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
I started laughing at the silly things he said, and he seemed to appreciate me after that. And now, when I go over to pick up Chloe, he sometimes invites me into the garage and shows me the Mustang he’s working on or the table he’s stripping and restoring. I pretend like I’m interested even though the smell of gasoline and polyurethane is thick enough to choke an elephant. But I know what I have to do.
But here’s the problem: I haven’t spoken to her parents since the accident. I want to—I really do—but there hasn’t been a chance. They’re all over the news on Twitter and YouTube, and they look absolutely shook. Lost. Adrift. Which is about how they should look given what’s happened. But I kind of came to the vigil because I thought maybe I’d get a moment with them, just to see how they’re doing. We’re all going through the same thing—aren’t we the three people who care most about Chloe?—but for some reason we haven’t talked. It feels like there’s a hole, like a tooth has fallen out and needs to be replaced.
Dr. Jackson taps the microphone a few times. Feedback screeches over the field and everyone winces as they look up. The murmur of conversation dies as Jackson clears her throat and announces that we’re going to begin.
She starts talking about the order of events, and that’s when Chad, Cameron, and Hector appear, looking freshly showered. They each pat me on the back and say hello to Dad, who solemnly shakes their hands like we’re all at a funeral.
Jackson tells us she’s going to speak first and then the superintendent. And then maybe Chloe’s parents. She doesn’t add, “If they’re up to it,” but she doesn’t need to.
“And then we’ll conclude by lighting our candles and offering up our thoughts for Chloe’s safe return.”
Someone moves closer to me. Is it Olivia and Gabriela, coming to offer moral support? But it’s Daniel, holding his phone in front of his face again.
He must see the irritation on my face, because he lowers his phone, smiles, and kind of looks sorry. Then he nods at Dad.
“Dr. Gifford,” he says, holding out his empty hand.
It takes Dad a moment, but then a genuine smile crosses his face. “Is that Danny?”
They shake hands and lower their voices because the principal is speaking.