What Holly Heard (12 page)

“Back off, Jed,” she pleaded.
“Back off.”

Gary pulled Jed away from the ref. Too late. The ref called the technical foul.

Jed erupted like a volcano, screaming over Gary's shoulder.

Then one of the Reed Valley players yelled something at Jed.

Miriam watched helplessly as Jed turned on the player.

And attacked.

Jed punched him in the jaw, driving the boy's head back so far that Miriam feared his neck would snap.

The player dropped instantly. And Jed fell over him. He latched on to his throat with a savage two-handed
grip. He choked the player, slamming his head into the hardwood floor over and over again.

Miriam gasped.

Jed was killing him!

The truth hit her that instant.

In that instant, she knew everything.

Her mind spun helplessly into a picture so complete, so horrifying, and so true that she was paralyzed by it; Jed's strong hands pulling Holly's scarf tight around her throat, all his anger channeled into the desperate act of murder.

It was true.

Jed
did
kill Holly!

Watching him on the floor, Miriam knew he was the murderer.

A shudder of dread shook her whole body.

Now what? she asked herself, feeling so alone, so helpless.

What do I do now that I know?

M
iriam struggled to breathe. Again she saw the hideous scene. The blood on Holly's face. The scarf around her purple, swollen neck. It all made sense now.

Holly knew something about Jed. Jed found out. No one could keep a secret at this school. Jed found out, waited until everyone was gone—and
murdered Holly!

Jed had been at school that night, all alone with Holly. Miriam
knew
that. Why hadn't she seen it before? His sick, cold attitude toward Holly's death explained everything.

He said it was Holly's fault, her own mouth got her killed. She deserved to die.

Of course he would say those things.
He killed her!

Miriam felt her pulse beating hard at her temples.

Oh, Jed,
she thought, her mind running a thousand miles an hour,
why did you do it? How could you kill her? Why why why?

Jed killed Holly. Plain and simple. Mei and Noah were telling the truth that afternoon. And Miriam had been too blinded by love to see it.

Terror gripped Miriam as she watched Jed being pulled off the court. His face was red, his chest heaving. He held his head as if in pain, roaring threats and curses. It took three players to drag him off the court and shove him in the direction of the showers.

He kicked open the door to the locker room and stormed through, alone, enraged.

A sob rose in Miriam's throat. Get out of here, she thought. I have to get away from Jed.

Miriam grabbed her coat and bag and fought her way past knees and legs to the end of the bleachers. She jumped to the floor and raced for the exit.

There would be no hiding her knowledge from Jed. She wouldn't be able to fake it. He'd see it in her eyes—and know he had to kill her, too.

So she ran as fast as she could.

The cold air felt like needles against her bare cheeks. She didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. She didn't have time for fear.

Miriam thought of Ruth. Only a few blocks from school, Ruth was home. She said she would be home all night.

Miriam ran through the parking lot. Got to get to Ruth's house.

She heard it then.

The distant sound of the school doors pushing open. She'd heard it a thousand times after the final bell.

Someone else had come out.

She stopped and swept her eyes across the cars in the parking lot.

No one there.

Shivering against the cold, she started moving again.

She stopped when she heard a scuffing sound. Shoes on sidewalk.

Her heart pounding, Miriam whirled around. Her eyes strained against the darkness.

They locked on a tall figure striding quickly out of the shadows.

Into the parking lot.

Coming for her.

M
iriam slipped into the deep shadow of a parked car, gazing through the windows at the shape pursuing her.

Who was it?

She put a hand against her chest, trying desperately to slow her heartbeat. She concentrated, swallowing her fear, staring with wide eyes through the glass.

He was definitely male. Tall and lean. Moving smoothly and swiftly. With a stealthy confidence that frightened her even more. This person had a purpose.

Was it Jed?

She couldn't tell. The school floodlights silhouetted his body. She couldn't see his clothes, couldn't see his face.

For all she knew, Jed was still in the locker room, ripping towel dispensers off the wall. This could be anyone. Someone leaving the game. Someone coming outside for a breath of fresh air. He didn't have to be following her.

The figure halted.

She watched his hands ball into fists.

He scanned the parking lot.

Who am I kidding? Miriam thought.

