Conviction by Amanda Lance Read Free Book Online Page B

possible he was priming me for more information about my case, I didn’t read anything too overt. Even after I read and reread his e-mail looking for some sneaky interrogation technique, I didn’t see anything suspicious that would suggest he was being anything other than friendly. Hopefully, it would stay that way.
     
    Harpsten,
    I have difficulty understanding why people are so easily startled by spiders. Last time I was at AMNH with Robbie, a group of summer camp kids were there and a group of kids were crying at a live action video of the goliath birdeater. Don’t these kids know how important spiders are in the ecosystem? Geez!
    Thank you for the warm wishes. Although I’m in a new place, I’m already making some new friends and everyone
     
    I suddenly thought of Reid and paused, half tempted to complain about my adversary, since I was sure Reid wasn’t happy about me being here, but I decided against it.
     
    has been really nice so far and I can’t complain. Classes start next week and I’m as excited as any nerd could be.
    I know this may be a lot to ask, but please keep an eye on my Dad if your work schedule permits. Like I mentioned before, I think having younger people around keeps him feeling young himself.
    Take Care & Stay Safe,
    Addie
     
    I closed the laptop and lay back on the bed. I decided it was good to have more than one connection to home. I wanted another line to Dad and Robbie, the town I grew up in, and someone who knew me, even if it was only because he had to because of his occupation.
    From downstairs I could hear music start to hum. Just the idea the party was that much closer made me agitated. I tried to shake off these thoughts as I stared out the window. I felt the chill from the winter air and closed the latch as two unfamiliar cars pulled to the front of the drive. Glancing at the clock I saw that it was already past eight, explaining Elise’s aggravation that as of an hour ago, none of us seemed to have it together.
    Eventually curiosity got the better of me. I began to wonder what Elise had picked out for me. I slid open the closet door and flipped on the light. The dress was entirely too luxurious with its vintage-style full skirt and shirred bodice. Gently, I took it from the closet and ran the material under my fingertips to explore the sleeveless wonder. There was no way Elise could have intended for me to wear something so palpably beautiful. With metallic tulle over the not-quite peach silk, it shone even brighter against the golden sash that ran under the bodice. And while it may never have been something I could have chosen for myself, the dress looked like something I would have admired from afar.
    I pulled my hair up into halves while leaving the majority of it down as Elise had shown me and fastened it with a delicate hair clip in a golden bronze hue and shaped like a leafless branch. As I looked in the mirror, I began to actually feel a little excited about dressing up. Family events had always been casual, and I had never been to any school prom. Along with the clip and dress, Elise had left a pair of glittering shoes which were entirely flat (for this small consideration I was extremely grateful), and some makeup items that I didn’t recognize. I added them to the mental list of things I owed her, reasoning that if she bad taste it would be far easier to refuse her kindnesses.
    The dress fit me perfectly and I twirled around in circles to watch the skirt fly out. Once I slipped on my shoes I considered the cosmetic gizmos that were lying on the dresser but realized the results would be horrific.
    For a few more minutes I watched the cars as they entered the drive. Many people were being dropped off by town cars and looked like they were car pooling to avoid the burden of having to drive themselves home. I watched women wearing furs and men carrying bottles of liquor as Elise greeted them at the door—it seemed much too glamorous.
    Figuring I couldn’t wait it out