Halloween in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 6) by Kathi Daley Read Free Book Online Page A

might.”
    “Does my mother know about it?”
    “Principal Remington spoke to her this morning. She indicated that she wouldn’t force you to see the man if you didn’t want to, but she wouldn’t interfere if you were willing.”
    “In other words she doesn’t care one way or the other, just like she no longer seems to care about anything.”
    “I think she cares,” Tj reassured her. “But we both know this whole thing has been hard on her. Maybe if you’re able to work through things you can help your mom to work through her grief as well.”
    Carly didn’t answer, but she didn’t argue either. She simply stood up and thanked Tj for finding a solution that would let her stay with the team. Tj let out the breath she’d been holding after Carly left her office. She really hadn’t been sure how that was going to go. Hopefully, Carly would take this chance she’d been given and make the most of it. She’d had a tough couple of months. There was nothing anyone could do about Kenny’s death. All Tj could do was to help Carly move past it to the best of her ability.
     
    Later that afternoon Tj sat with Gina during lunch. “Teens these days have it tough,” Tj said between bites of her tuna sandwich. “Not only do they have to deal with bullying on campus but they also have to worry about someone posting embarrassing photos of them to all their friends with the click of a cell-phone camera.”
    “I take it you talked to Lexi?” Gina asked.
    “I tried,” Tj answered as she opened a bag of potato chips. “I called her, but she said she didn’t want to talk about it. She’s totally mortified. She swears she’s never coming back to school. I wish I could figure out a way to help her. Even if we catch the person responsible, it won’t erase the embarrassment she’s feeling.”
    “Lexi’s little song and dance in the shower was embarrassing,” Gina admitted, “but with the exception of a side shot of a boob, the wall hid her private parts. I would be just as mortified if it had happened to me, but Lexi can’t allow this bully to ruin her life. There has to be something we can do to change her mind. Did you speak to her mother?”
    “No, but Principal Remington did. She wants to give Lexi time. She told him Lexi threatened to run away if she tried to force her to go to school. I might try to talk to Lexi’s mom myself if I get the opportunity. She went to this school, you know.”
    “She did?”
    “Yeah. She was far enough ahead of me that we weren’t here at the same time, but I know who she is. The really sad thing is that when she was in school she was the bully.”
    A look of surprise and disbelief crossed Gina’s face. “Get out.”
    “It’s true.” Tj took a sip of her soda before she continued. “She was the queen bee of Serenity High School her entire four years. Chantel was head cheerleader, homecoming queen, and undeniable it girl during her reign. From what I’ve been told by my friends who have older brothers and sisters, she either liked you or she didn’t, and if she didn’t, she treated you like dirt.”
    “But Lexi is so sweet,” Gina countered. “I can’t believe she was raised by a queen bee.”
    “Believe it. Like I said, I didn’t know Chantel well, but I knew who she was. Her reputation was widespread in the community as a whole, not just in the high school. She was really stunning. Everyone thought she would grow up to be a famous actress or a supermodel.”
    “So why didn’t she?” Gina asked as she finished the salad she’d brought from home.
    “She got pregnant and became a single mom when she was just eighteen.”
    “Oh, wow. Was the father in the picture?”
    “No. To be honest, I don’t know who the father even was. I’ve looked at Lexi’s student records and there isn’t a father listed. Lexi’s emergency contact is a family friend.”
    “It’s hard to grow up without a dad,” Gina commented as she began gathering her trash.
    “I have a