Killer Among Us

Chapter 4

In the end, that is what happened. Clair’s grandmother came and picked up Maggie, but agreed that Clair could stay with Rheachal and Gio to finish out the school year. Clair continued to go through the motions like a zombie, her movements stiff and awkward. She didn’t miss any school, but her grades began to slip. Teachers gave her a free pass, excusing late or absent work, in light of the recent events. Despite that, Clair fell further and further behind.

Clair also started hanging out with Mike Coolidge. Mike was tall with a lanky build. He wore his blonde hair in a faux hawk and threw the best parties. He was an adrenaline junkie and usually got his kicks racing around Boise as if he were an extra in The Fast and the Furious. While Mike’s parties always had copious amounts of liquor available, Mike never drank. He claimed it was because he didn’t like to feel altered and stuck to energy drinks instead. He started talking to her shortly after her parents died. Within a couple weeks, Clair was going out with him Friday and Saturday nights. At first, the group was happy to see Clair rejoining the land of the living, but it wasn’t long before they started to worry about her.

Rheachal was hurrying toward the Moxie Java by Edwards Theater when she ran into Clair and Mike one Saturday evening. Clair was twisted around Mike, giggling in a very un-Clair manner. Mike held loosely to Clair’s hips, walking her toward the entrance to the theater. He peppered her face with kisses, making her giggle harder.

“Clair?” Rheachal asked in disbelief, not recognizing her friend.

“Oh, hey, Rhea,” Clair said. She turned her head toward Rheachal, but kept her arms wrapped tightly around Mike’s shoulders.

“Don’t ‘Hey, Rhea’ me,” Rheachal snapped.

“Oh my God, Rhea, what’s your problem?” Clair asked, rolling her eyes.

“Are you drunk?” Rheachal asked.

“What business is it of yours?” Clair asked.

“What the hell is going on with you lately?” Rheachal asked.

“I’m finally free,” Clair answered, giggling again. “I don’t have a baby and two worthless parents to take care of anymore.”

“And that’s a reason to behave like this?” Rheachal demanded.

Clair shrugged at her.

Rheachal grabbed Clair’s arm, trying to untangle her from Mike.

“You’re coming with me,” Rheachal stated.

“No. I’m not,” Clair said, jerking her arm from Rheachal’s grasp. “Mike and I are seeing a movie.”

“Have you been drinking too?” Rheachal asked Mike.

“You know I don’t drink, Officer D’Angelo,” Mike answered with a lopsided grin and a mock salute.

“How much has she had?”

“Enough to take the edge off,” Mike answered.

“And how much is that?” Rheachal demanded.

“Go buy yourself a fifth of whiskey and find out for yourself,” Mike suggested.

“Hey, Clair. Mike,” Haydan said, joining the trio. “Rheachal,” he added, his gaze lingering on her face

“Hey, Brewster,” Mike said. “How about you take your girlfriend somewhere so Clair and I can enjoy our movie?”

Haydan’s gaze bounced between Mike and Rheachal for a long, tense moment as he tried to assess the situation.

“I want her home right after the movie, Mike,” Rheachal said with a sigh.