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"Hi, Shaw," she said, doing her best to hide her misery
Her classmate moved uncomfortably close and stared at her
In that instant Allison knew "You heard from him?" She kept her voice low and didn’t dare say Anson’s nahtest nod of his head
"Is he all right?" she breathed
He shrugged one shoulder "Not if you ask me He says otherwise"
Allison bit her lip for fear she’d cry out "He phoned you?"
Again he nodded, glaring at her as if she were a traitor "He wanted to tell you more but he couldn’t because he knows you’ll tell the sheriff I told hiirl At least he listened to ?" After her graduation announceifts of money from family friends and relatives she’d barely even met If he needed it, Allison would send Anson every penny
"He says not"
"He hasn’t phoned me" Allison knehy, too She’d lost her faith in hi endlessly about where he was and hoas living He didn’t have any relatives who could help hione
Shaw held up his hand, stopping her "Don’t ask , because I can’t tell you"
"How can I help?" That was all she really wanted to do Innocent or guilty, she still loved him
"You don’t really care what happens to him" Shaw’s eyes burned into hers
"I do!" She wanted to shout the words She cared soaround, obviously afraid people ible in her ear
Frowning, she looked up at him "Pardon?"
"SUL," he said "Those are the first three letters of the license plate belonging to the person he saw that night" Shaw kept his head down and spoke in a voice so low she could hardly hear "He didn’t get a good look at the car, but from the back it seemed to be dark Midsize A sedan Pretty common, in other words"
Hope, faith, love, all three ca flash Perhaps there had been soht--and that someone was responsible for the fire Aluished by doubt
"Why didn’t he tell me this earlier?" she asked If Anson could trust anyone, it should be her Not Shaw She was the one who’d stood up for hi him to her classmates and anyone who’d listen She was the one who’d believed
He sighed loudly "Anson wanted to keep you out of this I checked around, but I couldn’t co He said I should tell you now"
"Thank you," she said gratefully She hugged Shaho backed away in surprise
Desperate for hope, she asked, "Is he co?" Her voice rose excitedly "He’s here, isn’t he?"
Shaw’s deed as he shook his head "No way, h to do that, not even for you Just remember--See You Later"
"See you later," she repeated, not understanding
"It’s how I remember the letters"
The ned positions Before Shaw could leave, she grabbed his ar else you can tell me?"
"No" He shook his headelse you’re not telling me?"
His eyes narrowed, then he slowly nodded "He swore oing to get so from him When you do, ed it for Anson Me You understand?" With that he left her, disappearing into the throng of students
Allison didn’t knohat he meant and didn’t have tiraduates had begun tofrom the inside out, searched frantically for her cap before joining her friends as they filed into the pavilion
The graduation went smoothly When her nae to accept her diplo it in her hand, she descended the steps and reclaih all the speeches and awards, but herabout Anson He’d sent Shaw to her in an attempt to prove his innocence He needed her to have faith in hiain
After the cereh the crowd until she found her family Her mother held a dahteen An adult," Rosie Cox said, dabbing her eyes She hugged Allison and her father did, too Eddie shifted fro; next year he’d be in high school, too
Allison was ushered hoathered for a big family party Everyone seemed so pleased for her and so excited There was lots of talk about the future and the fact that she’d be leaving for college in September None of it seemed real
As soon as she could, Allison broke away froht out her father "I need to talk to Sheriff Davis," she told him She trusted her dad beyond anyone else Her mother, too, of course, but her father was thelike this
Zach quietly pulled her into his den "You heard froain?"
"Not directly This has to do with the fire, though It’s iht help identify the arsonist"