Read The Border Part Two for Free Online Page A

taking a step into the room.
    “This must be a difficult period for you,” she continued, smiling as she reached out to shake his hand. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I don’t know if you remember me from the last time we met, back when…” She paused, realizing that it might be better to focus on the present rather than stirring up any unnecessary parts of the past. “I’m so glad you finally started working. It must feel good to have something to do with your time. Having a job makes it seem like you’re a part of the community again, doesn’t it?”
    “It’s alright,” Joe said quietly, barely raising his voice above a whisper.
    “Bryan says you’re good with engines.”
    He shrugged.
    Realizing that Joe wasn’t going to shake her hand, Jane made her way to the door and pushed it shut. She felt as if she was being patronizing and condescending, as if she was talking to Joe like he was a child, but at the same time she wasn’t sure how else to get through to him.
    “The thing is,” she continued, “I need to have a word with you about something very serious that happened in town recently. I know this is a bad time, and I’m sure you’ve seen the paper this morning. I guess you know what happened the other night at the Monument.”
    He nodded.
    “Everyone’s in shock,” she added, “but I guess it must be particularly difficult for you. After all… Well, I know what you went through last time, Joe. I think it’s really brave of you to be out in the world again, trying to make a life for yourself. You know we’re always around if you need help, though. Don’t be shy or afraid.”
    “I’m not,” he mumbled. “Are you the one who -”
    She waited for him to continue. “Am I the one who what?”
    “The one who was at the hospital.”
    “Yeah,” she said, forcing a smile. “That was a long time ago, huh?”
    “You look older.”
    “Well, it has been nine years. That was almost my first day back then.” She paused. “So can we sit down, Joe? I really need to ask you some questions. I really don’t want to disturb you, but it’s important and I don’t have all the time in the world.”
    Cautiously, and with tears in his eyes, Joe pulled the chair back and sat down. He had the same scruffy, cowed demeanor of a boy who was usually well-behaved, but who’d been hauled before the headmaster for some out-of-character transgression.
    “I know this is going to be really difficult,” Jane continued, as she sat opposite him, “but I have to talk to you about the night Caitlin died. I went through all the paperwork from that time, but I felt that maybe you might remember a few extra things, now that so much time has passed. Do you think you could see your way to running over a few parts of that night with me again?”
    He paused. “What parts?”
    “Nine years ago, you said you didn’t remember very much about the man who attacked you. His face, or his voice… I know Alex has spoken to you a few times since and you said you still didn’t remember anything useful, but I was hoping that there might be something you can tell me. The thing is, we’re starting to think that the person who killed Caitlin -”
    He flinched as soon as he heard that name.
    “Sorry,” she added. “The person who was responsible for what happened to her, and who attacked you… We think it might be the same person who killed Mel the other night. Obviously we’re not sure, not yet, but we have to look into every possibility, and that’s why I came here today. I wanted to see if there’s anything else you remember, anything at all. Can you maybe go over it again? If it’s not too painful, I mean.”
    She waited.
    “Please?” she continued. “It’d really help.”
    “I didn’t see his face,” Joe replied quickly, almost defensively.
    “I understand that. It was dark and -”
    “I didn’t see his face.”
    “No, I -”
    “I didn’t. I didn’t see it.”
    She opened her mouth to rephrase the