Page 35 of The Same Flesh
“Kai’s.”Ms.Winfield must have heard something in his tone, though, because she looked at him more closely.“What’s wrong?”
“I wasn’t aware—” Tean almost said,That she was alive.But he realized, in the same moment, how idiotic that sounded.Instead, he said, “I wasn’t aware River talked to Mrs.Butler.”
“It’s Curtis now,” Ms.Winfield said.“She remarried.”And then, as though they were two of the slower students in class, she added, “Dale Curtis was his stepfather.”
“Do you know if River ever talked to her?”Jem asked.
Ms.Winfield shook her head.“I told her where the Curtis place is.I don’t have a phone number for them, but Vernal’s not that big.She could find it if she wanted to.”
“Could you give us those same directions?”Tean asked.“I think we should stop by and talk to her.”
“Oh.Oh no, I’m sorry.I thought you knew.”Ms.Winfield’s bow drooped, and she straightened it absently as she said, “Kai’s mom passed away a couple of weeks ago.It was so sad; she fell down the stairs.”
9
Back in the Subaru, Jem said, “There’s no way that was an accident.”
Tean shook his head, but he didn’t say anything.
“Come on,” Jem said.“River shows up here, Ms.Winfield points her to Kai’s mom, then River dies, and then the mom dies.”
“I don’t know,” Tean said.“I mean, I see your point, but I need to think about it.”
Jem opened his mouth to try again—what were the odds that itcouldbe a coincidence?—but before he could say anything, his phone buzzed.
It was a text from Daniel that said:Are you going to my meet
A moment later the phone buzzed again:Or are you in jail
“That little bitch,” Jem said, but a smile slipped out—more relief than amusement.He angled the phone to show Tean.
“I told you he wouldn’t stay mad at you,” Tean said.
“He’s definitely still pissed.”Jem considered the messages again.“He gets this from his father’s side, you know.”
Tean looked like he was trying to be very patient right then.
Jem tossed the phone in Tean’s lap and put the Subaru into reverse.“Tell him he’s a little bitch.”
“I’m not going to tell a fifteen-year-old that he’s a little bitch.”
“But he won’t know it’s you.He’ll think it’s me.”
“That doesn’t make it better, Jem.”
“Tell him I’m going to beat his ass.”
Tean started tapping out a message on the phone.
“And tell him I’m still faster,” Jem added as he steered them out of the parking lot.
“His meet is at five.”Tean glanced at the clock.“We’re going to be late.”
“Nah, babe.I’ll get us there in time.What’d he say when you told him he was a little bitch?Did he have a good comeback?”
Tean locked the phone and said, “He said he’s hungry.”
“Yeah, he’s fifteen.”
