On the Edge Read Online Free PDF Page A

testify?” asked Josh, the sports writer.
    I nodded.
    â€œMaybe they’ll cover the trial on TV,” said a freshman named Arleth. “You could be famous!”
    â€œIt’s not going to be on TV,” I said. I hadn’t even considered that. “Anyway, let’s move on to the—”
    â€œEven if you can’t get specific about the case, you should still write an article about gangs,” Cassidy said. “Don’t you want to bring attention to the problem?”
    My face heated up. In true Cassidy style, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She’d given me a hard time ever since I became editor, a position she’d desperately wanted. Her greatest wish was to make me look incompetent.
    Right now, she’d settled for making me look insensitive. I glanced at Ms. Halsall, who sat up on a desk, eating carrot sticks. Forty-something and hip, she had a streak of gray at the front of her wild red hair. Ms. Halsall watched me intently, not sparing a glance at Cassidy. It reminded me that I was the one in charge here.
    I wasn’t going to let Cassidy force me into an I’m not in the right space to write about this speech. I was the editor, right?
    â€œI’ve already started work on a two-parter about transitioning to college,” I said, turning away from Cassidy. “Anyone want to do an article on gang violence, as she suggested?”
    There were no takers.
    â€œCassidy, what about you?” I asked.
    â€œI can’t, I’m covering the spring play.”
    â€œAll right, then. Moving along.”
    I caught a glimmer of approval in Ms. Halsall’s eyes. For once, I’d managed to shut Cassidy down.
    That night, the doorbell rang. Dex went wild, launching himself at the front door, scratching and barking. I peered through the peephole.
    Detective Gutierrez. I was surprised that he was showing up at seven o’clock at night, but then, this was probably the start of his shift. He was driving an unmarked car, not that it mattered much. The whole neighborhood already knew I’d been talking to the cops.
    Although Gutierrez was a solid, stocky guy, the sound of Dex’s barking made him scoot back from the door.
    â€œJust a second!” I put Dex out back, then returned to open the door. “Sorry, he gets excited.”
    â€œA dog like that’s better than any burglar alarm,” he said, walking in. He wore crisp office clothes and looked freshly shaved. “We use German shepherds in our canine units. They’re smart dogs.”
    â€œI know.” I led him to the living room, which was messy with dog toys and Mom’s tabloids. My laptop and the remains of my dinner sat on the coffee table.
    â€œI’m sorry to bother you, Maddie. But I wanted to update you on what’s happening.”
    I moved a copy of Us Weekly off the couch and we both sat down.
    â€œThe two men you identified, Ramon Santiago and Diego Gomez, were arraigned earlier this week and charged with second-degree murder.”
    â€œI know. Saw it on the news.”
    â€œJudge Conway set their bonds at a million dollars. We’re looking at a trial date of August seventeenth of next year.”
    â€œNext year?” I wanted this over yesterday, not next year.
    â€œThe timeline’s standard, unfortunately. You’ll need to be available for at least a week, maybe more. The DA’s office will be in touch with you long before that to go over your testimony and coach you on what to expect on the witness stand.”
    â€œAll right.” I’d seen enough crime shows to know how it works.
    He cleared his throat. “You’ll be an excellent witness, Maddie. You’ve got the confidence not to let the defense cut you down.” He gave a meaningful pause. “You did the right thing by speaking out.”
    Of course I had. But hearing him say it didn’t bring me any comfort. It felt like there was an unsaid ending to