“But you did, Bellamy. You just said so. You went toward the boathouse because you’d seen Steven going in that direction.”
“That’s right.”
“Is it?”
She wiggled forward on the seat of the swing, trying to reach the ground with her toes. “Let me down.”
Instead, he moved in closer, using his body to hold her in the swing and the swing off the ground. “Did you find Steven? Were you able to warn him to seek shelter?”
“No.”
“You’re sure of that?”
“Of course I’m sure. That’s why I was alone when they found me in the rubble.”
“You didn’t go after Susan? You didn’t see her after she left the pavilion?”
“No and no.”
“Did you also testify to that under oath?”
“I didn’t have to.”
“Because?”
“Because no one ever asked me. Until now,” she said with vexation.
“So if you didn’t swear otherwise, you might’ve followed her and Allen into the woods.”
“But I didn’t.”
“No?”
She set her chin stubbornly and refused to answer.
He joggled the chains of the swing. “A.k.a?” he said in a singsong voice. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Why are you bullying me about this?”
“I’m only trying to get to the absolute truth.”
“I’ve told you the absolute truth.”
“You didn’t chase after Susan.”
“No.”
“I’m not convinced.”
“Too bad.”
“Why does this point trip you up?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Yeah. It does. How come? There’s gotta be a reason.”
“Let me down, Dent.”