thought, she followed a dark path toward Stanton House and nearly jumped out of her skin when a box hedge shook, a dark figure rising behind the snow-covered green.
“What the hell!” Jules backed away, nearly falling into a mound of snow at the edge of the walkway. She caught her balance as she recognized her sister. “What’re you doing?”
“We have to talk,” Shay said in a stage whisper as she fell into step beside her. “Just keep walking and tell me how you think taking a job here is going to get me out.” Her hazel eyes flashed with anger beneath the brim of a watch cap with the Blue Rock insignia on it.
“I told you already.”
“My roommate died last night.” Shaylee’s lower lip wobbled on a sob. “They’re thinking that somebody here killed her!”
“I know that, Shay. I’m so sorry.”
“So let’s go.”
“We can’t just walk out of this place. Remember: A judge put you here.”
“I know, but people are being killed!” Shay sniffed, starting to hyperventilate.
Jules put a steadying hand on her sister’s back. “Hey, calm down. Just hang in there.”
“I thought you were going to help.”
“I am.”
“Is anything wrong?” Trent’s voice boomed from behind them, and Shay actually darted away from Jules as Trent approached.
“I’m handling it,” Jules said. Dear God, she didn’t want Shay to see her with Trent and somehow put two and two together. Shay might remember him. “Thanks, Mr. Trent.”
“No problem. Shaylee’s one of the students in my pod.”
“Everything’s cool,” Shay said without an ounce of conviction.
“You’re sure? I know this has been traumatic for you, what with Nona being your roommate and all.”
“Hey, I don’t need this. I’ve already had the interrogation from the cops and some ‘counseling’ from Dr. Williams, so don’t go there with me, okay?” Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Jules and Trent standing so close together. “What is this, some kind of tag team?”
“Hey!” Trent said, but Shaylee was already jogging off toward the dorm.
Jules whirled on him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her voice low, all her pent-up rage and frustration exploding. “Did you really think you could help? I was handling things!”
“Didn’t look that way.”
“She’s my sister,” Jules hissed.
“Not here she isn’t,” Trent fired back. “Remember that. If you insist on playing this charade, then do it right. You don’t know me, and you damned well don’t know her. She’s in my unit, so it’s only right that I would step in, Jules. Get it straight.”
“Look, Shay’s scared to death, and I don’t blame her. You don’t seem able to do much about that, do you? Wasn’t the girl who died, Nona, one of the students in your pod or unit or group or whatever the hell you call it?”
He just stared at her.
“I thought so.” So angry she was shaking, she stepped closer to him. “We can work on this together, or we can fight about it, but don’t tell me how to deal with my sister. I’ve had a hell of a lot more practice at it than you have!”
She noticed a couple of students, prayer books and candles in hand, heading in their direction and decided to end the conversation.
“I’ll see you at the vigil,” she said, forcing a lightness in her voice.
Trent didn’t answer as she turned away and headed to her quarters. Once at Stanton House, she clambered up the stairs and into her room, where she shut the door and leaned hard against it.
Oh, God, what a day!
Her head was throbbing.
What were the chances of having to deal with Cooper again.