No Place Like Home Read Online Free PDF Page B

thought. I know that name. When I packed my files last week I read the hidden one again, the file that began with the night I killed my mother. There had been a cop named Earley mentioned in the article.
    â€œMrs. Nolan, I’ve been on the police force in this town for over thirty years,” he continued. “It’s as friendly a town as you’ll find anywhere in the world.”
    Alex, having seen the sergeant and Georgette Grove, left Jack on the pony to join us. Grove introduced him to Sergeant Earley.
    â€œSergeant, I know I speak for my wife when Isay that we don’t want to start our life in this town by signing complaints against neighborhood kids,” Alex said. “But I do hope that when you find those vandals you’ll make them understand that they’re damn lucky that we’re being this generous. Actually, I’m going to fence in the property and put up security cameras immediately. That way if any kids have ideas of more mischief they won’t get very far.”
    Earley, I thought. In my mind I was rereading the articles in the tabloids about me, the ones that had made me heartsick when I looked at them again only a week ago. There had been a picture of a cop tucking a blanket around me in the back of the police car. Officer Earley had been his name. Afterward he had commented to the press that he’d never seen a kid as composed as I had been. “She was covered with her mother’s blood, yet when I put the blanket around her, she said, ‘Thank you very much, officer.’ You’d think I had given her an ice cream cone.”
    And now I was facing this same man again, and once more expected, I guess, to thank him for the service he would now perform on my behalf.
    â€œMom, I love my pony,” Jack called. “I want to name her Lizzie, after the name on the grass. Isn’t that a good idea?”
    Lizzie!
    Before I could respond, I heard Georgette Grove murmur in dismay, “Oh, Lord, I should have known. Here comes the busybody.”
    A moment later I was being introduced to Marcella Williams, who, as she grabbed and shook my hand, told me, “I’ve been living next door for twenty-eight years, and I’m delighted to welcome my new neighbor. I’m looking forward to getting to know you and your husband and little boy.”
    Marcella Williams. She still lives here! She testified against me. I looked from one to the other: Georgette Grove, the real estate agent who had sold Alex this house; Sergeant Earley, who long ago tucked a blanket around me and then as good as told the press that I was some kind of unfeeling monster; Marcella Williams, who had verified everything Ted told the court, helping him to get the financial settlement that had left me with almost nothing.
    â€œMom, is it all right if I name her Lizzie?” Jack called.
    I have to protect him, I thought. This is what would follow me if they knew who I am. For an instant the dream I sometimes have about being in the ocean and trying to save Jack rushed into my mind. I’m in the ocean again, I thought frantically.
    Alex was looking at me, his expression puzzled. “Ceil, is it okay with you if Jack calls the pony Lizzie?”
    I felt the eyes of my husband, my neighbor, the police officer and the real estate agent watching me intently. I wanted to run away from them. Iwanted to hide. Jack, in his innocence, wanted to name his pony after the infamous child I was reputed to be.
    I had to get rid of all the memories. I had to act the part of a newcomer annoyed by vandalism. Only that, and nothing more. I forced a smile that must have come through as a grimace. “Let’s not spoil the day because of some dumb kids,” I said. “I agree. I don’t want to sign a complaint. Georgette, please get the damage repaired as fast as possible.”
    I felt as though Sergeant Earley and Marcella Williams were taking my measure. Were either one of them asking