Devil's Advocate (The X-Files: Origins #2)(86)

The two sisters stood facing each other, both of them flushed and angry, fists balled, eyes bright.

“She’s a liar,” Dana repeated.

“And you’re an idiot. You had no right to say those horrible things to her in front of all her customers. She was so upset, and Mom had to calm her down. It’s awful. I never thought you could be this mean.”

“You’re going to take her word over—”

“Over yours? Yeah, I guess I am. Who wouldn’t? I heard about your drug test, Dana. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. After all this, who would believe anything you say?” Melissa pointed toward home. “You should be lucky Mom took that call and not Dad. You were supposed to come home right from school. Mom called the office, and they pulled me out of class to go look for you. You’ll be lucky if your suspension doesn’t turn into you getting completely kicked out. Mom wants me to bring you home if I have to tie you up and carry you.”

Dana opened her mouth.

“I don’t want to hear it,” snapped Melissa. “Mom said she won’t tell Dad if you come home right now.”

And there it was. No options, no way out. And no allies, even in her own sister.

Melissa turned and began heading home, fists still balled, shoulders rigid with anger. Dana followed like a prisoner going to the guillotine.





CHAPTER 79

Scully Residence

11:35 A.M.

Mom cried a lot. She asked the same questions everyone else had asked her. Dana repeated the same answers, but now it was like she was repeating lines in a script. Mom sent her to her room. No calls, no anything.

Later, though, there was a knock on the door, and when Dana opened it, she found a tray of food on the floor and heard Mom’s footsteps on the stairs, retreating quickly so she didn’t have to engage. It was horrible.

Dana slammed the door on the tray and sat on her bed all day and into the evening. Dad came home but did not come upstairs. Charlie played alone with toy spaceships in the front yard below Dana’s window. Melissa turned on her stereo and played very loud, very tragic music.

When Dana heard the front door creak open, she listened and heard Mom and Dad on the porch, talking quietly. Mom sobbed every once in a while.

That was the opportunity Dana was waiting for. She opened her door very quietly and crept into the hall. Melissa’s music was loud enough to provide good cover while Dana lifted the phone receiver and dialed a number.

Ethan answered on the sixth ring.

“I need to talk with you,” said Dana.

“Yeah, I figured you’d call with everything that’s going on,” he said. “But it’s going to have to be quick, because Uncle Frank just went to the store. He’ll be back any minute.”

“Ethan, I…”

“No, let me talk first,” said Ethan. “First, I’m really sorry about what happened. I didn’t say things right.”

“It’s okay,” she said.

“No,” said Ethan, “it’s not. I don’t know how to talk to girls, and I really like you. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

She cleared her throat. “I like you, too, Ethan, and it is okay.”

“Thanks. Look, I just hope you know this isn’t your fault.”

“No, it’s Corinda’s fault.”

“Huh?” he said.

“Screwing up what we were doing. She heard me talking to Melissa, and that’s where she got all the stuff to say.”

“Dana, I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about what happened tonight. I thought that was why you called.”

“What do you mean? I’m confused. I … I was afraid and … wanted to make sure you were okay and to see if your uncle came down on you. So … are you okay?”

“Me?” Ethan said. “Wait, you didn’t call about Karen?”

“No, why should I? Karen’s safe now. Angelo’s in jail and—”

“Dana, don’t you even watch the news?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s all they’re talking about. They just broke the story an hour ago. They found Karen Allenby in the school soccer field. Dana … she’s been murdered.”





CHAPTER 80

Scully Residence

8:35 P.M.

Dana slammed the phone down and ran to Melissa’s door. She knocked but there was no answer, so she tried the knob, and the door opened. Melissa was on her bed with her feet propped up on the wall, ankles crossed. She turned her head with a great show of uninterest.

“Go away,” Melissa said.

“Listen to me,” barked Dana. “Someone just killed Karen Allenby.”

Melissa swung her legs over and stood up, eyes wide. “What?”

“It’s true, it’s on the news. Ethan told me.”

“How? Wait, you called him?”

“Yes, I called him. So what? Karen’s dead. Don’t you understand what that means?”

“I—”

Dana grabbed Melissa by the upper arms. “If Angelo’s in jail, then he couldn’t have done it. It means Corinda was lying. It means this is Corinda’s fault. She got the cops to arrest Angelo instead of looking for the real killer. God, how could I be so stupid? I should have done something about this.”