Silent Scream by Karen Rose

flashlight blinding him. His hand sliced through the air. “Stop.”
    Austin climbed through the window, closing it behind him. He was in no mood for his roommate’s stupid questions, but it didn’t
     look like Kenny was going to let it go.
    Kenny’s finger wagged, side to side. “Where were you?”
    Austin climbed into bed, ignoring him, but Kennywouldn’t leave him alone, sniffing. “What is that? Smoke? Fire?”
    “Shut up.” Austin buried his face in his pillow. He could smell the smoke on his skin. The dorm staff would smell it tomorrow.
     They would know. Everyone would know.
    It didn’t matter. Tracey was dead.
    Oh God.
A sob built in his chest and he fought it back, but it burst out and his shoulders shook.
She’s dead. Oh God. I promised I’d take care of her and she’s dead.
    The bed shifted as Kenny slid down to the floor, patting his shoulder. Austin lifted his face and stared his friend in the
     eye. Kenny looked scared. “What did you do?”
    Austin rolled over so that his hands were free. “You can’t tell anyone.”
    “Tell them what?”
    “That I wasn’t here. That I came in through the window. That I smell like smoke.”
    Kenny looked more scared now. “What the hell did you do?”
    Austin shook his head hard. “You’re my friend. You have to help me.”
    Kenny stared a minute, then pushed the window open. “Get rid of the smell.”
    “They’ll smell it tomorrow.” Panic grabbed Austin’s chest. “What do I do?”
    Kenny lifted his mattress and pulled out a flattened pack of cigarettes. “Is what you did worse than getting caught smoking?”
    Austin thought of Tracey, trapped. He thought of the dead guard and the man who’d shot him. Miserably, he nodded and in the
     darkness saw Kenny flinch.
    “Smoke one,” Kenny said. “Breathe out the window or it’ll set off the sprinklers. Tomorrow morning, smokeanother. They’ll think the smell comes from these. You’ll get busted for cigarettes and nobody will know.” Kenny produced
     the matches he’d hidden. “Give me a cigarette, I’ll light it for you. Your hands are shaking. You’ll drop the match and burn
     the place down.” Kenny’s brows crunched. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
    No
, Austin thought numbly, flinching as the flame flared.
It’ll never be okay again
.

Chapter Three
    Monday, September 20, 4:30 a.m.
    O livia pummeled the bag with a barrage of short jabs that left her knuckles aching, but pain was easier to deal with than the
     howl she’d kept restrained since walking away from Mrs. Henry Weems’s heartbreaking sobs.
I’m sorry for your loss, ma’am
.
    The grunting bodybuilder next to her paid her no attention as he did his reps, which was why she came to the gym this time
     of the morning. People who were here at this hour came to work out, not to be seen. There was a certain anonymity in that.
    There were days she craved anonymity, especially from herself. Especially after telling another grieving family she was sorry
     for their loss. She’d done that a lot in the past months, walked away from a lot of sobbing parents, brothers, sisters.
    We found your daughter’s remains in a bone pit. No, you can’t identify her. I’m sorry for your loss
. Such inadequate bullshit. And it never ended.
Your husband is dead. He was shot to death by an arsonist. I’m sorry for your loss.
    Frustration surged and Olivia tore into the bag again, then collapsed against it. “I’m sorry for your goddamn loss,” she muttered,
     spent.
    “Easy, tiger.”
    Olivia shuddered at the calm voice. “What are you doing here?” she asked wearily. Paige Holden wasn’t on duty till eight.
     Which was precisely why Olivia had come now.
    “Making sure you leave some of Jasper for everyone else,” Paige said dryly.
    Olivia pushed away from the bag that took the name of Paige’s old boyfriend after each breakup. “He’s Jasper now?” Olivia
     had lost count of all the names Paige’s punching bags had borne in the