Page 55 of Mad Mabel

“Billy followed me off the beach. He was saying some upsetting things to me and I was trying to get away.”

Cess, I noticed, was looking a little worried now. Mrs. Harris, on the other hand, looked irate.

“So what happened?”

“We got to the top of the stairs and I ran away.”

“What did Billy do?”

“I don’t know. I was running. When I stopped, he wasn’t there.”

Mrs. Harris’s nostrils flared as she breathed in and out, slowly. “Did you do something to Billy, Mabel?”

“No.”

“Tell the truth now.”

“No,” I repeated, at the same time Cess said: “Enough, Lorraine.”

“I bumped into Mr. Loukas at the beach right after I left the other kids. Ask him. I didn’t do anything to Billy.”

Mrs. Harris still seemed to be digesting this when blue and white lights flashed behind her in the cul-de-sac. We all turned as an officer emerged from his patrol car and began speaking to Mr. Harris.

Mrs. Harris hurried outside. Cess and I followed.

“What is it?” Mrs. Harris said. “What’s happened?”

Mr. Harris lifted his head, but for a moment he didn’t speak. The policeman’s hat, I noticed, was in his hand.

“What is it?” she said. “Tell me, Damian.”

Mrs. Harris was shaking. Mr. Harris was eerily still.

“They’ve found him,” Mr. Harris said.

32

NOW

“Elsa!Psst.Elsa!”

I’m in the kitchen attempting to prep my evening meal without the use of my left hand, when I hear the extraordinarily loud whisper. I’d spent the day indoors, not even going onto the porch for fresh air. It felt safest that way. No need to worry about Persephone seeing me, after Roxanne asked me to keep my distance. No need to worry about seeing Peter and making him feel like he needed to do more for me. No need to worry about seeing Joan. Good fences make great neighbors, isn’t that the saying? Neighbors are not friends. Besides, I have Daphne. She is the only friend I need.

Unfortunately, Daphne is at home. She was tired. Again.

“Elsa!” the voice repeats, even louder now. “It’s me. PERSEPHONE.”

I put down my knife and follow the sound, which is comingfrom the front of the house. Nugget is at my heels. Mrs. Nguyen had dropped the little monster off a few hours earlier and she hadn’t left my side.

“For pity’s sake, child, I know it’s you. Hold your horses, would you?”

I walk into my bedroom. I’d left my bedroom window open a crack for fresh air. Persephone is sitting on one of my wrought iron chairs, her face pressed up to the open window. “How did you know?”

“The options weren’t exactly endless,” I tell her. “There’s also the fact that, despite multiple warnings, you continue to call me Elsa.” I slide the window open a little farther with my good hand.

“How is your hand?”

“My wrist,” I say. “It’s fine. Makes getting dressed a little difficult though.”