Page 28 of Mountain Void

He stepped outside. Cold air cut sharp against his bare feet. The trash can lay on its side at the end of the driveway, contents scattered in a wide arc across the pavement, all around her car.

“What the hell—“

He scanned automatically. Nothing. A dog barking somewhere down the block.

Charlie walked up next to him. He followed her gaze to the house next door. The blinds were still drawn. No visible movement. There was no reason for her to look in that direction.

“Who lives in that house?” he asked. “You think they did this?”

“No.” She exhaled softly. “No, of course not. Why would he?” But her jaw was tight in a way he recognized.

“Who’s he?”

Charlie sighed. “My new neighbor. I don’t know his name. I’ve only met him once. He wasn’t a big fan of my parking.”

There were questions he wanted to ask. He didn’t.

“Hey.”

She didn’t look at him.

“Charlie.”

She turned finally. “It was probably just an animal.”

It probably wasn’t.

“Where’s your broom? I’ll take care of it.”

11

Charlie

The school hallway smelled faintly of chalk and industrial cleaner.

A comforting smell.

Most of the children had already left when Charlie spotted Théo’s mother near the classroom door. Up close, she looked older than Charlie remembered. Maybe because of the way her shoulders curved inward.

“Madame Pelletier?” Charlie kept her tone gentle. “Vous avez une minute?”

A flicker of wariness. Then a nod.

“I just wanted to check in,” Charlie said, choosing her words in French carefully. “Théo seems … quieter in class, lately. I wanted to make sure everything is okay.”

She hated herself for stepping around the elephant in the room, but this woman had already canceled two meetings. She didn’t want to give her any excuse to bolt.

The woman’s lips stretched into an uncomfortable smile. “Yes. Théo’s fine. Growing up too quickly. And tired. He reads too much.” A small laugh escaped her.

Charlie chose her words carefully, no longer worried about her French. She felt as if she were stepping on broken glass. “He’s a bright boy. We just want to be sure he feels safe here. And at home,” she added meaningfully.

At home.

A shadow crossed Madame Pelletier’s face, but was gone before Charlie could be sure.

“Thank you for looking out for Théo, Ms. Charlie.” Another uncomfortable smile, but this one seemed more honest.

Before Charlie could respond, a heavy presence filled the hallway behind her.