Let Me Know by Stina Lindenblatt Read Free Book Online Page B

hang up.
    “The latest reports indicate his ex-girlfriend works at the mall,” the male reporter says. “She’s believed to be among the dead. We’ll update you once we know more. Back to you, Janice.”
    Janice, the anchor, updates viewers on the current situation and how tragic it is that this happened three days before Christmas. But the way she says it, with a slight smile to her tone, you’d think someone won the lottery.
    Emma and I watch the news in openmouthed horror. The house could burn down around us and we wouldn’t notice.
    “We have an update,” Janice announces. “Police confirmed that the suspect, Keith Knight, used to be a mall employee and worked as a security guard. Patrick, are you there?”
    The TV flashes to the reporter from earlier. Snow and wind assault him, trying to push him off his feet as the storm hits Chicago hard. I glance out the window. It’s not much better outside.
    “Yes, I’m here,” he replies. “The police confirmed a few minutes ago that Keith Knight was indeed a mall employee and that his ex-girlfriend is not among the dead. She has a restraining order filed against him but she works at a different mall.” He doesn’t look nonplussed that he’s been releasing half-truths just for the sake of having something to talk about and fill air time, knowing that the country is hanging on to his every word.
    “Can the police tell us anything about Keith Knight’s motives?”
    “They haven’t made a statement yet.” Patrick moves sideways and stands next to a teenage boy huddled in a winter coat. The boy looks toward the camera in awe. “We have Simon Lukeman here to shed some light on the situation. Simon works in the food court.” The boy nods. “Simon, what do you know about what happened?”
    “Keith was fired last week from his job. He never said why, though.”
    “Did you know him?”
    “We talked a few times. He was kind of quiet. Not the kind of guy you expect to go postal.”
    The garage door rumbles opens. Mom’s home. Over an hour early. She strides into the family room and hugs me, something she’s started doing again recently. “It’s really coming down out there. Grandma phoned and said she’s going to stay home. She doesn’t want to deal with the roads. They’re bad now, and they will only get worse.”
    She stops talking. “Is something wrong?”
    I swallow back the fear that if I say the next words, the truth behind them will become a hundredfold worse. “There’s been a mall shooting. At the same mall Marcus said he was going to before coming here. And I can’t get a hold of him.” My voice cracks with the last sentence, and the fear I tried to swallow is pushed back up with a small sob.
    Mom wraps her arms around me and holds me tight, doing her best to keep me together. She doesn’t ask for any details. She doesn’t have to. The number of dead and wounded is on the television for everyone to see.
    She tightens her hold on me.
    The screen flashes to another reporter interviewing several individuals in the mall at the time of the shooting. Mom gasps. The sound is soft, barely heard above the noise on the TV. I heard it because I’m next to her.
    I study the screen to see what she reacted to. All I can see is a tired-looking man standing next to a much older woman. The shooting has taken its toll on everyone. “What is it?”
    “It’s nothing.” Mom steps back, fully recovered. “Let me make some calls and see what I can ascertain. Okay?” She gives me a small painted-on smile that makes the Mona Lisa look ready to break out in cheer.
    “Okay.”
    She returns fifteen minutes later, and shakes her head.
    My throat closes, preventing oxygen from reaching my lungs. “What did you find out?”
    “The hospitals aren’t releasing any information other than to next of kin.”
    Except Marcus’s next of kin doesn’t care what happens to him. Never have. Never will. The only reason the surgeon updated me on Marcus’s condition after