Criminal Read online

  Now, maybe not having to go through my own trial either, another weight was lifted. One I’d gotten so used to, I didn’t even know I’d been carrying it. Without it holding me down, I thought I might just lift off the ground, float out into space. It was a happy feeling, but a scary one too. Who was I going to be out there, when I was rid of Dee and truly done with being the girl I was with him?

  Standing next to Doug, facing the judge, my insides were liquid.

  The judge spoke. Such a heavy weight: “Nicola Dougherty, after consideration of your case and your voluntary cooperation with the state in the case against Mr. Denarius Pavon, for the crimes against which you have been charged, you are hereby sentenced to a continued eighteen months at the county jail, followed by three years of probation, during which you will also perform community service.”

  There was more. Doug said something. The judge said something else. I said a few things too. But it was over quickly. We stood. The judge left the room and then it was Doug hugging me and me hugging him and my entire spirit floating, floating, floating off into I didn’t know where. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I didn’t know quite how I was going to get through another year and a half of jail, and I didn’t know how I was going to feel or where I was going to go whenever I got out. Cherry’s, I guessed, at first, but I wouldn’t stay there ever again. Maybe I would try to find Bindi. Visit Priscilla. Get my old job back. Or find a new salon and start again from scratch. Maybe I’d get an apartment and my own car, and maybe—just maybe, after enough time—I’d find a way to go back to Bird, to rebuild the friendship I’d shattered. There was so much whirling in me, so much I didn’t know. There was so much to think about, and try, and discover.

  One thing I did know, and I knew it deep in my core. As we left the courtroom—Doug clapping me again on the back—I knew wherever I went, whatever happened next, I was finally, truly going to be free.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, with a book, there are so many people to thank. For this one, I must first acknowledge those who helped me get all the details straight: Jill Polster, Jeanne Canavan, Jan Hankins, Ingrid McGauhey, Karlyn Skall, Jennifer Mann, Muffy Blue, and Will Price of Muckraker—thanks for your honesty and your generous support.

  Next up, as per usual, my editor, Anica Rissi, deserves a ton of thanks, mainly for believing in this project. I will never forget the Brooklyn Bridge walk wherein I told you this whole story and we figured out what this book should be. Thanks for all the encouragement and enthusiasm ever since then.

  Scott, you deserve my thanks every day. But in this case, if for no other reason than helping me get through that terrible February that was the inspiration for this entire thing.

  The team at Simon Pulse always earns my gratitude, and this time is no exception. Thanks to all of you for making this a reality!

  Lastly, I want to thank all of my readers and enthusiasts. To every blogger, every librarian, every fellow author, every teacher, every reader, every bookseller, and every individual person who ever picked up a book of mine and felt it might be worth examining beyond the cover—thank you so unbelievably much. I can have no career, can do nothing in this writing life, without you, and there would be no new book, no new endeavor of mine, without you there supporting it.

  TERRA ELAN MCVOY is the author of Pure, After the Kiss, The Summer of Firsts and Lasts, and Being Friends with Boys. She has had many jobs (and degrees) that center around reading and writing, from managing an independent children’s bookstore to teaching writing classes, and even answering fan mail for Captain Underpants. Terra lives and works in the same Atlanta neighborhood where many of her books are set. To learn more about Terra’s life visit terraelan.com.

  SIMON PULSE

  Simon & Schuster, New York

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  ALSO BY TERRA ELAN MCVOY

  PURE

  AFTER THE KISS

  THE SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS

  BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  SIMON PULSE

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

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  First Simon Pulse hardcover edition May 2013

  Copyright © 2013 by Terra Elan McVoy

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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  Designed by Angela Goddard

  Jacket designed by Angela Goddard

  Author photograph © by Jamie Allen

  The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  McVoy, Terra Elan.

  Criminal / Terra Elan McVoy. — 1st Simon Pulse hardcover ed.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Eighteen-year-old Nikki’s unconditional love for Dee helps her escape from her problems, but when he involves her in a murder Nikki winds up in prison, confronted with hard facts that challenge whether Dee ever loved her, and she can only save herself by telling the truth about Dee.

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2162-2 (alk. paper)

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2164-6 (eBook)

  [1. Love—Fiction. 2. Murder—Fiction. 3. Prisons—Fiction. 4. Criminal investigation—Fiction. 5. Family problems—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.M478843Cri 2013

  [Fic]—dc23

  2012022801