The biggest bombshell: that Jesse is Katie’s child. Is it true? There’s no DNA test, but Ella thinks so. She sees it now. In the eyes—Jesse has Katie’s eyes. Jesse’s are fiercer, less timid, but they’re the same almond-shaped eyes.
Ella also can’t stop thinking about Chad Parke. Jesse’s story about her former teacher has the ring of truth. But so did the teacher’s version. Was Jesse obsessed with Parke and set him up when he rejected her? Or was she the victim of a predator who took advantage of a young girl who needed a father figure? Jesse is extremely smart and world-wise for someone her age. She also seems to be unusually manipulative. It’s hard to believe Jesse could be duped by Parke in the way she describes. On the other hand, she’s just a kid, a teenager. Whatever the truth, Ella needs to speak with the school counselor about the cyberbullying. Ella knows Dale Steadman—he would treat cyberbullying seriously, surely mandating that staff report all incidents to him. If the counselor failed to report it up the chain, there would be consequences.
Ella wishes she’d had time to debrief with Julia after the meeting with Jesse. But the young lawyer had gotten a call, then rushed back to the PD’s office. Ella suspects there will be many meetings today at the Union County Public Defender’s Office about Chris Ford, aka Christopher Whitaker.
She doesn’t think Chris broke any laws by representing Jesse, though it does seem like a conflict of interest. Ella feels peculiarly angry at him. At the same time, the prism through which she’s seen things has changed. If Jesse is Katie’s child, then who’s the father? Would that person have a motive to kill Katie and her friends? And who was Katie fighting with in the parking lot? Everyone thought it was Him. But maybe it wasn’t. Maybe they’d seen Him earlier and just assumed that’s who Katie was fighting with. A memory of that night floats in her head.
* * *
Ella stands at the back door to the break room. She’s hugging herself from the chill. And she doesn’t like him seeing her in the stupid uniform.
He’s holding a flower. A sad specimen of a flower, but still.
“I want to see you tonight—celebrate the New Year together,” he says.
“I’m supposed to go to a party at Brody’s with Candy and the girls after work.”
“Cool, I’ll meet you there.”
“I’m not sure … Katie…”
“You haven’t told her yet?”
Ella shakes her head. “She’s been upset about something.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know.” Ella gives him a look. “Maybe that you haven’t called her?”
“We hung out just a couple times. And I swear, I think her ex keyed my car. Too much drama.”
“How do you know I’m not dramatic?”
“Good point, you are hiding me away from your friends.”
On cue, someone comes into the break room. Ella glances behind her, and it’s Stevie grabbing some paperwork. He disappears back into the store.
“Meet me tonight,” he says. “Depending on my dad, I should be able to get there around eleven. Or if you’re worried about your friends, it doesn’t have to be at the party.”
“No, I need to tell her. I’ll see you there,” she says, guiding him outside before anyone sees him. She leans in and their lips touch. She feels electricity through every part of her. When they pull away, he has a dopey look on his face. He inhales through his nose, like he’s taking in the moment.
“Nirvana,” he says quietly.
“What?”
“Never mind, I’ll see you tonight.”
* * *
The questions return. Did he really see Katie right after that kiss? Did they really get into an argument? Did he come back at closing and kill her, and Candy, and Mandy, and Stevie? Had Ella been spared, the only one of them with a nonfatal wound, because he liked her? It all never made sense. But they found the knife in his locker.
“Hell-o.” Layla bounces into the office. Her patient’s in good spirits. Layla’s smile fades. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Ella says, pasting on a smile.
“You look like you were crying.”
“Just allergies,” Ella says.
Layla narrows her gaze.
Ella doesn’t like lying to this girl who’s bared her soul to her.
Ella says, “You know what? That’s not true. I was crying. This week has been a shit show.”
Layla smiles. “I’m glad you said that.” She plops down on the sofa. “It’s exhausting, isn’t it?”