Merciless by Lori Armstrong Read Free Book Online Page B

with?”
    “We were both kinda loners. People made fun of our interest in vampire books.” Naomi
     scowled. “She sometimes hung out with Mackenzie Red Shirt. But only when Mackenzie
     wanted something.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like a ride to one of the parties out at Dickie’s slough. Or if she wanted Arlette
     to do a report for her.”
    “What would Arlette get in return?”
    Naomi became interested in the frayed end of her scarf.
    After a silent minute or two, Officer Ferguson prompted, “Naomi?”
    She looked up at me. “Mackenzie kept promising to introduce Arlette to this older
     guy she’d been crushing on.”
    “Did Mackenzie ever follow through?”
    “Yeah.” Tears swam in her eyes. “That’s when everything changed. When Arlette changed.
     She started lying to her aunt about where she was going. She stopped caring about
     her schoolwork.”
    Now, maybe this was making sense. “Who was the guy?”
    “I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. She just called him J.”
    Naomi must’ve sensed my skepticism because she blurted out, “I swear it’s the truth!
     Arlette said she found her Jacob but he wanted to keep their relationship secret.
     When I told her that was a bad thing, she accused me of being jealous. I should’ve
     made her tell me! I should’ve . . . done something, because now she’s dead!” Naomi
     set her head on the conference table and sobbed.
    I wished Carsten was here. I stared at the bawling girl, unable to comfort her because
     petting and soothing weren’t my way. I waited, quietlytapping my pen on my notepad to the same cadence of my boot tapping on the floor.
     Fergie poured a glass of water and passed it to Naomi, offering the gentle, encouraging
     pat on the back I couldn’t.
    The girl lifted her head and wiped the moisture from her face. “Is it true?”
    “Is what true?” I asked.
    “That Arlette was staked through the heart. With a wooden stake? Just like . . .”
    A vampire.
    Another chill zigzagged up my spine. Why hadn’t Triscell Elk Thunder mentioned Arlette’s
     obsession with the Twilight series and anything vampire-related?
    She had to’ve known.
    Did you know everything about Levi’s interests?
    No. But I hadn’t lived with Levi, either.
    “Yes, Naomi, I’m afraid it is true,” Fergie said gently.
    “Oh God. That’s so sick—” Her voice caught on a sob, but somehow she didn’t break
     down.
    “When was the last time you saw her or talked to her?”
    She sniffled. “The day we had the fight.”
    Poor girl. Talk about guilt. A fight with her friend, and then she winds up dead.
     I handed her a tissue. “How long was that before Arlette disappeared?”
    “Three days.”
    “Had Arlette ever mentioned wanting to run away?”
    “No. She didn’t like it here, but she knew she’d have to graduate to get outta here
     for good.” More tears welled up. “We talked about leaving together. Until she started
     spending all of her time with J.”
    Jealousy was a powerful emotion. Still, I had a hard time believing Naomi would murder
     Arlette because she’d ditched her for a guy. Even if the guy Arlette bragged about
     was her “Jacob.”
    God. Teens really took the fictional world that seriously?
    My freakin’ head was about to explode.
    Officer Ferguson jumped in. “Did everyone know you and Arlette had a falling-out?”
    Naomi shook her head. “And no one would’ve cared anyway.”
    “Anything else you care to add?”
    Another head shake.
    “Okay. Thanks for your help. If we think of anything else, can we call you?” I glanced
     down at the paperwork and rattled off the numbers. “That’s your cell phone number?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I imagine it goes everywhere with you.”
    “I guess.”
    “Did Arlette always have her phone with her?”
    “Not during school hours. She kept it in her locker because she got it taken away
     by the principal once and her uncle freaked out. Why?”
    “Because Arlette’s phone was found in her