Page 48 (1/2)

She placed her hands over his "I’rateful you did You can’t leave o, then I’ with you" There was no alternative, she decided, no other choice "Wherever you go, that’s where I want to be"

"No" The as chilling in its intensity

"Anson, you’ve got to listen to hthouse, isn’t it?"

He refused to answer, refused to look at her

"My dad believes you I believe you Doesn’t that ?"

He seemed to think about it, then shook his head "Don’t you see? This is how it is--everything I touch turns to dust I thought it’d be different with you, but it’s not I’ out of here before I screw up your life, too" He scrambled to his feet and started for the

"But you don’t knohere you’re going," she said in a hoarse whisper Then she re else "You can’t leave," she told hiain You have to stay in school, remember?"

"I was supposed to have a job, too"

"Yes, but--"

Anson shook his head again "It’s too late to worry about that If they find et jail time I’m out of here"

A dozen questions rose at his response She didn’t ask a single one because she was afraid of the answers "What will you do for h

"Anson?" She’d never heard hihtened her Her stomach knotted as she realized there was a reason Anson had chosen to leave Cedar Cove tonight "What have you done?" she whispered

"It’s better if you don’t know" His eyes softened as he looked at her one last ti out his hand to touch her face

"No!" She hurried to the , but he was too fast He ility that belied his size "Hoill I knohere to reach you?" she called out as he walked across the grass

Anson didn’t answer His hands were buried deep inside his pockets, his shoulders bent She stayed where she was until she lost sight of hiain Eventually the tears ca down her cheeks She closed theand crawled back into bed

Allison didn’t fall asleep for hours Her pilloas daain to the sound of knocking--but this ti at her bedroo the door "It’s after ten"

She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes She often slept in on the weekends

"There’s soht was that it ht be Anson, but she realized that it wouldn’t be

"Who?"

"It’s Sheriff Davis" Her mother’s expression was serious, and Allison’s stomach ih she asked, she knew the answer This had to do with Anson

"Your father’s talking to the sheriff now I suggest you get dressed right away and join us"

Allison nodded and although she appeared outwardly calm, her heart clamored hard This hat she’d feared ain

By the time she’d put on jeans and a sweatshirt and brushed her hair, Allison was shaking Whatever Anson had done, if he was caught, it would mean the fire in the park would now be part of his permanent record It also ain

The sheriff set down his coffeewhen Allison entered the kitchen He sat at the table with both her parents

"This is our daughter, Allison," her father said,that she should sit down "Allison," he said, looking straight at her "Sheriff Davis has some questions for you It’s important that you answer him honestly and directly Do you understand?"

She lowered her head and whispered, "I will"

"Hello, Allison," Sheriff Davis said pleasantly "I hear you’re friends with Anson Butler"

She nodded

"I’ when you last saw him," the sheriff said next

Thehe shouldn’t have He’d as h echoed in her mind

Her father leaned toward her "Please tell Sheriff Davis the truth"

"Last night," she whispered, knowing her parents would be outraged that she’d let hiht

"When?"

"About two this "

"You snuck out of the house?" This outburst was from her mother, as clearly upset

Allison shook her head "No Anson came to me"

"At the house?" her father clarified without apparent censure But his eyes let her knoasn’t pleased, although he kept his voice even

Allison sighed "He tapped on oodbye"

"Did he say where he was going?"

"No He said he didn’t know"

"Do you have any idea where he is now?"