Miriam’s mother dropped her off at the gym. Miriam had pleaded again with Ruth. But Ruth wouldn’t change her mind. She had insisted on staying safe at home.
Maybe she’s the smart one, Miriam thought as she entered the gym by herself.
She arrived early. The game wasn’t supposed to start for another hour and a half. She hoped to get a moment with Jed before everything started. The afternoon’s explosion still weighed heavily on her mind.
How could she have thought that Jed had murdered Holly?
This was Jed! He had no reason to do it, no reason at all.
She was wrong to accuse him, and she wanted to apologize. He shouldn’t be worrying about her during his big game.
Miriam strode out into the main hallway, which was nearly deserted this far from game time. She rounded the corner to the boys locker room—and grinned at her good luck.
Jed leaned over the water fountain, in his warm-up uniform, all alone.
Before she could call his name, he popped something into his mouth and took a hasty drink to wash it down.
“Jed!”
He spun sideways, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
“Miriam,” he gasped. “You scared me.”
She approached him with a smile. “I’m sorry. What was that you were taking?”
“Oh, um, it’s a high-potency vitamin,” he replied. “I found it at a health food store in Waynesbridge. It gives me energy right before the game.”
Miriam nodded. “Jed, I—”
He held up a finger to stop her. “Don’t apologize, Miriam. I’m the jerk here, remember?”
Miriam smiled. “I do remember something like that, now that you mention it.”
“Look, I’ll make a deal with you. Don’t say anything. I’m going to go out there and kick some Reed Valley butt, mop a few floors, get a couple scholarships, and then we can go out afterward. Sound good?”
Miriam laughed. “Yeah, it sounds great.”
“Good. I’ve got to get to warm-ups.” He gave her a quick kiss. A thrill went through her at his touch. She wished he could stay.
“Jed?” she called.
He turned back to her.
“Kill ’em,” she said.
By the middle of the third quarter, Jed was on fire. He’d already scored twenty-one points, but Shadyside was losing to Reed Valley, 52-45.
Miriam had never gone to a game by herself before, but she was so into it she didn’t even think about Holly’s absence.
Until, during a time out, her eyes scanned the bleachers—and came to rest on Noah Brennan.
He stared back at her.
Miriam stiffened. Why was he watching her? She scanned the crowd for Mei, but didn’t see her. Miriam pretended not to notice Noah’s glare.
She focused on the game.
Jed was barking at his teammates, bringing the ball upcourt. He passed to Gary, who took an outside shot and missed.
Jed didn’t like that at all. He gave his friend an angry shout after a Reed Valley player got the rebound and brought the ball back downcourt.
Reed Valley scored.
Miriam groaned.
Jed was in a fury. He yanked the ball from the ref and inbounded it violently to Gary again.
Miriam looked down the bleachers.
Noah was gone.
She turned her attention back to the game.
Jed drove for the basket. He dribbled hard and prepared to leap. Then a Reed Valley player stepped in front of him. Jed barreled over him, stomping him into the floor.
The refs whistle blew.
An offensive foul on Jed.
He exploded. Slammed the ball to the floor.
It bounced up a good twenty feet, and the crowd let out a gasp. Jed moved into the ref’s face, bellowing words Miriam couldn’t quite make out from her seat in the bleachers. She bit her lip. If he argued any harder, he’d get a technical foul, maybe even an ejection.
“Back off, Jed,” she pleaded. “Back off.”
Gary pulled Jed away from the ref. Too late. The ref called the technical foul.
Jed erupted like a volcano, screaming over Gary’s shoulder.
Then one of the Reed Valley players yelled something at Jed.
Miriam watched helplessly as Jed turned on the player.
And attacked.
Jed punched him in the jaw, driving the boy’s head back so far that Miriam feared his neck would snap.
The player dropped instantly. And Jed fell over him. He latched on to his throat with a savage two-handed grip. He choked the player, slamming his head into the hardwood floor over and over again.
Miriam gasped.
Jed was killing him!
The truth hit her that instant.
In that instant, she knew everything.
Her mind spun helplessly into a picture so complete, so horrifying, and so true that she was paralyzed by it; Jed’s strong hands pulling Holly’s scarf tight around her throat, all his anger channeled into the desperate act of murder.
It was true.
Jed did kill Holly!
Watching him on the floor, Miriam knew he was the murderer.
A shudder of dread shook her whole body.
Now what? she asked herself, feeling so alone, so helpless.