A Ship Without Sails

Chapter 23

Saturday morning, Shayna woke up with a splitting headache. Groaning, she slumped upwards and sat up in her bed. "Of all the days they're coming to visit, why today I get the headache?" she muttered, preparing for her parents and Daisy to arrive for a visit. She considered calling a nurse for some painkillers, but was worried it would worry them. She checked her phone clock. Her parents were coming at 9, and it was 8:47. She slipped out of bed, changed into jeans and a lavender tank top, and rushed to get her ballet flats on.

First poked her head out of the room to see if any of her nurses were milling around. She saw none. Then she hurried out to the elevators and down to the main floor as quick as she could, to outside on the porch where she could get some fresh air. The late October breeze and crisp, cool air woke her up instantly. There were people on their ways to work and joggers with earbuds in their ears. Then, she heard a familiar voice.

Why is Astrid there? she wondered, moving closer. Then she heard Daisy's voice, too. They were around the corner of the building. Shayna pressed herself against the brick wall and strained her ears to listen.

"My parents are checking into the main office, I have to go." Daisy sounded annoyed.

"I know that. But I need to talk to you." Astrid's voice sent shivers down Shayna's spine. She sounded cold and suspicious. "I know you pushed her. And Kerry."

"What? I wouldn't do that," Daisy exclaimed, sounding genuinely confused. "They're my sisters!"

"That makes it even more crazy," Astrid replied. Shayna could hear the smirk on her face.

"I really didn't! Why won't you believe me? Look, my sister and I may not get along, but I would never, ever try to kill her." Daisy's voice increasingly got louder and more panicky.

"Then who did it?" Astrid remained calm.

"I don't know! That's your job!" Daisy snapped, resuming her cool exterior. Footsteps sounded nearby and Shayna suddenly realized it would not be good to be caught outside and spying on them. She hobbled back into the building and punched the elevator button desperately. Finally, the door opened and she went up to her floor. She slipped into her room unnoticed and sat on her bed right as her parents opened the door.

"Shayna!" Mrs. Blackburn cried, embracing her daughter. Shayna hugged her mother back absentmindedly, thoughts of the conversation she had just heard swimming around in her head. How could Astrid accuse Daisy? she wondered. Daisy has an alibi, and we're all sisters. That's ridiculous!

"Shayna?" Mr. Blackburn tapped her shoulder, jolting her out of her thoughts. "Yeah, Dad," she said shakily, "I'm fine. Sorry. Just a little tired."

"Oh," her dad replied, "Daisy will be coming in soon. I know she's wanted to see you."

Doubt it, Shayna thought, trying not to roll her eyes. Then a pang of guilt hit her, when she thought, Maybe she did kill Kerry. She hated her and hates me.

"Heyy," Daisy cooed when she poked her head into the room. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and sashayed in.

"Hi, Daisy," Shayna said, trying to not let her voice shake. She forced a smile and waved.

"What's up? You feeling better?" Daisy gave her a genuine smile back, relieving all of Shayna's tensions.

"A little," Shayna giggled. Daisy returned the laugh and pulled her little sister up off the bed. "Let's go out for brunch or something!"

Shayna allowed Daisy to hoist her off the bed. She got her crutches and was ready to go out, when Astrid came into the room. Instantly, Daisy tensed up.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn, Daisy, Shayna," Astrid greeted them cooly. Then she glanced at Shayna's hard plaster cast on her right leg. "Why's the bottom of your cast all dirty?"

"What? Oh," Shayna looked at the dirt and grime on the bottom of the cast, from when she had snuck out and hadn't bothered to use her crutches. "I guess just from walking around and sitting down with it touching the ground."

"I guess," Astrid agreed, though she didn't look convinced. Instead of pressing the matter, she addressed the Blackburn parents and said, "May I speak with the girls for a second?" Shayna and Daisy's parents exchanged nervous glances, but left the room.

"Why don't you take a seat?" Astrid told the girls. She made it clear that it was not an option. They sat.

"Shayna, do you have any leads on who would have pushed you?" Astrid asked.

"She wasn't pushed," Daisy quickly interjected. She looked at her younger sister and said, "Right?"

Shayna swallowed back the truth and said, "Right. I was lost in my thoughts and lost my footing is all."

"Look, we all know that's a lie." Astrid stared straight into Shayna's wide amber ones, as if searching for the true answers. Shayna tried to hold her gaze but blinked rapidly a second later, as if to blink back the tears.

"Okay, so I think I felt someone... nudge me into the river," she allowed, "but I'm not sure."

Daisy gripped the armrests of her chair and said through clenched teeth, "You mean someone did push you?"

Shayna was too afraid to respond. She nodded instead. She thought Daisy would break the armrests.
"Who would do that?" Daisy exploded angrily. "What did you do to deserve that?"

"I'm alright, Daisy," Shayna said in a soothing voice, reaching over to hug her sister.

"No, you're not!" Daisy snapped. "You have a broken leg and you're tired and we just lost Kerry... this is ridiculous!"

"Calm down," Astrid ordered. Her midnight blue eyes remained cool and her expression betrayed no signs of panic. In fact, she seemed more confident than ever.

"Daisy, I'd like you to state your alibi, please," Astrid continued, taking out a small recorder. She hit a button and set it on her knee and looked at Daisy expectantly.

Daisy blinked her pale green eyes, released the armrests, and said, "I was taking pictures on the other side of the park. You saw my phone already, the dates and times should be there, on the photos tab."

"I did see them. Thank you. Just checking, you can never be too sure," Astrid said. Shayna's ears were ringing.

"You don't think Daisy did it, do you?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"I did," Astrid replied, putting the recorder back in her pocket. She crossed her long legs and sighed. "But now I'm not so sure."

Daisy let out a sigh of relief. Then, she straightened her back, looking rigid. "I have a suspect," she said. "Though you probably already checked them out."

"Not Kurt," Shayna cut in. "He was with me the time Kerry died. And with you when I was pushed."

"Not when you were pushed, he wasn't. And besides, are you sure Kurt didn't slip away? And when we all ran to the river looking for Kerry, he was the one to find her. It just seems suspicious. And then he asks her little sister out? It doesn't make sense, Shaye, you have to admit that." Daisy's eyes darkened with distrust. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't want to be around Kurt alone."
"You didn't seem to have that problem the other day, at Potomac Overlook? You were clinging to him!" Shayna argued.

"I was asking him how much he knew!" Daisy exclaimed. "It's not as if I want to go out with him! He's your boyfriend!"

"No, he's not," Shayna deadpanned. Daisy's expression softened and she said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Shaye." She went over to her sister and sat on the bed next to her and gave her a hug. Shayna buried her face in Daisy's shoulder, the scent of her perfume and shampoo calming her. Daisy turned to Astrid and said, "Can't we do this another time? We were all gonna go out together."

A look crossed over Astrid's face and her bright red lips pressed together. She slipped on her large sunglasses before saying, "Fine. I'll contact you later." She strode out of the room without another word.