I Rize Read Online Free PDF Page B

you had a child. You hear her screams over the phone. Not able to help. Not able to say a word. Her cries fill your ears with unpleasant thoughts. There is nothing between the both of you but a phone. All you could do was sit and wait, unable to physically help, but only hear your child die.”
    Mickey rushed out of the room and accidentally bumped into Junior. Their eyes connected without the need for words. Junior quickly left the police station in tears, causing Detective Miller to run after him.
    “How do you know Mickey?”
    Junior wiped his tears away and said, “I’m Junior. Mickey and I are in a relationship.”
    Detective Miller pulled a tissue from his front pocket. “I did not get a chance to introduce myself earlier. He extended his hand for a greeting. “I’m Detective Miller, the lead detective on the case. I know you and Adny are close.”
    “We are. She’s my best friend. I want to find out what happened just as much as anyone else does.”
    “Junior, I am here to help you.” He pulled out a business card from his pocket, motioning for Junior to take it. “Please do not hesitate to call.”
    Junior took a moment to look over the card before responding. He noticed the caption above Detective Miller’s head read: CALL THE THRILL SEEKER FOR JUSTICE .
    “Detective, I know of a few names you could start with.”
    Junior chuckled to himself at the excitement the detective expressed when he pulled out his pen and writing pad.
    “May I have their names?”
    “They are Shandi Downey, Madison Cooper, and Adny’s stepsister, Terri Storm.”
    “Were they her friends?”
    “No, sir, not even close.” Detective Miller tilted his hat to the side. “If you have time tomorrow, I want to talk in my office.”
    Junior nodded and got into his car to go home for the evening.
     
    W hen Junior walked into the quaint house that evening, the smell of spaghetti caused his stomach to rumble louder. He walked into the dining room and observed how everyone ate in silence. Adny’s usual seat was left empty. Everyone looked down at their plates, not interacting with one another. Usually, dinnertime was the family’s moment to connect, not to divide.
    Darla and Junior left the table and sat on the edge of the stair railing from above. They both watched Michelle get up from her seat and lean down beside Adny’s favorite chair in prayer. It was the only chair that faced the television. It was the perfect spot for sitting during basketball season—the family’s favorite pastime.
    Shandi came over to spend the night and followed Terri to go talk on the stairs. When Junior heard them converse from the bottom of the stairs, he told Darla to go to her room so she wouldn’t hear the harsh banter heard so many times about Adny during school, but she didn’t listen.
    “Shandi, I was right. Even when Adny is gone, Little Miss Perfect still gets all the attention.”
    Shandi rocked back and forth, holding her stomach. Terri nudged her side to make her stop. “You have been acting weird ever since we stayed the night at my boyfriend’s house last year. Are you all right?”
    Shandi didn’t respond and looked past her to a picture of Adny on the wall.
    “Shandi, I want the chance to rip the long hair off her tiny little head.” They ran back up to Terri’s room. Chatter filled the air until they fell asleep.
     
    E very night when everyone fell asleep, Michelle would go upstairs and check on the kids before she went to bed. She first went into Darla’s room and saw her bundled up under the Disney princess covers.
    She sat up in the bed beside Darla. “Darla, you can’t sleep?”
    “No. I miss Adny too much, Momma. Is she coming home from the hospital soon?”
    She kissed Darla on her forehead. “Baby, hopefully sooner than we think.”
    Darla lifted her body up against the headboard. “Momma, earlier today me and Junior heard Terri and her friend talking about Adny on the stairs.”
    Michelle narrowed her eyebrows.