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Becca joined in, "Sounds like Valerie Reed."
I covered my mouth at the realization. "It was her."
"Oh my God," Becca laughed. "She was so weird."
"Still is," Molly added and tossed me a knowing look.
For all the drama and circumstances, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Looking back now, I should have savored the momentary peace, really soaked it in, because when I got to work Monday morning a fresh disaster awaited me.
I had walked into the school, still riding the high from the weekend that had gone way better than expected. There was a bounce in my step that I could only attribute to Molly and the prospect of a short week thanks to the upcoming Memorial Day long weekend.
I got to my classroom and unlocked the door, keys still suspended in my hand when Walker called to me in a stage whisper. He looked more flustered than the last time.
Not bothering to drop my stuff off, I went to him.
“What is it now?” I asked not bothering to mask my irritation.
He looked around, his sweaty brow wrinkling as he did so. Then he leaned in close and whispered in a fog of coffee breath, “The police are here. They want to talk to you.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “About what?”
He pursed his lips so that his mustache curtained over his mouth. “Someone reported you for assault at the dance.”
19
MOLLY
I was in the middle of a dramatic reading of a poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends, when the phone in my classroom rang, shattering the silence. I paused, trying to finish the sentence before the shrill sound interrupted me again.
Closing the book, I leaned over and retrieved the receiver.
“Hello?” I answered, a bit annoyed at the interruption.
“Hey, Molly, it’s Glenda,” came the familiar voice on the other end. Her trademark ancient rasp instantly gave her away. “Mr. Walker needs you in his office right away.”
My brow furrowed in confusion. Glenda's usual playfulness was gone, and she sounded tense. “Is everything alright?”
There was a brief crackling on the line as I waited for her response. I could feel her hesitation before she finally spoke again. “Between us girls, it’s quite serious. You better come quick.”
“I’ll be right there,” I replied, already starting to gather my things.
Leaving my room, I flagged down Sal, the good-humored hall monitor, and asked him to keep an eye on my class for me. He nodded with a mischievous grin on his face before returning to his duties.
As soon as I walked into main office, my heart sank at the sight of two uniformed police officers leaning against the wall. Their thumbs were hooked in their vests in a casual but still menacing manner. My mind raced with possibilities as Mr. Walker discretely waved at me, his face grave and tense. This was not going to be good news.
"Molly," he said, his voice strained.
"What's going on?" I asked, trying to mask my fear with a touch of sass.
But before he could answer, one of the officers spoke up. "Are you Molly Sinclair?"
I nodded hesitantly. "Yes."
"I'm Officer Rodriguez. We need to ask you some questions about an incident at the Spring Fling dance on Saturday."
My mind raced, trying to figure out what this could be about, but I had a sick feeling that it had to do with Jake. "What’s happened now?”
"There was an incident of alleged sexual misconduct," the officer stated flatly.
