"Look here! It's a feature interview with Kerry! They did it after she cracked that serial killer case back in March, but because of the lead time, it's only published now."
May stared in consternation at her older sister's face, smiling from the glossy page. Her short blonde hair had been perfectly styled for the photo, and she wore a fabulous-looking, turquoise designer suit. In her right hand, she held her FBI badge.
One year older than May, but a whole world of difference between the two of them, she thought sadly.
"Not Just a Pretty Face,"the article was headlined.
"At the age of thirty, Kerry Moore is breaking boundaries and showing that the best person for the job is a woman! She's one of the crack team of FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit agents, who track down dangerous criminals using a combination of brain power, forensics, perceptiveness and bravery."
The words seared themselves into May's mind. All her inadequacies rushed to the surface.
She was thrilled for her sister, of course, but why couldn’t her parents be thrilled for her, too? Why was she always second-rate? Now, their own reaction proved this heartbreaking truth.
“How wonderful!” She forced a smile, wishing that their joy could be for both daughters.
"It's a great article!" her mother enthused. "Your sister is very articulate. It’s amazing how she manages to sound professional, intelligent, and witty, all at once."
"The photos are the best thing," her father added. "They're just great! Look at this one."
May found herself looking at her sister's smiling face, with its extraordinary bone structure. She'd always thought of Kerry as pretty, but this photo brought out her startling beauty.
"Here, read it!"
May didn't want to read it. Not when every word would burn into her mind like acid.
Her mother was holding the magazine out to her, but May pressed her lips together, feeling unable to accept it. She realized that she'd never out-achieve Kerry, even if she tried for the rest of her life.
Kerry had always been the superstar. The top student and school valedictorian in her year, where May had only been third in line, recipient of the Bronze Award.
Kerry had gotten an academic and sporting scholarship to a university. She'd been an honors student and on the state hockey team.
May's grades had been good, and she'd done well in sports, but she hadn't blazed the trail of success that Kerry had. That success was their parents' only measure of respect and satisfaction.
She would always live in her sister's shadow.
Her promotion to deputy sheriff seemed futile and meaningless. Her parents didn't care what she'd achieved, or how hard she'd worked to get where she was.
All they could think of was how she'd missed getting into the FBI Academy. And the pressure they’d put on her had played a part in that, because she'd wanted to succeed too badly. With sky-high anxiety, knowing her parents’ hopes and dreams were riding on her acceptance, she'd sabotaged herself.
Now, she didn't want to be here. May knew full well the rest of the evening’s conversation would now revolve around Kerry, and that ill-timed article.
For a bitter moment, May wished she could walk out, but then her parents would think even less of her. They'd label her as jealous, not understanding that, in her eyes, their treatment of her was totally unfair.
She was stuck here, unable to protest, or show how much they'd hurt her. Gritting her teeth, May prepared to tough this now-nightmarish evening out.
But then, her phone rang.
"Excuse me," she said. Her parents knew she always had to take calls, because of her work.
Quickly, she took it out of her purse.
With a jolt, she saw it was her boss on the line.
Since they'd spoken less than half an hour ago, she guessed an after-hours phone call from Sheriff Wright was going to be an emergency.
"I have to take this," she explained, picking up the call.
"Sheriff Jack. What's up?"
"May, there's been a body found down at the lake.” His voice thrummed with urgency. “Looks like a potential crime scene.”
“A crime scene?” May jumped to her feet, her heart racing. A crime scene involving a murder? This was a rare and shocking event in their peaceful county.
“Can you get there as soon as possible? I’ll send the coordinates now."
"I'm on my way," May said.
She turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry. I have to go. I'll reschedule as soon as I can."
She only had time for a flashing sense of relief that she’d been saved from her predicament. Her mind was already focused on the job ahead. May rushed out of the house, wondering what had happened, and what she would find down by Eagle Lake.