Six Little Secrets(40)

‘What about detention?’ Teddy asked.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Mr. Curtis snapped as he strode by them. He rubbed his hands against his jeans while his other hand rubbed his chin. ‘We all need to leave, now. I’ll mark you down as being here for the day. You’ve served your time.’

Zoe wanted to say something to Mr. Curtis. She wanted to scream and make him listen. If Holly’s claims were true, he’d done this to himself. The teacher who was so well respected at school was accused of murdering a teen in cold blood. What else was Holly going to do to him?

Should Zoe warn him?

She opened her mouth to say something, anything to make him stay, but nothing came out.

Teddy touched her arm, and he shook his head, silencing her. ‘We’ll clean up, Mr. Curtis.’

‘I’m trusting you all to be out of here in ten minutes. I’ll inform Victor to lock up behind you,’ Mr. Curtis said. ‘See you all Monday.’

When he left, Teddy gathered up his part of the chain and set it on the table.

‘Why did you stop me?’ Zoe asked.

‘Because he’s in the middle of his task, obviously. Megan will give him what he deserves.’

‘He couldn’t have done this,’ Zoe said. ‘Murdering a kid? That doesn’t seem like something he would do.’

‘Why do you care?’ Jackie asked. ‘He probably did do it. Megan did a lot of research. She was right about all of us. Not everyone is as they seem.’

Zoe knew that first hand.

‘What do we do, now?’ Cece asked. ‘We should call the police about that psycho.’

‘And risk our involvement? You saw her cell phone. I may enjoy pissing off my parents, but I’m not about to get arrested for anything that she’s found out about me.’ Q asked. ‘Hell, no. We’re keeping our mouths shut. All of us.’

No one asked Zoe about her involvement with Jacob. And she began to worry about that. Was this a part of Megan’s plan? On the intercom message, the voice said ‘six’. They mistakenly thought that meant Zoe and Holly, but Zoe knew it was her and Mr. Curtis. Her secrets had caught up with her, even though the rest of the kids had no idea what went on in Zoe’s life.

‘I can’t believe we just let her go,’ Cece said. ‘There has to be something we can do.’

‘There’s nothing,’ Jackie said, defeated. ‘We move on with our lives and hope that Megan can move on with hers.’

‘I don’t believe that,’ Cece said.

‘If you tell anyone about this, then everyone will be exposed,’ Q said. ‘You’re going to keep your mouth shut.’

Cece wrinkled her nose.

‘We all have to promise,’ Teddy said. ‘If my mom finds out, she’s going to be so disappointed.’

‘And my reputation will be ruined,’ Jackie said.

‘No way am I getting kicked out of this place when I only have one year of Hell left,’ Q said.

‘Cece?’ Teddy said. ‘You need to keep this a secret. We all do.’

‘This will only work if we all agree,’ Q said, eyeing Cece.

Cece’s eyebrows drew together. ‘I’m already screwed. There’s no way I want anyone else to know about this.’

‘Then it’s done,’ Q said. ‘Let’s finish up and get out of here.’

‘Fine,’ Cece said. ‘Whatever.’

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ Teddy said. ‘The transfer went to some website. I wonder if Megan routed the money to her account.’

‘I wouldn’t put it past her,’ Q said. ‘I’m going to destroy her at school on Monday.’

‘Do you think we’re ever going to see her again?’ Zoe asked.

Q let out a sigh then shook his head. ‘She’d be asking for it if she did.’

‘I’m scared to go home,’ Zoe admitted. ‘What if something horrible is waiting for me there?’

‘She’s gone now,’ Teddy said. ‘I think you should count yourself lucky.’

Even though everyone promised not to tell about what happened that day, Zoe wasn’t at ease with how it ended. A lightness in her stomach twisted around her insides just like they did when she rode a roller coaster. The inevitable drop loomed in the distance. And she had no idea when it was coming.

Zoe went to the librarian’s office and grabbed the large cardboard box that held all the slips. She brought it back into the room and placed it on the table. Q stood there, useless without his hands. Everyone else picked up the slack, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. As if leaving the scene of this terrible game would help them forget. But no one would.

‘I’ll finish up,’ Zoe said. It was the least she could do for them after the trauma each of them had gone through.

‘Are you sure?’ Jackie asked.

‘Yes, I can lock up too,’ Zoe said. ‘And I’ll let Victor know we’re done in here.’

Cece didn’t need another second to think about it. She practically bolted from the room.

Q and Jackie were right behind her, walking out, side-by-side. Something that Zoe never thought she’d ever see.

‘I’ll help,’ Teddy said. He reached into the box, brushing her hand.