Page 3 of Above All Else
Not anymore.
The lust burned away as I glanced down at my beeping phone—a stark reminder of why I was here.
It wouldn’t take much to haul her away, carve her up with my surgical knives, and discard her like the human trash she is.
She brushed her hair behind her ears and smiled at the kids.
How can someone so beautiful and innocent on the outside harbor such evil inside?
I sneered, my upper lip curling, my fist clenching around my phone.
June hid a terrible secret for far too long, and it was my duty to expose her to the world—along with her insides.
The side of my mouth curled up into a wicked smile, my reflection glaring back at me in the rearview mirror as though an alter ego took up residence within.
Tomorrow night, I’d bring her world crashing down and cement my place in a society of the damned and depraved—a world I never aspired to be a part of.
Chapter 2
June
“Alright, everyone. Grab your backpacks and line up by the door.”
One by one, my kindergarteners formed a single file line, jumping and wiggling with excitement to be reunited with their parents, aside from one little girl, Miss Caroline.
Just like every day before, she scuffed her feet against the cheap brown carpet stained with years of children’s shoes. Her head sagged—her backpack flung over her tiny shoulders.
Energetic chatter filled the classroom, spilling out into the hallway as students from other grades headed toward the maindoors of the building.
Ryker, my classroom clown, turned to the student behind him, placed his thumb on his nose, and wiggled his fingers, his tongue sticking out.
“Ms. Collins—“
“I know, I saw TJ.” I took in a deep breath. “Ryker. The day isn’t over. I can still turn your color tored.”
His hand fell from his face, and he stood taut. “Sorry, Ms. Collins.”
I gave him a curt nod and a slight smile, then worked my way to the back of the line.
Caroline grabbed my hand, then yanked it back as I glanced at the connection. “Can’t we do some more coloring, Ms. Collins?”
My stomach flipped, and I sank onto my haunches beside her, keeping my legs together underneath my dress.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. It’s time to go home. Don’t you want to go home?”
Caroline kicked at the carpet as she stared at the floor. “I just want to color more.”
I grabbed her hands and smothered them both in mine, my smile warm despite the ache in my chest. “Is everything okay at home?”
Her soft blonde hair lost its luster weeks ago, the mat in the back of her hair growing by the day, and a slight twist in the front strands where she worried it with her finger.
Right around the time her mother died.
Caroline shrugged and stared at her fraying shoes, her clothing reeking of stale cigarette smoke.
“You can tell me anything. I promise I won’t say anything.” I crossed my fingers and my toes in my head.
Just tell me so I can do something.