Chapter 12
Summary
- The protagonist receives her telephone bill, revealing a call in the middle of the night from a blocked number. Her primary suspicion is around whether it is related to Emmy and Jim's relationship as she spots a number from the Break Mountain Inn among the calls.
- She sends the bill to Kyle for further investigation and leaves the call to Break Mountain Inn to him, believing it's his job now.
- Back at school, she notices increased whispers and glances, suggesting that she lost control of her class. However, she uses the opportunity to observe her students more closely in order to identify any potential sources of information.
- Assistant Principal Mitch Sheldon conveys that parents are expressing their concerns about her relationship with Coach Cobb. Leah, shocked by these rumors, wonders who could be the source.
- Leah reflects on her career in journalism, particularly on a story that ended in her boyfriend breaking up with her, her boss firing her, and a restraining order brought against her. Her obsession with the truth led her to push boundaries, often yielding negative personal consequences.
- Theo, one of Leah's students, takes his detention with her and asks about the rumors regarding her relationship with Coach Cobb. They leave together, and Mitch Sheldon offers to accompany Leah to her car, asking her out along the way. Leah politely declines.
- Leah reflects the potential danger around her. She wonders whether she is being paranoid or if there is, in fact, a real threat. She also contemplates whether Emmy's disappearance could simply be due to her being away with her boyfriend, Jim.