The Best Kind of People Read Online Free PDF Page A

tonight.”
    A detective had emptied Sadie’s dresser drawers on the floor, fingering her bras and panties with what seemed like excess enthusiasm. Sadie had folded her arms across her chest and stepped aside as he nodded at her then descended the steep ladder staircase to the second floor. She’d gathered up the mess in her arms and then thrown it all down on the bed and left.
    “No,” Joan said, “everyone has to stay together.”
    “Mom, my room is a disaster. I just want to go to sleep. C’mon, it’s still my birthday, right?”
    “Sure, sure. Let me just call his mother,” Joan said, getting up and heading towards the phone, hands shaking.
    “She’s asleep,” Jimmy said. “But don’t worry, it will be fine. Sadie can sleep on the couch.”
    Joan absorbed this lie easily, kissing Sadie on the forehead. “Everything will be figured out tomorrow, Sadie. This is all a strange misunderstanding. I’m so sorry to have ruined your birthday. We’ll fix this.”
    “Of course it is. Of course it’s a mistake,” said Sadie.
    JOAN GOT UP to put on a pot of coffee. She pulled the bag of grounds from the freezer and pressed it against her face. Joan turned on the radio and heard the early morning broadcast.
“A high school teacher at Avalon Hills preparatory school, George Woodbury III , has been accused of alleged sexual misconduct with three female students, ranging in age from thirteen to seventeen, and the attempted rape of a fourth. All incidents are alleged to have taken place on a school ski trip this past February. The accusations have rocked the small town of Avalon Hills. Woodbury is the youngest son of the founder of the exclusive Woodbury Lake community, and a well-respected philanthropist, member of the town council, and leader at the Avalon Hills United Church. He is best known for having stopped a school shooting at the academy, garnering him an American Citizen Award for Bravery. The principal of the school could not be reached for comment but News Talk 1010 has learned that Woodbury was temporarily relieved of his duties yesterday and is currently being held until his bail hearing later. Stay tuned for more details on the official charges as the story develops.”
    Joan left the radio blaring the early morning traffic, allowing it to sink in that George had lied to her; he’d come home knowing he’d lost his job, however temporarily, and didn’t say anything. He’d sat and eaten dinner and talked about Sadie’s birthday and their winter vacation plans as though nothing had happened.
    WHEN SADIE LOOKED at her phone in the car, she had nine missed calls, all from Amanda. Two texts. The first one read Happy Birthday, my best girl . The second: I’m sorry. Sorry for what? Sadie texted back. Amanda didn’t answer.
    “She texted me too,” Jimmy said, reading, “‘Tell Sadie I’m sorry.’”
    Jimmy shifted into reverse, edging the car back towards the gate, and pressed the remote control clipped to the visor that slid the iron gates to the side. There was a closet-sized booth where a security guard used to sit when Sadie’s great-grandfather had built the house. She used to love to play pretend games in it when she was a child. As soon as they were through the gate, as Jimmy was preparing to do a three-point turn into the road, a man appeared in front of the car, startling them. Strangers were rare on Lakeside Drive, especially at night. Jimmy auto-locked the doors, while Sadie gripped the koala in her right pocket. The man pulled out a camera and snapped their photo.
    “He must be a reporter,” said Jimmy. She exhaled loudly and reached over and laid on the horn to get him to move, her fingers on the steering wheel vibrating involuntarily. Her phone, synced to the car stereo system, began to play automatically, and at a high volume, a Wu-Tang Clan classic that shook the windows. The reporter kept clicking, yelling out questions, mouth in motion, but they couldn’t hear him.
    “We’ll