Page 172 of Wicked Brutal

Ryan: to pick up tobias

Then it clicks. Cassandra doesn’t need me to sneak anywhere. She comes to us. Mom can let Tobias go with her. That’s already happened before. It’s normal now. Safe. My heart starts beating faster.

and me?

Ryan: jane asked if you could go too

Ryan: apparently you “need to get out of the house”. mom she’d bring you both back after dinner

I stare at the screen. Dad won’t like it. But Mom asked. Cassandra asked. Tobias is involved. And I’m still not sneaking anywhere. I’m being picked up from my own house by the woman next door.

If Dad says no, then we’re fucked. But if he says yes — Darla can come to the Harrington house. Ryan can be there. And nobody at Edgewood sees me leave with him. Daniel does exactly what Dad told him to do. He takes me directly home. The school can report that I left at three fifteen. No disappearing. No lies anyone can easily catch.

Dad: Cassandra Harrington will collect you and Tobias from the house this afternoon. Daniel will still bring you home from school. You are to remain with Cassandra until she returns you home.

I read it twice. Holy shit. It worked. Then another message.

Dad: I expect you to be home by eight..

Yes, sir.

Dad: And Alison.

Yes?

His answer takes almost a minute.

Dad: Be mindful of the Harrington boy if he is there. I don’t want you involving yourself in whatever trouble he and his friends are creating.

I won’t, Father.

I lock my phone. Then I look across the classroom. Ryan is two rows over. He doesn’t look at me. Not once. Good. Because I’m still furious with him. And in less than two hours, I’m going to be in the same room with him while Darla shows us our baby. I don’t know whether I want to kiss him or punch him. At the moment? Punching is winning.

By the time Cassandra knocks on our front door, Tobias has been wearing his shoes for twenty minutes. Not because we’re going far. We’re going three houses down. Apparently that requires preparation.

“I’ll get it!”

He comes flying out of the living room before Mom can stop him.

“Tobias, don’t—“

Too late. He yanks open the door. Cassandra stands on the other side with her purse over one shoulder and a leather work bag in her hand.

“Mrs. Harrington!”

“Well, hello to you too.”

“Are you interviewing me right away?”

Cassandra laughs as she steps inside. “Not even a hello first?”

“I said hello.”

“You yelled my name.”

“That’s hello.”

Mom comes around the corner, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.”