The Girl Next Door

Chapter 31

Kelly pulls Beyoncé's SUV into the driveway of her ranch-style house and parks. She bends down to gather her things. When she comes back up:
Y/N is standing at her window wearing a bone-chilling smile.

Knowles  HOUSE -
Beyoncé stares at the photo of Kehlani while holding the phone to her ear.

SECRETARY: Bay View High School. Principal Brodie's office, may I help you?

Beyoncé: Yes, I'm looking for a teacher, I
think. Her name's Kehlani. I don't know her last name, but --

SECRETARY: I'm not authorized to speak about the incident. You'll have to call back during school hours when Principal Brodie is in.

Beyoncé: Wait a minute. What incident?
The secretary hangs up, leaving Beyoncé blinking with confusion.

A TV plays in the background as Beyoncé finishes the dishes.
She dries her hands and peeks into the family room where Jay has nodded off in front of the TV.
Beyoncé sits at the desk and flicks on a computer. She Googles "Bay View teacher Kehlani ."
Several news sites pop up. She clicks on Milwaukee's "FOX6NOW.COM." A news headline, dated two months earlier, appears on the screen:
"BOYFRIEND CONVICTED IN BAY VIEW TEACHER'S MURDER" Below it is a VIDEO WINDOW. She hits "play."
ON SCREEN a REPORTER speaks into a microphone outside a courthouse.

REPORTER: Here in downtown Milwaukee, a jury has just returned a guilty verdict against Alex Jacoby for the murder Bay View High School teacher, Kehlani Parrish.
A photo of a Kehlani appears. And only now does Beyoncé recall seeing her photo on the news that first day of school.

REPORTER: Parrish was found bludgeoned to death in her apartment last May. Detectives quickly zeroed in on Jacoby, her live-in boyfriend, as a prime suspect.

Jay: Bey?

Startled, Beyoncé clicks off the site.

Jay: What are you doing?

Beyoncé: Oh, just checking email.
She clicks onto her email account just as Jay comes around behind her. He rubs her shoulders, kisses her neck.

Jay: You okay? You feel tense.

Beyoncé : Been a long day.

Jay: Come on, let's go up. I'll give
you a nice, long back rub.
He pulls Beyoncé to her feet and leads her out.

The gray light of dawn filters in. Beyoncé slips out of bed while Jay sleeps.
She sticks a note on the refrigerator: "Early morning faculty meeting. Completely forgot. I love you."
Beyoncé backs Kelly's Mustang out of the driveway, glancing nervously at Y/n's sleeping house.

Beyoncé listens to Kelly's recorded greeting on her cell phone, then leaves a message.

Beyoncé: Kelly , I've got to go out of town
for the day. I'll drop off your car and fill you in on the details when I get back. Tell Megan I'm sick, would you? Thanks.
She hangs up and follows the interstate highway sign for MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN.