Suspicions Read Online Free PDF

to
school.” She paused, wanting to change the subject. “In fact, I
need to wake Nikki.”
    Curled up on her bed and clutching her
special pink blanket, Nikki slept soundly. Stacey woke her and
helped her pick out her clothes.
    “Mommy? Robby said something bad happened to
Kyle. What was it?” Nikki looked at her mother with wide, innocent
eyes.
    Stacey suspected he had told her that because
he had seen the police car parked across the street the previous
evening. “Nothing's happened to Kyle, sweetheart. He's probably
home right now.” At least Stacey hoped that was true.
    “Okay. Can I have lots of syrup on my
pancakes?”
* * *
    Robby dragged his feet as the trio walked to
school. Several times Stacey had to tell him to hurry up or they
would be late. When they neared some low bushes near the school,
Robby stopped dead in his tracks and stared at a spot about a
hundred yards away.
    “Robby, come on. You don't want to be late do
you?” She gave him a gentle shove. He didn't seem to hear her at
first and just continued staring. Finally he moved forward,
dragging his feet even more than before.
    When they reached his classroom door, Stacey
bent down to give him a kiss. He hugged her tightly and didn't let
go for several seconds.
    What is going on with him? She thought. She
didn’t think he’d heard anything about Kyle yet, but wondered how
long that would last. “I'll meet you here after school. Don't leave
until I get here, okay?”
    He nodded and went in. Stacey watched him go
and saw the bright green clovers hanging on the wall and remembered
that just the day before Kyle had helped Mrs. Hershfield hang them
there.
    After taking Nikki to her first grade class,
Stacey quickly walked toward home. She headed directly to Amanda’s
house, but before she was able to cross the street, her next-door
neighbor, Margie, ran out the front door and grabbed her arm.
    Margie Thompson was a short woman. Her thin
hair was tightly curled and she wore no makeup. Wearing sweats and
a T-shirt, she still had slippers on her feet as she rushed toward
Stacey. “Do you know why the police were at the Stone’s house
yesterday?” she gasped.
    Anxious to know whether Kyle had been found,
Stacey didn't want to stop and speak with her neighbor. Not only
that, she’d had problems with Margie in the past and didn't want to
tell her anything more than necessary. Besides, Stacey reasoned,
Kyle could be home right now.
    “Were the police there?” Stacey asked,
deciding to play dumb.
    “Oh yeah,” Margie said, as if she had the big
news of the day. “They were there last evening.” She looked over
her shoulder at her house. “It was right after I got home from the
store. I saw them pull up in front of the Stone's house. They were
there for about twenty minutes. And then I saw them talking to some
of the neighbors.” She looked disappointed. “I had to leave before
they got to my house.” She looked at Stacey with open curiosity.
“Did they get to your house?”
    She shook her head. “Not while I was
home.”
    “Oh.” She paused. “What do you think’s going
on?”
    Stacey gave Margie a small smile. “Have you
spoken to Amanda?”
    “No.”
    “I've got to go now.” Stacey began backing
up.
    Margie wasn't willing to release her from
questioning yet. “Where are you going?”
    “Over to Amanda's house.”
    “Oh! Tell me what happened. Okay?”
    “I’ll see you later,” Stacey said before
turning and crossing the street to Amanda’s house. Hesitating
before knocking, she wondered what news would be waiting inside.
She had to knock several times before Amanda answered the door.
There were dark circles under her eyes and she confirmed Stacey’s
guess that she hadn’t slept much the night before.
    Amanda opened the door wider and allowed
Stacey to enter. All the curtains were drawn and the lights were
turned down low.
    “I'm so glad you came over, Stacey.” Tears
filled her eyes. “The police haven't found him yet.