The band finally passes and we’re alone in the hall.
“Brice and Jacqueline knew one another,” I say, feeling pieces of a puzzle snap together.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Ozzy says, but there’s an edge to his voice. “We don’t think Rose’s dad did something to her.”
A weird feeling twists in my stomach. “No. I don’t think so?”
“He had a booth at the bonfire that night, remember.”
“Yeah,” I stare down at the plaque, “maybe he didn’t have anything to do with it, but finding this opens the door for us going to him for an interview.”
“I thought we were already interviewing him for the fact he’s running for mayor and was on the state-winning team.”
“We are,” I say, starting to walk down the hall, “but now I have a lot more questions, and for once, I expect some answers.”
The parade starts at the high school, winds down Main Street, and loops back around to the football field. The floats will stay there until the game tonight.
Ozzy doesn’t walk with me in the parade, instead riding on the underside of the trailer to assist with the required “movable” part of the float. Our Viking roasts a tiger on a spit, and a mechanism that Ozzy moves under the base keeps it spinning.
I’m lost in thought as I walk with the other kids on the Valhalla staff, barely aware of the crowds gathered in front of the storefronts. The football team—at the very front--throws out small plastic balls for the little kids watching. Mr. Waller has a car, a black BMW convertible, in the parade, plastered with his campaign signs. Red, white, and blue streamers fly off the back. Rose should be riding in that car wearing a sparkly dress and sash diagonally across her body. Instead, it’s tagged as an alumni vehicle, Mr. Baxter driving, Mr. Waller in the passenger seat and their spouses in the back. Monica has on her homecoming queen crown and sash. Regina, a smaller tiara—princess status.
The vines of the past tighten around my neck.
We couldn’t have a court this year out of honor of Rose, but the alumni? They have no problem taking center stage. I wonder what Juliette thinks about her mom right now.
Back in the parking lot, everyone hangs around and I see Mr. Waller walking around shaking hands. There are a lot of seniors that can vote for the first time—he’s definitely covering his bases.
I decide to take a shot on getting some information while he’s in a good mood.
“Mr. Waller,” I call, walking up behind him. He turns and smiles when he sees me.
“Kenley, how are you?” He spreads his arms, giving me little choice but to accept his hug.
“I’m good,” I say, extricating myself. “I’m doing a few alumni interviews for the yearbook. Do you have a few minutes?”
“For an interview with the editor? Absolutely.”
Mr. Waller has dark hair like Rose and the same piercing blue eyes. She got her mother’s other features—the slim but curvy body—the soft heart-shaped lips, but there’s enough of her dad in her that I find it unnerving.
“Obviously everyone knows you were part of the State-winning team your senior year, but it’s come to my attention you were also involved in another first-place event, debate.”
He smiles, obviously pleased that I found out about his talents. “Ah, yes, that was the year we won the Tri-State tournament. Football held my heart, but debate fueled my mind. It was a great event, and I was proud to represent the
school.”
“You had a partner, didn’t you? Someone else was on the team?” He looks at me blankly, but I see the small tug of a twitch at his eye. “Jacqueline Cates?"
“Right. Jackie. She was an excellent partner. Very spirited—could argue with a brick wall.”
“It must be weird that she suffered a similar fate to Rose.”
He blinks. Twice. Mind spinning behind his eyes. “That was very different.”
“Really?” I say, acting calm while my heart races. “They both vanished in the middle of town, both involved searches in the water. I know Rose’s body was never found, but Jackie—”
He holds up his hand. “Jackie’s death was a tragedy, a terrifying time for everyone in this town. It’s something we’ve put aside. Rose—my daughter was a troubled young woman who made a rash, heartbreaking decision. There are no similarities.”
“Don’t you think it’s weird no one mentioned Jackie’s death when Rose went missing?”