Don't Look Behind You (Don't Look Series Book 1) by Emily Kazmierski (summer reads .txt) 📗

Four deputy’s vehicles, a fire truck, and the sheriff’s Bronco are parked on the gravel drive and the overgrown front lawn. I saw one officer come out of the house a few minutes ago with evidence bags full of various stuff I didn’t care to examine too closely. I never want to see the knife that severed my parents from me ever again.

Aunt Karen, or Agent Biel, I should say, is standing a few feet away having a chat with her boss on her cell phone. Her eyes catch mine in a way that I recognize. Are you okay?

I shrug. I have no idea if I’m okay, or if I ever will be. My eyes land on my sister again. We have so much to talk about, and suddenly I can’t wait another minute. I run over to where she’s sitting on the trunk of one of the deputy’s cars, but stop a couple steps away.

We stare at each other, and I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to bridge the gap that has yawned wide between us in the past almost six months. It’s partly my fault, yes, but it’s hers too. Instead of coming clean about my discovery that I’d been chatting with the Gemini Killer online for months, I kept that from her. Instead of forgiving me for being naïve, she shut me out of her heart and bolted the door.

Exhaling to alleviate the nervous energy coursing through my arms and legs, I haul myself up beside her on the cool metal. We sit side by side in silence for a beat, watching the frenzy of movement in and out of the house.

The ambulance carrying Esau pulls away, and Taryn frowns as her eyes follow its progress up the street.

“What’s going on between you two?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Nothing. He wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Now you know how it feels.” The words come out sharper than I intend, but as I open my mouth to apologize, I stop. If Taryn and I have even a shot at getting past this and being sisters again, I’m going to have to start being more honest with her about how I’m feeling. Especially when it’s one of the uglier emotions. So instead of apologizing, I brace myself for a fight. Fighting will be infinitely better than pretending the other doesn’t exist.

When Taryn’s eyes meet mine, they’re not full of anger but… remorse. I suck in a breath.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she whispers. “You had no idea there was a psycho killer who was obsessed with you and following you. You had no idea he was catfishing you over social media and twisting everything you said to suit what he wanted. I mean, come on, any guy would have to be truly twisted to think you’d want to marry him in that truly criminal wedding dress.”

She cracks a hint of a smile, but I shake my head.

“It’s not funny. If I hadn’t made you hang back after school while I talked to my teacher—”

“He would have killed me and taken you, Audrey. You wouldn’t have been able to stop him.”

“I could have tried.” My eyes start to well.

Taryn shakes her head. “I blamed you because it was easier than admitting the truth: that our parents died in a senseless and cruel attack, for no reason other than someone chose to do evil. It was easier blaming you because at least then I had someone to be mad at. I’m so sorry.” The overlarge coat she’s wearing falls off her shoulders as she flings her arms around my neck and clings to me. “I missed you so much. Nothing is the same without you. I just want to be sisters again, okay?”

I cry into her hair, hugging her back fiercely.

“What were you thinking, pretending you wanted to marry him? That was the grossest, freakiest thing I’ve ever seen!” She yells, shoving at my shoulders. “Are you insane?”

“I thought if I played along he’d let you go. I realize how stupid that sounds now that I say it out loud.”

“You think?” Taryn wraps her arm around my shoulders and rests her head against mine. “No more pretending, okay? From now on we’re Audrey and Taryn, no matter what.”

“Deal.”

Agent Biel hangs up her phone call and marches over, examining us with a wary expression. “You two girls okay?”

We both nod, still huddled together.

“That was my boss. He’s sorry the Gemini Killer won’t face justice in court, but he thinks we’ll have enough evidence to put a case together against his brother. Do you girls think you’ll be up to testifying when the time comes?”

We nod again.

“Good. Let’s get you home. It’s freezing out here.”

Taryn and I slide down off the car, and my sister points before tucking the borrowed jacket around her thin frame. “There’s someone Audrey needs to talk to first.”

I follow her direction and spot Noah standing nearby, hands shoved in his pockets, studying me like I’m a puzzle he can’t quite work out.

“Gimme a minute?”

Agent Biel nods, gesturing with her chin for me to go over to him.

“Hey,” I say when I get close enough. It’s awkward. I’ve spent hours and hours with Noah studying or hanging out, but now that he knows who I am, I don’t know where to start.

“Hey,” he answers, staring at my shoes behind his glasses.

“So…”

“You lied to me.”

My mouth drops open, but I quickly close it again. It’s true. I did lie to Noah. I had reasons, but still. “I did, and I’m sorry.”

“You’re both Megan.”

“I was her on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Taryn did Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. She was self-conscious about her scar, so I took more days. And I used special effects makeup to create a matching scar on my cheek.”

“That’s why you’ve been so hot and cold all semester. Why some days it feels like you’re barely tolerating me while other days... “ Noah speaks as if he has to get the words out while he has the chance. His cheeks