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Back She's Gone Save as PDF
Chapters (95)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Video #1
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-One
  27. Twenty-Two
  28. Twenty-Three
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Video #2
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Thirty-Nine
  46. Forty
  47. Forty-One
  48. Forty-Two
  49. Forty-Three
  50. Forty-Four
  51. Forty-Five
  52. Forty-Six
  53. Forty-Seven
  54. Forty-Eight
  55. Forty-Nine
  56. Fifty
  57. Fifty-One
  58. Fifty-Two
  59. Fifty-Three
  60. Fifty-Four
  61. Fifty-Five
  62. Fifty-Six
  63. Fifty-Seven
  64. Fifty-Eight
  65. Fifty-Nine
  66. Sixty
  67. Sixty-One
  68. Sixty-Two
  69. Sixty-Three
  70. Sixty-Four
  71. Sixty-Five
  72. Video #3
  73. Sixty-Six
  74. Sixty-Seven
  75. Sixty-Eight
  76. Sixty-Nine
  77. Seventy
  78. Seventy-One
  79. Seventy-Two
  80. Seventy-Three
  81. Seventy-Four
  82. Seventy-Five
  83. Seventy-Six
  84. Seventy-Seven
  85. Seventy-Eight
  86. Seventy-Nine
  87. Eighty
  88. Eighty-One
  89. Eighty-Two
  90. Eighty-Three
  91. The Final Video
  92. Acknowledgments
  93. About the Author
  95. Back Cover

“You see, Hunter, people can be…cruel. They can say things. You’ve been in the news, and some people always think the worst about the boyfriend when something like this happens.”

“I know, Dad.”

“I’m just saying…”

The spoonful of oatmeal nearly chokes me. It tastes scorched, like he stirred ashes into the pot as a seasoning. I don’t want to hurt his feelings but…

“I’m just saying that if you want to stay home today, or if you just don’t…I mean some kids get homeschooled. I can certainly help with that. And my colleagues on campus can help, too.”

Mom died of breast cancer a year and a half ago. Since then, Dad has pretty much had to do everything. He works a lot and pays the bills. He drove us around everywhere until I got my license. He tries in his own weird way to be both parents, even though it’s not his strong suit. Things are always a little awkward with him.

Tears form in my eyes. I stare at the gross oatmeal like it’s the most important thing in the world. Like black tar breakfast is my absolute favorite. I can’t look at him. Not now.

“It’s okay, Dad,” I say. “I’m ready. I need to do it sooner rather than later. Besides, it’s better than sitting around the house just…thinking.”

“And your head, it’s... Is it feeling better? The nausea?”

“No nausea,” I say. Unless I eat more oatmeal. “Just a little headache. It’s getting there.”

Dad nods. Maybe he even looks a little relieved. He wants me back in school, getting on with my life. And he hates having his routine disrupted.

He finishes his coffee and sets his mug on the counter with a little thump. “Well,” he says.

One of our awkward silences descends on us. He’s ready to go but doesn’t know how to leave.

And I don’t have anything else to say to him. As usual.

Olivia clomps down the stairs. She comes into the kitchen like a miniature hurricane, her phone clutched in her hands, her eyes and mouth wide.

“Oh my God, you guys,” she says. “Did you see this?”

Three

“See what?” Dad asks.

He looks like a poisonous snake has just curled up next to his foot. His son is a murder suspect, and he can’t handle any more bad news.

Olivia is holding her phone like it’s a holy book she’s about to read from. She’s fifteen and dressed in her usual outfit: combat boots, tight jeans, black T-shirt, flannel shirt tied around her waist. She has a new streak of color in her brown hair. Purple this time. Last week it was pink.