The Secret (Seacliff High Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

we paid money to a trust when we bought the house. Who gets that?”
    “Good question,” Mac agreed. “It’d be easy to do a little surfing on the Web. If there are any records I could probably find something.”
    “There are probably townsfolk around who still remember how the rumor got started in the first place,” Trevor ventured. “Maybe someone remembers something specific that would at least give us a jumping-off point.”
    “If Barkley’s stuff is still there, maybe there’s a clue somewhere in the house itself,” Mac contributed. “Have you gone through any of the desks or drawers?”
    “Not really. We basically decided to make two of the bedrooms, a bathroom, and the kitchen habitable before tackling the rest of the house. The kitchen was a mess. We completely gutted it. There really wasn’t much in there except some old pans and dishes and stuff. Nothing of value.” Alyson noticed the time and began to gather up her stuff.  “The two bedrooms each held a few pieces of furniture but no personal belongings. It looks like Barkley was using the bedroom off the kitchen, which might have originally been a maid’s quarters, as his own. There’s a bunch of stuff in there, but other than picking the junk off the floor and stripping the bed, we haven’t gone through anything yet. It’s a real mess. If there are any treasures or secrets hidden in the house they’re bound to be in one of the other rooms. I can try to start looking around tonight. Let’s talk more tomorrow.”
    Suddenly Alyson knew exactly what Barkley was trying to show her.

Chapter 4
 
     
    The next morning Alyson opted for a black-and-navy-plaid wool miniskirt, a black fitted sweater, and knee-high boots. With the exception of the boots, the outfit reminded her of the plaid wool uniform she’d worn at the private high school she’d attended the year before. Who would have thought she’d actually miss that uniform? All of the girls at her school had hated it and spent a lot of time and money trying to personalize their look within the school’s dress code. As Alyson looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror, she felt a sense of nostalgia. Somehow this outfit felt comforting, like an old familiar friend. She topped off her outfit with her black leather crop jacket and tried to remember the girl she had once been. The girl who just a few short months ago, along with her best friend Tiffany, had ruled Ms. James High School for Girls. Even though only five months had passed, it felt like a lifetime.
    During those endless days immediately following the murder, Alyson could feel Tiff’s presence as she told and retold her story and looked at mug shot after mug shot in an effort to bring her killers to justice. She could close her eyes and see Tiffany’s auburn hair, smattering of freckles, and green eyes, which took on a mischievous glimmer as she threw caution to the winds and embraced life to its fullest, despite her stodgy upper-class pedigree. Now when she closed her eyes Alyson was greeted with silence. Tiffany was fading away. The more real Alyson became, the more Amanda and everything about her life faded into the darkness.
    “What do you think of all the homework that was assigned for the second half of this week?” Alyson asked Mac as they walked toward the cafeteria after fourth period.
    “It does seem like all the teachers got together and decide to send us into homework overload,” Mac complained. “Do you want to get together after school and work on our English project?”
    “I have to meet my mom right after school, but I can catch up with you around three thirty.” Alyson was hesitant to mention her previously scheduled DMV appointment. She was sure most if not all of her new friends had gotten their licenses months ago. She’d seen Mac driving an old, beat-up Volkswagen Bug, and Trevor had an awesome Mustang that looked to be either a ’65 or ’66.
    “That’d be fine. I’ll meet you in the school