Without Mercy (Mercy 1)

She gave a halfhearted smile, wishing she were close enough to tell him how sad she felt about Nona, wishing she were close enough to lean on his shoulder and rest in his arms, even if it were only for a brief hug.

He nodded at her, his expression an enigma. Was there love and support in those dark brown eyes, or was she imagining that because she wanted it so, so much?

She broke the connection, staring down at the Shakespeare compilation, which was open to the page with a soliloquy she’d memorized for Dean Hammersley’s class. “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?” Romeo said. “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon….” She curled her fingers around the edge of the book, letting the binding dig into her fingertips until it was painful.

Someday, Ethan would love her this way. She would be his sun, and he would kill off envious moons for her. Theirs would be a love like Nona’s and Drew’s—a love that would surpass death. Someday …

Jules was still trying to wrap her brain around the fact that she and Trent would be working together at the school. The snow was coming down hard now, tiny flakes coating the road, creating a curtain that the headlights had trouble permeating.

“Okay,” she said, breaking a silence that had lasted for the last two miles. “Since we’re in this thing together, how’re we going to play it?”

“So the deal is this: You don’t know me; this is the first time we’ve met.” His eyebrows drew together in concentration. “So far, Shaylee hasn’t put two and two together. She told me once that she thought she knew me, but that was a few days ago, and since then she’s dropped it.”

“I only hope she doesn’t panic in all this and call Edie.”

“Would she?”

“Normally no, but now, who knows?” Jules said, not elaborating. Shay was already on Trent’s suspect list; Jules wasn’t going to give him any more ammunition by admitting that her sister was using Nona Vickers’s cell phone. God only knew what conclusions he’d draw from that.

“I really think you should resign your position,” he said as he checked the rearview mirror.

“Resign? I haven’t even started yet.”

“Good. Then you’re not involved.”

“I want to be involved.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“Really?” she mocked. “Thanks for the big tip!”

“I’m serious, Jules.”

“So am I! And you’d better start calling me Julia or people will start to wonder.”

“Oh, for the love of God.” He found a wide spot in the road and pulled over, letting the Jeep idle near the trees. “Look, I don’t have time for games, and I don’t want to worry about you on top of everything else.”

“So don’t.”

“Have you heard a word I’ve been saying?”

“Yeah, I get it. But I’m not leaving.” The windows of the Jeep were fogging, the warm interior much too close. “Look, if I can find out and prove that Blue Rock isn’t what it claims to be, that the administration is covering up what happened to Lauren, that some of its practices border on barbaric, then I have a shot of convincing a judge to move Shay.”

“Where? To juvie? I’ve read her file. Shaylee’s lucky to be at Blue Rock.”

“You believe that?” she asked, noticing the wet strands of his hair where the snow had melted. “I don’t think any kid is ‘lucky’ to be here.”

“Your sister isn’t exactly lily white.”

“Oh, please. Are any of the kids enrolled here completely innocent?” she demanded, angered by his attitude and the intimacy of this warm, tight Jeep.

“Of course not.”

“So these students are no angels. But I know Shaylee’s innocent; she told me about her cap. She told me she’ll be cleared because the school has cameras everywhere, including the dorm rooms, which, I think is damned illegal.”

Trent rubbed a hand around the back of his neck. “I’m not sure there are cameras. I sure as hell haven’

t seen any tapes.”