23
I stared at Mrs. Scott in amazement.
“What are...” But I couldn’t complete the sentence before I started coughing. My voice felt and sounded like sand being scraped over concrete. Like I hadn’t spoken in days.
Mrs. Scott reached for the cup of water beside my bed and helped me lean forward while I took a few sips. Then she gently laid me back down again.
I still couldn’t believe she was there.
“You’re wondering why I disappeared,” she said.
I nodded.
I’d first met Mrs. Scott at that board meeting Halli’s parents arranged. At first I thought she was my ally—Halli’s ally—and that I could trust her to give me good advice. When I realized she was from London, I even asked her if I could come stay with her once I’d concocted the scheme to travel there to find Daniel.
We’d made plans
