Chapters (95)
- Front Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Video #1
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Video #2
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Video #3
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- The Final Video
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Back Cover
“By now, you know what I’ve done. And it’s true. I did go into Chloe’s house and take her journal. I didn’t break in, which is what everyone else is saying. I knew her bedroom window would be unlocked, because Chloe and I had used it before. Maybe I’m splitting hairs. Or maybe I’m admitting I could get into their house anytime I wanted. Some people say that proves I’m the one who kidnapped Chloe, even though that doesn’t make any sense. Everybody knows Chloe was with me at homecoming and that we left together. But I guess I’m done trying to make sense of everything.”
I shift in the chair. The red eye still examines me, making me feel awkward.
“I turned the journal over to the police because I want them to find Chloe. That was my goal all along. That’s why I went right to Detective Haley once I read it. And I know I made a wrong assumption about what I read in the journal. I know I was wrong about Mike Basher.”
I nod my head, certain of something. More certain of this than anything else.
“I do want to say something clearly. I’m sorry, Mike. I’m sorry to you and your family and your friends. I was wrong, and the police know that. And I know everybody makes fun of the way you play quarterback, but if you decide to change positions, you should think of linebacker. You tackle very well.”
I don’t smile. But maybe somebody will think it’s funny since everybody knows I went after Basher, and he slammed me to the ground.
“Anyway, I’m still a person of interest. That’s what the police say. And I’m being charged with trespassing for going into Chloe’s house without permission. They’re threatening to charge me for tampering with evidence, too, but I don’t know if that’s for real or just a threat. But I know they really want to charge me with kidnapping and murder. They really want to get me for the big stuff, and they’re just hoping something comes up that allows them to do that. Then everyone in town will be happy.”
My throat feels dry. I swallow and decide to go on, even with a mouth that feels like I chewed on cotton balls.