She Was the Quiet One. Michele Campbell

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СКАЧАТЬ Once they came to Odell?

      Kriscunas: Anything you can tell us about their relationship would be helpful, as far back as you know.

      Howard: For instance, if you know, were Rose and Bel close growing up?

      Kim: From what Rose said, I think they were friends to each other. But my sense is, they weren’t close, because they’re so different—were so different.

      Kriscunas: In what way were they different?

      Kim: In every way. I mean, here at Odell, kids couldn’t believe they were actually twins. First of all, they look nothing alike. Bel was this sultry brunette and Rose was fair, but beyond that—I mean, Bel was drop-dead gorgeous. And Rose was, well, normal. Pleasant-looking. Some might say plain.

      Kriscunas: Did that cause problems between them?

      Kim: Problems, how?

      Kriscunas: Jealousy?

      Kim: Oh, so girls are all catty and jealous if one is pretty and the other isn’t? I’m sorry, but that narrative is so trite.

      Howard: I don’t think the lieutenant meant it that way, Emma. We’re interested in specific instances of bad feelings between the Enright sisters, that you were aware of.

      Kim: If they were jealous, then they were each jealous of the other. I think they both wanted to be more like the other. Rose was really into school, and she was very successful at Odell from the start. Teachers liked her. She was especially close to her advisor, Mrs. Donovan.

      Howard: Yes, we’re going to be speaking with Mrs. Donovan.

      Kim: Rose studied really hard, did lots of extracurriculars. Her grades were good. Where Bel struggled academically, and I think it bothered Bel that Rose was so into school.

      Howard: Bothered her, how?

      Kim: Like, she found it annoying and prissy, but she was also jealous. Bel, on the other hand, immediately got accepted into this fast, popular clique. Rose didn’t like that. She worried Bel would get in trouble. But deep down, she was jealous of Bel’s social life. On a Saturday night, Bel would be of partying, but you could always find Rose in the library.

      Kriscunas: Rose was quiet, Bel was wild?

      Kim: Mmm, that’s too simplistic. In some ways, Bel was the quiet one. She hung out with the older kids, but she was a follower, not a leader. Like with the attack—you know, the slipper incident?

      Kriscunas: Yes, we’re going to go over that in some detail in a moment.

      Kim: Okay, that was all Darcy Madden’s doing. Bel was just along for the ride. Like I said, a follower. Also, Bel barely ever talked in class, which is somewhat unusual here, and part of the reason she didn’t do well academically. Bel and I didn’t have any classes together, because I’m on the Honors track, and she was definitely not on the Honors track. But I heard from other kids that she’d sit there like a bump on a log, terrified to open her mouth. Except in English.

      Kriscunas: You say that like it was important.

      Kim: Well. Let’s just say that Mr. Donovan was her English teacher. I can talk about that if you want to. Uh—but Rose was very self-confident. Honestly, even though you could say she wasn’t as popular as Bel, Rose fit in better here.

      Kriscunas: When you say Bel was popular, you’re talking about with those seniors she hung out with?

      Kim: Yes, exactly.

      Kriscunas: You say they were a fast crowd.

      Kim: Yes, I mean, come on. Darcy Madden and Tessa Romano—you know what they did, right?

      Kriscunas: Absolutely, and that’s on the agenda. We think that incident could be quite important in terms of motive. Tell us more about Bel and the seniors. How did Bel come to hang out with them? And did it cause the tension with Rose?

      Kim: How they started hanging out, I don’t know. It was just like that from Day One. I remember the very first day of classes, Bel was already sitting with the seniors, which was pretty unheard of. My guess is, Darcy took a shine to Bel, and since Darcy was the queen bee, that meant Bel was in. Anyway, I told Rose that Bel was headed for trouble, hanging out with that crew. Those girls were notorious for doing drugs, smuggling boys in, pulling pranks, that sort of thing. Rose tried to talk sense into Bel, but Bel wasn’t having it.

      Howard: Were there specific incidents you recall where they argued over it?

      Kim: Oh, they fought about it all the time. Rose felt like her sweet sister was taken over by pod people, you know? But nothing she said made any diference. You have to understand, showing up here as a newbie sophomore is not easy. To have Darcy Madden favor you with her attention–Bel’s head was turned. It made her feel special. Those weren’t just any friends. They were the most powerful friends you could have at this school, socially speaking. Until it all went wrong, with the attack.

      Kriscunas: We understand that the sisters were on opposite sides of that incident. Do you think it’s what caused the rift between them?

      Kim: The rift had been developing for a while. And not just over Bel hanging with Darcy’s crew. There were other reasons, too. Fighting over clothes, over boys—over a particular boy. But yeah, it was the attack that caused the most serious breach between them.

      Howard: Serious enough to lead to murder?

      Kim: You’re the police. You tell me.

      Kriscunas: Miss Kim, you were the student who had the best access to both sisters. We’re interested in hearing what you think.

      Kim: Honestly? I think there are several possible explanations. There was more going on here than you realize.

      Kriscunas: Like what?

      Kim: Well . . . you say you’re going to talk to Mrs. Donovan?

7

      “To sweet, beautiful Sarah,” Heath said, raising his champagne glass. “‘One half of me is yours, the other half yours, and so all yours.’ Happy thirty, darling, I love you more than ever.”

      “I love you, too. So much,” Sarah said, her eyes sparkling with happy tears.

      They clinked glasses, took sips, then leaned across the table and kissed lingeringly. His lips were cool and delicious from the champagne. It was the Saturday night after the first week of classes, and the dining room at Le Jardin glowed with flowers and candlelight. Soft music played in the background, and Sarah felt lucky. She would have settled for putting the kids to bed, making a pot of spaghetti and opening a bottle of red wine. But this was a milestone birthday, and Heath had surprised her with dinner at her favorite restaurant, expense be damned. Life with him had its ups and downs, but it was never less than exciting.

      “What you said just now, was that Shakespeare?” СКАЧАТЬ