Our positions keep changing from me on top with her legs on my shoulders, to her pushing me onto my back and riding me. Then I pull her onto my lap, to hold her as I lay her back onto the bed again. More than once we crash against a table or knock into the wall. Making a lot of noise. A knock comes at the door, and I hear Caleb, “Is… is Eden in there? Are you guys, okay?” I laugh to myself as Eden twists on top of me and then freezes.
“I think we’re more than okay,” I heave out. Not loud enough that Caleb can hear.
“Yes!” she calls to him, as she slams herself back down before falling onto my chest where she looks at me through her loose strands of hair blowing them away. “Fuck, yes,” she whispers. Sexy as hell.
I can’t talk her into the shower with me while I get ready. She informs me that shower sex isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, I intend to show her a thing or two. When I come back out tucking my white dress shirt into my slacks, she’s wrapped in her robe and drinking my now cooled coffee.
“I like your idea of a wake-up call.” I lick at my lip looking at her. “I could stay here all day with you.” My aim is to get to the elementary school by ten this morning to catch up with Ms. Peterson. If I plan to keep it, I need to head out soon.
“You can’t tell me where you’re going?” We’ve talked about this. It’s an open investigation and even though I want to tell her, I can’t right now.
“You grew up around here, right?” I pull my suit jacket on over my shoulder holster and dress shirt. She makes a face.
“Mhmm.” Her whole mood changes. “About forty minutes from here.” She sets my coffee down and taps at the desk. “Not exactly the best memories.”
The drive to the elementary school is dominated by what I know about Eden’s background. It’s not much, based on her teacher and principal’s observations it was neglect, abuse, and disappointment. The fact that Peterson is at least accountable for not helping her out of that situation has me on edge. I want answers today.
The secretary bats her eyes my way as I wave and continue to Peterson’s office. I don’t want word to spread I’m here giving her a chance to run. Her office is dark, and the door is open. I take a seat just out of sight of the doorway. Staring at Waverly’s picture, I grip the arm of the chair. Gazing around the room, I notice another photo with an even younger child maybe months old. It’s perched on the top of a filing cabinet. Two kids. I missed that last time I was here.
I hear the click clack of heels on the worn tiled floor in the hallway. I take a deep breath; a lot is riding on getting her to talk to me.
“You should get to class now, Sara. Here’s your pass, darling. Okay, careful steps now. We walk in the halls not run.” Her voice is melodic and sweet. Seconds later she flips the light inside the door on and walks in looking through mail she’s carrying when I clear my throat.
She clutches at her chest with wild eyes, “What areyoudoing here?” She moves back towards the door like I’m going to hurt her.
“I decided to pay you a surprise visit. My calls and other attempts to see you all failed.” I give her a half smile. “It looks like you might have time now.”
Regaining her composure, she sets the mail on her desk and takes a seat. “I have a couple of minutes and then I have another appointment.” She keeps looking at the open door like she’s expecting someone to come barreling through it. “What was your name again?”
“Agent Scholl. Matthew Scholl.”
She frowns and then folds her hands together on the desk. “Agent Scholl, is this about that student you asked about before? Because I really don’t have any more information for you.” Her nervousness is evident in the way she’s holding her body, the way her eyes keep flicking all over the room, and the slight tremble of her hands.
“No? You don’t, Caroline?” The look of horror on her face tells me I’m not wrong.
“That’s… that’s not my name.” She hugs her arms close and wraps a hand over the C.B. initials I noticed on my last visit, visible just slightly under her bracelet. “If you don’t have any other questions, I need to have you leave.” Her voice quivers.
I get up and close the door, since the open doorway seems to be drawing her attention too much. “Why aren’t you willing to talk to me?”
She gives a slight shake of her head and tears start to gather. “I was protecting her,” she says so quietly I almost miss it.
“Protecting who? Eden?” I sit back down across from her. She’s in a short sleeve white cashmere sweater and a wool skirt. Expensive. Her hand flutters near her neck and she’s tucked the one with initials at her side.
She nods yes. “I did what I could. I did.” Like she’s trying to convince herself of that.
“Except, that doesn’t appear to be the case, Ms… not Peterson, would it be Bradford?” Her eyes widen and she shakes her head ‘no’ emphatically.
“No. I’m Willa Peterson.” Fear radiates from her and it’s not me. I realize whatever she’s afraid of is beyond me and what I might know.
I lean in towards her. “You can trust me. I’ll help protect you if you just tell me what I need to know. Can you do that?” It feels like hostage negotiating, she looks at me like I’m speaking another language and nods, but then starts to shake her head again.
“There is a connection to you that I don’t understand. Between you and Eden. Can you tell me what it is?” My heart is beating out of my chest because I think I know what it is. God, I hope not. I fucking hope not.
“You should… you should go.” She sucks her lips in and then shudders. “I’ve told you what I know.”
I put another card on her desk. I left one last time that she likely discarded. “If you change your mind and decide to talk to me Caroline, I’m in town for two more days. Please call me. Whatever you’re afraid of, we’ll tackle it together.” She makes no move to look at or touch the card. “Your parents think you killed yourself, did you know that?” Tears fall down her cheeks and she stays still.
“I’m not Caroline,” her soft voice says. “My name is Willa.”
