CHAPTER 3

ANNE

I held my breath as the key turned in the lock, afraid of what we'd find behind the door.

The gray metal panel swung open.

The sick smell of burning plastic poured over us. Smoke pooled at the ceiling.

The administrator cursed and rushed into the utility room. He grabbed a fire extinguisher off the wall and located the small electrical fire in the back corner.

A short blast of the extinguisher and the fire went out.

He joined is outside the door, coughing and waving at the air.

He started at me with a mixture of amazement and fear. "How did you know?"

I squeezed Grandma Jess's hand, frightened that I had been right. "I'm glad you put it out. I was scared and no one was listening to me."

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Did you start this fire?"

"Of course she didn't,"Grandma Jess snapped at the man."How could she? Ths door was locked."

The man backed away from me, not wanting to hear how I knew.

The smoke had cleared from the room. He put the extinguisher back and hurried away shaking his head.

"Can we go home now?" I pleaded with Grandma Jess. " There's no way I'm going back to the game and I'm never coming back to school."

"It will blow over," Grandma Jess soothed. "Things always blow over."

But it didn't blow over.

Grandma Jess made me go back to school no matter how hard I begged. High school kids are cruel. Dramatically yelling "Fire!" when they saw me in the hall became a running joke.

The rumor spread I had psychically sensed the fire. The town ate that up. I had grown used to the sidelong glances and barely hidden comments behind my back when I lost my parents. Crazy, freak and witch were just new words added to the gossip's mouths.

Fake was another popular word.

No one mentioned the fire was real, or that I saved countless lives.

Emily Rose enjoyed throwing it in my face tonight. Emily had been a cheerleader at the basket ball game and had a front row seat to my screaming on the court.

I scream now in my car.

I turn the key, and the Charger rumbles to life.

I stomp on the gas pedal and head out into the country, hoping a drive through the corn fields will take the edge off my anger.

The charger and I speed down the wet country roads, music blaring from the battered speakers. I yearn to see something new to go where no one knows me.

The rain stops, and I keep driving.

The roads start to dry, and I keep driving.

Fours towns away, I stop for gas and a sandwich. I sit at a small table in the gas station, munching my tasteless ham and cheese. Strangers come and go. No one even glances at me.

I bask in the anonymity.

It's a straight shot down the four-lane highway to home. A much quicker path than the winding way I came. Much more traffic, too.

A red Camaro pulls past me. Feeling ornery, I push the gas, hoping to get the Camaro to race.

The Charger rumbles louder, gains speed. I push the pedal harder, slide past the Camaro. It doesn't take the bait. Letting up on the gas, I slip back in line next to the red car. The middle aged driver ignores me, unimpressed with my antics. He keeps his attention on the road like a responsible driver should.

I'm not in a responsible mood.

I slam the pedal and dart ahead with a little squeal of the tires. The speed intoxicates me. What's the point in being called crazy of you can't act crazy once in a while?

Flying down the left lane, I pass a small car, a pick-up truck and a mini van. "Ear my dust!" I yell dramatically and laugh out loud at my childishness. "Whoo-whoo!"

A sedan rises up on my right. I push the gas even harder, ready to pass it in a flash. Pulling alongside the sedan, I look towards the driver, laughing and enjoying myself.

I don't see his face. The insignia on his car door grabs my attention instead.

Red and Blue lights flick on, their intention clear.

"Crap on a cracker!" I yell at the dash board.

Slowing down, I pull over to the gravel shoulder of the highway, fear swimming in my gut.

The cop parks behind me and the officer takes his time reaching my window.

"Please don't be Lucas. Please don't be Lucas." I repeat as I watch the officer approach in my side view mirror. My brother Lucas is head detective with the River Bend police department. Unlikely he's out doing traffic stops, but on a small force, everyone pitches in.

The officer knocks on my window. I should have rolled it down already. I know the drill well enough. I push the button and the tinted window slides down, revealing crisp blue eyes and neatly cut hair.

"Thank God, Nath, it's just you." Lucas doesn't have to pull over his crazy sister.

"Anne, what are you doing out here driving so fast?" Nath Wuernos leans his forearms on my open window. "You could kill someone driving like that." My brother's partner normally smiles when he sees me, but not tonight.

"I didn't know you did traffic stops, Officer." I school my face to look innocent and sweet, look up through my lashes and blink in an exaggerated way.

Nath sees through my ploy. "Don't try that flirty stuff on me, Anne. I know you too well to think you're serious." His face softens.

"It was worth a try." The smile on my face surprises me. "Why are you out here doing traffic? No big cases to investigate right now?"

"Soniya wants to take ballet lessons. I'm picking up a few extra shifts to help pay for them."

"How is Soniya? I haven't seen her in a long time."

"Sassy as ever and growing like a weed. She was here this weekend, but is back in Indianapolis with her mom now." I catch the note of longing in his voice. Nath and Mary had a short, ill- advised marriage. He met her in Indianapolis on his first post as a police officer, but he brought her back to River Bend to raise their daughter Soniya. Mary didn't like the small town life and soon left Nath and headed back to big city, taking Soniya with her. Nath was well established in the police department by then, and decided to stay on. He gets to see Nath every other weekend.

Silence fills the car, the red and blue lights dance across my dashboard. Nath looks at my mouth, waiting for me to say something.

A car rushes past us on the highway, bring us back to present. Nath places his hands on the window. "Right, speeding. You didn't tell me why you are driving so fast . Everything okay?"

His interest both touches and annoys me. "Why wouldn't it be?"

He blows out air in exasperation. "Have you been drinking tonight?"

"Why's that always the first question you guys ask?" I try on the sweet innocent face again.

Nath chuckles, making his tool belt jangle. The sounds mix together nicely. "Answer my questions, Anne? Have you been drinking? I can give you a breathalyzer if I need to."

"You don't want to do that. You want to let me go home with a warning. I will drive slow and safe the whole way. Just like Grandma Jess on her way to church."

This really makes him laugh , jangling his tools again. "Don't drive like Grandma Jess, or I'll have to haul you into lock up."

"So I can go home then?" I ask sweetly.

He searches my face with his trained cop eyes, looking for signs of impairment. His eyes linger a moment on my lips again. I lick at the sudden dryness.

"I'll give you a warning this time. But no more late night racing. Or any racing for that matter."

He straightens, removing himself from my open window.

"Thank you, Nath," I say earnestly. "You won't tell Lucas, will you?" I fingered the edge of my jacket, waiting for his answer.

"I won't tell Lucas. Your secret's safe with me. Now go home and go to bed." He turns on his heel, raising a hand in a half- wave good-bye. I watch him in the side-view mirror all the way back to his car.

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