This is the first part of the second book in the murder mystery series called "Tamper". It's about a teenage American girl who lives with her Aunt in London during the Great Depression. It takes place in the 1930's.
“James?” Irene asked
“You're not scared are you?” James nudged her in the arm, but Irene just held herself, cautiously.
“Maybe I am.” she admitted. “I mean, I’ve seen death- just not on my doorstep.”
“Irene, it’s a corpse. Not the end of the world.”
“No, the end of the world started when the stock market crashed.”
“And,” James told her, “it’s been seven years, and we’re still alive and thriving.”
“The dead guy on my door isn’t!” she cried
“Irene, when will you learn that every time someone dies, something good happens to you? When John Brooke died, you got his house, for instance. For you, death is a good thing.”
Irene turned from him. “Not for you.”
Irene knew he was frowning. “My family broke.” He said flatly.
“You don’t know how much I think I’m like you.” she replied simply.
“You mean like, your mum? You think she’s…. like my mum? Dead?”
“I haven’t gotten many letters. Then they just stopped. It’s been six months, James! Half a year I’ve been here! It’s been quiet since Brooke.”
“Irene, I’m sure your parents are just fine….”
“I can’t keep telling myself that.”
“Irene…” his voice shook. “Irene…”
“What?!” she was starting to boil over.
“I’m going away. I’m leaving England.”
“Don’t be silly… leave England? But this is your home! This is where you belong!” Irene cried, turning and taking his shoulders with her hands.
“Dad doesn’t like it here anymore. He wants change. He’s getting away from everything- a fresh start.”
He’s getting away from Ariadne. Irene knew.
“I thought they’d get married.” Irene rubbed her arms.
“Me too.” James said. “But after the cocaine, things changed.”
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere you know well.” He laughed slightly. “America.”
“Home!”
“It’s to be my new home.” James told her “We wanted to leave quietly, but I wanted to tell you. Now seemed like the perfect time.”
James slowly walked up to Irene until they were face to face. He took his hand and cupped Irene’s neck. She had never felt more awkward in her life than when James showed her deep affection. But James seemed like he was being natural. “There’s something I never told you…”
“James.” She whispered as he dug his nose into her soft hair “We were going to be cousins… like siblings.”
“I… I always liked you.” he whispered.
Then he leaned into her face, holding her close. Irene put her small finger on her lips and James met it. She barely used her voice because they were so connected at that moment. “You can kiss me if you help me with something first.” She could feel his breath.
“Anything.”
“Help me get rid of the dead body in my house.”
He closed his eyes. “We can stuff it in the suitcase my dad was packing his clothes in, then toss it in a lake or something.” He made that sound like the most romantic thing in the world.
“And wipe our finger prints off first.”
“Of course.” He took her figure separating them away.
“Body first.” Irene jumped away and ran to the door, leaving James slightly heartbroken. Irene was going to have to find a way to keep James from liking her, but close enough so she could use him in times of need. Like when she needed help stuffing a dead body into a suitcase.
