Read Online The Photographer by Barbara Steiner - Free Book Online Page B

nothing to hide from him. “I’d appreciate that. I’ve got tons of homework.”
    The trip to Gunbarrel Greens, their subdivision, started out as silently as their drives usually were. But again it was not a comfortable silence. Megan squirmed in her seat and longed to escape sitting there beside Derrick. She wanted to shout, “Stop!” and jump out of the van. Could Derrick feel her fear? She had a feeling he could. She wanted to throw up a shield between them, hide her thoughts, her emotions.
    â€œDerrick?” Megan had to ease the tension. She’d try talking. “Remember when you said I had given you a good idea? Ready to tell me what it was?” She tried to laugh casually.
    â€œI doubt you’d understand it if I did tell you about it, Megan,” Derrick said.
    â€œNow you’re insulting my intelligence.” Megan tried to tease, pretend she was offended by Derrick’s remark. “Just because you’re some kind of genius, doesn’t mean you have the corner on intelligence. Try me. I might understand more than you know.”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Derrick really wasn’t going to tell her anything.
    â€œCome on, Derrick. If you tell me and I don’t understand, then you can say, ‘I told you so.’ You have my permission. I thought you liked me. That we were friends.” Megan kept talking.
    Derrick stared at her while they waited for a stoplight. Then he turned his eyes back to the road.
    Megan kept pretending that things were normal. “Pick me up tomorrow for staff meeting?” She opened the door when they got to her house.
    â€œSure, Megan. No problem.”
    She slammed the van door; then had to open it, slam it again. No problem . She hoped there wasn’t a problem. Please, please, she thought as she ran to her door. Let Robert be right. Let me look foolish. Let me be wrong about this, whatever it is. Let me be wrong about Derrick.

Chapter 10
    By nine o’clock that evening Megan had a plan. It wasn’t a good one, but it was the only one she could think of. She had to get inside Derrick’s house, into his darkroom. She might find something there—what, she couldn’t imagine, but something. A poisoned apple for the sleeping beauties?
    Her mind had gone from rational thinking to silly, confusing theories all evening. If she could just stop her imagination from going in all directions until she had some more facts.
    Even if she had to apologize to Robert, she needed him in on the plan. She dialed his number.
    â€œRobert, I know you think I’m being silly, but go along with me, please. It’s important. I need you to give Derrick an assignment so I’ll know where he is for a couple of hours.”
    There was a pause at the other end of the line. Then Robert laughed. “Okay, Megan. I’ll give him the city council assignment. He’ll hate it. But we need someone there, since they’re talking about school funding, possibly some remodeling at the high school.”
    â€œYou’ll insist he go?”
    â€œYes. I’ll find a good reason why I can’t.”
    Robert made good on his promise Tuesday morning. Derrick grumbled about having to go to the city council meeting, but in addition to the remodeling, a group of Boulder High’s council was going to propose a joint city and school Renaissance festival. Robert wanted a report on both activities in the school paper. Megan had given him the word from Mrs. Leffingwell. He didn’t like his paper being criticized and thought a picture of Boulder’s woman mayor and Boulder High’s female student council president would be good on the front page of the next issue. He assigned Jim to write up a serious election story to go with the photos.
    The day dragged on. Megan’s mind wasn’t on school. She missed Cynthia. She ate her lunch alone in the newspaper office, looking over past issues.
    School out,