Beyond Suspicion Read Online Free PDF Page B

said I hated him, but I didn’t mean it. I truly love him, Mom. Honest I do.”
    Her mom sank next to her and hugged her. Shelby’s whole body seemed to release whatever was holding her up—like air from a balloon. Her mother’s voice softened, the doubt gone from her eyes. “I know that, sweetie.” She patted her lap for Shelby to lay her head there as she had when she was six. “Tell me.” She blew her nose in one of the wet towels. “What van? What happened?”
    Shelby settled her head in her mother’s lap and as her mother stroked her hair she started to speak. But the loud, knuckled rap on the door silenced her.
    â€œWe’ll be out in a minute!” Her mother said in an annoyed voice.
    â€œDo you need anything?” Detective Grimes asked.
    â€œNo! Just give us a minute.” Her mother lowered her voice. “Better hurry, Shelby.”
    Shelby talked as her mother stroked her hair, pulling wisps away from her eyes. She told her about the van that she’d seen parked outside the vacant house all week, and how she’d seen them again that day, driving away. “I didn’t know they had driven to the park until I saw them leave.”
    â€œGo on.”
    Shelby told her about walking through the park and the joggers and how crowded it was. When she got to the part about the firecrackers her mother repeated the word. “Firecrackers?”
    â€œYes.” Shelby sat up. “While we were all watching them, that’s when they took Josh.”
    â€œAnd you didn’t see anything?”
    Shelby shook her head. “Mom, they have text messages I wrote to Valerie and Rachel.” She covered her eyes. “They twisted the meaning. When I said he would be sorry, I meant I wouldn’t answer him when he spoke to me and things like that.”
    Her mother agreed with a slight grin: “You do know which of Roger’s buttons to push.”
    Shelby returned the grin, thinking how strange it was that in this crisis they found something to smile about.
    â€œMom, why didn’t you come to see me? I kept waiting for you and they kept telling me you were busy. I thought you, uh, you know, blamed me for what happened.”
    â€œThey lied to us about each other. First they kept Roger and me busy getting a picture of Josh—which was okay, they need that. Then they kept asking questions that are supposed to help find him. Every time I asked about you, they told me not to worry, that you were doing fine and being a real help to them. I’m sorry, Shelby, I had no idea they would think you did something so horrible. You’re not going to talk to them anymore.”
    She took Shelby’s face in her hands again and kissed her on the forehead. “We’re going home.”
    After they both washed their faces, Shelby put her glasses back on. She was an ugly mess, but right now she didn’t care. Josh was all that mattered.
    The detectives were waiting in the hall outside the bathroom. They stood tall when the door opened. Shelby watched her mother march up to them. “How dare you browbeat a fifteen-year-old this way after what she’s been through? And accuse her of dumping her little brother’s body? What is the matter with you two? I’m taking her home right now.”
    â€œMrs. Butler, we’re not finished questioning her,” Detective Grimes said.
    â€œOh, yes you are.” She glared at them. “She’s answered all of your questions and has nothing else to say.”
    Detective Rutherford snorted and put his hands on his hips, “I guess I was wrong and you don’t care if we find your baby.”
    Shelby gasped, covering her mouth. What a terrible thing to say. He really was a horrible man.
    Detective Grimes flung a shocked look at his partner: “What the…?” He bit off his words.
    Shelby’s mother stiffened. “That was cruel.” Tears rolled down her