Chapter 16 - Shadows in the Rearview
The room turned freezing cold.
Beneath the foundation of Oakridge High.
The very foundation that our community had just spent three million dollars expanding and celebrating.
"Marcus Vance is still alive," Noah said suddenly.
The name hung in the air like poison.
Marcus Vance was no longer just the troubled nephew who bullied kids in the late nineties.
He was currently the District Attorney of Oakridge County.
He was running for state attorney general in next month's election.
He had been on the stage at the ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon.
He had shaken Malik’s hand with a polished, plastic smile.
He had praised the school's commitment to "healing and progress."
"Marcus knows about the box," Mrs. Baxter whispered, grasping Malik's sleeve with trembling fingers.
"Two weeks ago, Marcus came here."
"He asked me if I had left anything behind in room 204 before the demolition started."
"I told him no."
"I told him my memory was failing."
"He didn't believe me, Malik."
Before anyone could respond, a sudden beam of bright headlights illuminated Mrs. Baxter’s living room window.
A dark sedan had pulled up against the curb outside.
The engine did not turn off.
The driver sat behind heavily tinted glass, idling in the dead silence of the cul-de-sac.
Malik instantly pulled Noah away from the glass.
"Turn off the lamp," Malik ordered quietly.
I reached out and clicked the switch.
Darkness enveloped the sitting room.
Through the thin lace curtains, we watched the black sedan.
The driver's window cracked open an inch.
A glowing cigarette ember appeared in the slit of darkness.
Whoever was inside was watching Mrs. Baxter's cottage.
They had followed us from the school.
"We can't stay here," I said, my heart slamming against my ribs.
"Mrs. Baxter, you cannot stay here tonight."
"I have nowhere else to go, child," she replied softly.
"You're coming with us," Malik said firmly.
"Whatever Arthur and Marcus Vance did to cover their tracks twenty-five years ago, it ends tonight."
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"They used my pain to bury a boy's murder."
"They are not burying anyone else."
