Greta put a hand up, warding Buster off. “What would your mother say if she could hear you now?” Her voice wascalm. “Justifying theft? Making flippant comments about a man’s murder?”
Something in my jaw cracked. “I wouldn’t know. She’s not here.”
“She would say this is not like you,” Pastor Keller said, his voice deep and sad, his eyes tired. “She would say you’ve lost your way.”
I threw my hands up. “Oh mygod, you nutcase, what are you even talking about? You don’t know my momorme! You have no idea what she’d say, and you don’t care! None of you do. You called her a witch when she was here, and when she went missingyou alldecided not to look for her.” I turned to Greta again. “You’re hersisterand you didn’t even care. You want to talk to me about making flippant comments? You treated her likegarbage—you abandoned her—”
“Now, wait a second—” Buster started in.
Pastor Keller held up an accusing finger. “Young lady, this is—”
Aunt Greta stared at me, silent, as the two men spoke over each other, chastising and berating. She didn’t have to say anything. My mother hung between us, that invisible tether, the one even she wouldn’t dare cut.
“Hey! Hey, break it up!”
Chief Rivera came jogging across the street, her dark bun bouncing with her strides. Her aviators now hung on the breastpocket of her uniform. She planted herself in front of me and faced the three adults. Pastor Keller and Buster finally shut up.
“Is there a problem, Greta?” the Chief asked.
“I was asking why she was here,” Greta said, clearly doing her best to control her anger.
“She was accusing me of setting the fire,” I said. Greta’s nostrils flared. The Chief glanced at me over her shoulder, then turned back.
“You three are threatening a minor. Not only a minor, Greta—your niece. The only person she ever hurt was herself. What’s gotten into you? What would Dasree say?”
“Twice in one day my mom’s name gets invoked,” I said. “You’d think that meant someone here actually liked her.”
Only Pastor Keller and Buster seemed to hear me, because they both shot looks my way. Greta only sniffed at Chief Rivera and pulled herself up a little higher.
“I need all three of you to calm down and step away,” Rivera said.
“Abby, don’t you think—”
“Stepaway, Greta.”
Aunt Greta’s eyes flashed. For all her bluster, she was scarier when she was silent, and she didn’t say a word as she spun and clip-clopped back to her car. Buster Gates and Pastor Keller followed, Buster with a few choice words to Chief Rivera, Pastor Keller with a too-long look at me and apromise that he would pray for George Masrell.
Chief Rivera let out a weary sigh.
“What are you doing here, Zora?”
I leveled a quick glare at the onlookers nearby, then lowered my voice and said, “What’s anyone else doing here?” I motioned to the tourists. “I wanted to see what was going on.”
“You’re not anyone else,” she said. “With your family’s reputation, you know that. And you’re not a minor anymore, so be glad they didn’t call me out on that. You know how this town gets with rumors. Until we can figure out what happened, I need you to keep your head down. Don’t go causing any more trouble. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Blowing up at Aunt Greta wouldn’t help that sterling Novak reputation. I crossed my arms, tucking my hands into my armpits. “I just don’t want to be blamed for this. Did Jack and Norm tell you about what I said? My alibi? Can’t you—”
“The word already got out that you were the one fixing things. A lot of people are talking about—well...” Another pause. “I know your family, and I know you. I don’t believe you’d do something like this, but I’ve got no evidence. You’re a good kid. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure this town doesn’t run away with its rumors. Okay?” She glanced at her watch. “Don’t you have to get to work? Jack’s always talking about those damn sundaes.”
I did need to go home and change clothes. I looked over Chief Rivera’s shoulder, where Greta, Buster, and Pastor Keller now stood by Greta’s Lexus, clearly waiting for the Chief to finish talking to me.
“You let me worry about them,” Chief Rivera said. “Go on now.”
“Fine. Thanks.”
“Thank me by staying out of trouble.”
I stuffed my hands back into my pockets and retreated. I circled around the opposite end of the street to get back to the Chevelle.
