Leave No Trace

Chapter 10

Danielson

It was the next afternoon, and they had once again set up camp in the guidance office. It was just after lunch, when he heard the door open, frantic babbling ensuing from the front office.

He and Nolan exchanged quizzical looks.

"You gotta tell them! She's dangerous! Get them! The detectives- oh geez, you gotta help me! Get the detectives!"

Nolan stood, and opened the door to find a hysterical Dean. There was a bruise on his face. "Dean?" She asked in surprise.

"You guys gotta help me!" He snapped. Nolan took the hint, and left, going to do damage control with the secretary.

Danielson closed the door behind her, and said. "Dean, Dean, you need to calm down. What's wrong?"

"It's her, it's Mira! She did it! She attacked me, hit me! She's insane, she should be locked up! I can't do it, can't protect myself anymore!"

"Dean, slow down, what are you talking about?" Danielson asked, hardly able to believe what he was hearing.

"About a week ago, I was talking to Mira, and she attacked me because I said a few things I regretted. She attacked me, hurt me. And she did it again today! She threatened me, and when I refused to do as she asked, she attacked me."

"Wait, why did she threaten you? What was your argument about?" Danielson was desperate in his efforts to keep up with Dean.

"Last week, it was because she attacked Allison, bruised her, injured her. Allison was scared of her and I was trying to protect Allison!" He choked back a sob. "And today she threatened me if I didn't stop digging- she threatened to kill me because I was pushing for her arrest! She knows something, she must've attacked Allison!"

"What do you mean, attacked Allison?" He asked.

"She's strong enough, damn it! She's a psycho bitch who would do anything to keep Allison from me!" Dean said, breaking down. "She's a liar."

"What do you mean?" Danielson asked.

"She didn't tell you about attacking me last week? About her almost getting suspended, did she? Did she?" Dean demanded. "It's all her. That bitch probably killed Allison!"

"Do you have proof?" Danielson asked, trying to remain rational.

"Isn't this proof enough?" Dean asked, pointing to his bruises.

"Dean, you'll be okay. Sit down."

"I will not sit down! Where were you when she attacked me? Sitting on your ass as usual!"

"Dean, please, tell me about your fight last week."

"I confronted her, because Allison has a few strange bruises... She threatened me if I said anything, but I told her to stay away from Ally. I was just trying to protect my girlfriend, but that bitch took a swing at me. I told the principal, and he almost suspended her, but she sweet-talked her way out of it."

"Wait, why would Mira attack Allison? They're friends." Danielson prompted. At last, here was what he wanted to hear.

"Because Ally was hanging around me, and Mira wanted Ally all to herself, so she told Ally to stay away, but when she didn't comply, Mira kicked her ass."

"She could have been trying to protect her." He was being diplomatic. Sure she was.

"Ha." Dean sighed, dejected. "And today, she found out that I was pushing for her to be a suspect. She confronted me this time. Told me that if I didn't stop digging, she'd kill Allison, then she'd kill me. Said she'd kill me and then walked off. I think she might've been headed back to the scene of the crime. Tell me, Danielson, how could she kill Allison if she didn't know where she was??" His voice was bordering on hysterical again.