It had to be Jed.

Who else could it be?

Then she remembered Noah. Remembered his cold eyes staring from the bleachers. Remembered that he left his seat immediately after seeing her.

Miriam squinted into the purple-black shadows.

Was it Noah? Jed?

The figure moved again, moving quickly toward her.

Miriam knew one thing: She had to get away!

She ran bent in a crouch until she cleared the row of cars. At the last car she stood up and broke into a sprint.

She didn't care if the guy saw her. She knew her lead was short—fifty yards at best. Could she outrun him?

“Miriam!”

The shouted name made her gasp.

She recognized the voice at once.

Jed.

Miriam took off, running as fast as she could.

“Miriam! Wait! Please!”

She didn't slow down.

Jed was a seasoned athlete in top form. He would catch her.

Then he would kill her.

“Miriam! Stop!”

She made the turn onto Ruth's street. The houses loomed in darkness, black against a blacker sky. If she yelled for help, no one would hear her.

Miriam had never felt so utterly alone in her life. Thoughts of pain and death gripped her in terror. But she forced herself to keep running.

Miriam chanced a quick glance behind her. Her eyes swept frantically over the trees lining the street, the streetlights giving off circles of eerie haze.

No one there.

No one chasing her.

Her pursuer had vanished.

She slowed, her breath coming in great gulps, her sides spiked with pain.

She backed into the shadow of a tree trunk and squinted into the darkness.

No one.

Ruth's house came into view, three doors down. Miriam inched cautiously down the sidewalk, half turned to keep her eyes on the street.

Where was he?

Where was Jed?

Had he stopped chasing her? She knew he had his car at the school. Maybe he decided to drive after her.

How would he know which direction she was headed?

He's a psycho, she thought. He'll drive all over Shadyside looking for me, even if it takes all night.

Jed,
she thought hopelessly,
how could you do this to me?

As if in reply, Jed stepped out of the bushes and blocked her path.

“M
iriam!” he uttered.

She screamed.

Jed grabbed her.

Tried to cover her mouth.

She bit his hand.

He howled and tore his hand away.

Miriam screamed again. But this time her cry was filled with rage.

She lashed out in fury. She smashed her elbow into his chest.

Jed gasped and dropped to his knees. She could see him struggling to breathe.

For a split second Miriam stood and stared at him. She had never hit anyone before.

Jed groaned and Miriam jumped away from him.

Her entire body trembling, she forced herself to run.

It took all her strength to pull herself up to Ruth's front door.

She pounded frantically, glancing back at Jed, still on his knees.

The porch light came on.

The door opened slowly.

Miriam pushed her way into Ruth's house.

“Miriam!” Ruth gasped. She was in pajamas and slippers. “What's wrong?”

Gasping for breath, Miriam struggled to get the words out.

Ruth stared in confusion.

Finally Miriam turned, slammed the front door, and flicked the deadbolt into place.

“Oh,
no!”
Ruth's hand flew to her mouth. “Is it Mei and Noah?”

Miriam shook her head violently. She took a deep, heaving breath and snarled:
“Jed!”

Ruth's eyes went wide. “Jed?
Jed?
That's impossible!”

“It's Jed!” Miriam cried, finding her voice. “Jed did it all! Now lock the back door!”

“It's already locked,” Ruth replied. “But, Miriam—”

Ruth's voice broke.

Miriam narrowed her eyes at her friend. To her surprise, Ruth looked terrible.

Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, as if she had been crying. Her hair fell in damp tangles.

“Ruth, what is it? What's wrong?” Miriam choked out.

“It isn't Jed,” Ruth said. “Jed isn't the murderer.”

Miriam uttered a startled cry. “Huh? What are you saying? How do you know?”

A sob escaped Ruth's throat. “Two other murders,” she choked out in a slow, trembling whisper. “Two other murders. Tonight.”

M
iriam's mouth dropped open, but no sound came out.

“Come on,” Ruth pleaded. She took Miriam by the arm and dragged her upstairs.

“Ruth, where are we going? We have to call the police. Jed—he's out there and—”

“Mei and Noah broke in here tonight!” Ruth revealed. “My mom's working late tonight. I fell asleep in the family room. A noise woke me up.”