Shattered Glass (complete)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Don't forget your promise, Madison. That was the last note Mr. Mysterious had written for me, before the murder and the shooting.

What had my promise been about? What had my mother made me pinky promise, all those years ago, the last time I'd seen her? Promise me no matter what happens, you'll look after both your sisters...

And now: Mackenzie's alive. It was as if Mr. Mysterious was reminding me I had failed to keep my promise and he was trying to make up for having ruined it for me. Was he mocking me? Or, dare I say it, was he telling the truth?

"That bastard," I muttered.

"Okay, can you explain to me one more time how the shooter managed to put a note addressed to you in my mailbox?" Andrew demanded to know.

I started pacing furiously and almost walked into a shopping cart. "He hasn't written to me in over a year," I thought aloud, "so if he's serious, why hasn't he told me sooner about Mackenzie?"

"Wait a second." Andrew stepped in front of me, frowning. "He's written to you before? What has he said? Have you told anyone? Your mom?"

I rolled my eyes, but I was actually mentally face-palming myself. Great. Now Andrew knew. "That's not important now."

"So it's a 'No'."

I didn't answer.

Andrew looked up at the ceiling, like he couldn't quite believe what I was saying. Or not saying. "I can't believe this... A crazy killer has been sending you creepy messages for over a year? And no one knows? Not even the police?"

"Someone does know, for your information," I said, crossing my arms. "And he wasn't always a crazy killer. He gave my sister candy, once." I felt like kicking myself. How had I gone from hating Mr. Mysterious to defending him?

Andrew let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh yeah, that makes everything okay now!"

I glared daggers at him. "Fine. Be that way if you want! I'll just figure this out myself." I turned on my heels and marched toward the exit, pretending I didn't know he would follow me anyway.

Three, two, one... Sure enough, I was barely out the door when he had caught up to me. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry! I'm just worried for you, that's all," he said. I hoped he didn't notice my face reddening.

I ignored him and power-walked until I found a bench. I heard him mutter something about best friends and girls.

We sat side by side in silence for a while. And then, when I broke the silence, I didn't stop speaking for a while. Because I told him everything, starting from my first encounter with Mr. Mysterious. He was a good listener. He didn't interrupt me or anything, and he seemed to hang on to every word I said.

Andrew whistled when I finished. "That's some story."

"Yeah." I had expected him to actually freak out, but he was taking this rather calmly.

Good thing I know it now," he added.

I started to panic. "Why?"

He smiled reassuringly. " 'Cause now I can help you."

"Oh," I said, relieved. "Good."

"What, you thought I was going to tell?"

I stared at the ground. "Kinda."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Look, you trusted me with this stuff, so of course I wouldn't betray you. But there's just some stuff that doesn't make sense. Like, if he's your supposed 'guardian', how come he pretended to kill your sister? Or, how could your parents trust this man to protect you, when he is a criminal who could very well be a psychopath?"