Only the Good Die Young

Chapter Fifteen

As promised, Michelle brought lunch at noon. Uncle John was able to manage the register for the half hour that I sat in the back eating with Michelle. Then she got her groceries and left.

A few hours later, three o'clock rolls around. One of the other workers, a junior named Michael, comes and I clock out. When I step outside, I remember why I was dreading this time.

Sheriff Thomas's cop car is sitting in the parking lot with Michelle in the passenger's seat. I sigh and climb in back.

"If you ladies believe that there is no Peter Hills in Mrs. Anderson's house, why are you so tense?" Sheriff Thomas accuses. I shrug, even though he can't see me without turning around. But his question is the exact reason I got in the vehicle in the first place.

And now my phone is in my locked car. I have no chance to warn him now. I can only hope that Michelle warned him or that he'll see the car and hide himself.

The remainder of the ride is silent, all the way until we're standing behind Sheriff Thomas, who is knocking on the door. Simon's mother answers, opening the door only enough to show her face.

"Mrs. Anderson, will you allow me to search your basement?"

He's been here before, right after Simon died. I remember reading about it in the paper. A few officers searched his room, but received specific directions not to search any other rooms, including the bathroom and what they didn't know was Peter's room.

"What are you looking for, Sheriff?"

"I've received a tip that Peter Hills is living in this household."

"Even if he was, why are you here?" Simon's mother shifts from foot to foot nervously.

"I am simply requesting that you allow me to go down to your basement again and search for evidence of his presence," Sheriff Thomas says. He looks down at his watch, almost as if to inform Simon's mother that he is impatient.

"What permission do you have to do so?"

"Mrs. Anderson, I am allowed to search for possible criminals."

"What did Peter Hills do that has the sheriff looking for him?" She asks, confusion evident on her face. It makes me wonder if she knows what really happened in August.

"That is confidential, ma'am."

"Then how do I know you aren't simply lying to me?"

"If I don't find anything, I'll buy you ice cream, along with these girls. You have to trust that I know what I am doing."

Reluctantly, Simon's mother steps away from the doorway. I silently scream. Sheriff Thomas is going to find Peter and take him away and she's going to let him by?! I can tell Michelle is thinking the same thing, since her forehead wrinkles and her fists clench, exactly like mine.

We slowly follow Sheriff Thomas on his way down to the basement. He wastes no time, skipping a few steps on the way down. Simon's mother is last, right behind Michelle. I bite my thumb and stand next to the futon as Sheriff Thomas opens Simon's door. I see a sliver of the familiar room where I slept a few months ago.

It looks the mostly the same. Something seems out of place, however, so I make my way over and step inside the room. The comforter is wrinkled still. We never fixed it from when I slept there. And that's when I see it.

A little sheet of paper is sitting under the pillow, the corner barely sticking out. With Sheriff Thomas's back turned, I quietly pull it out and tuck it under my shirt.

What really makes the room different is that on the shelf, where there used to be the box from the engagement ring, is now empty space. I'm confused. Did Peter take it?