I elbow her in the ribs. Too late. They both turn around to look at us at the same time, and my heart chooses now to leap out of my chest and loosen my grip on my purchases. The brown paper bag of candies splits as it hits the ground. Lila and I crouch down to pick them up.
“Is he looking?” My face is burning. “Please tell me he isn’t coming to help.”
“It’s okay, you’re safe. You probably scared him off in the café.” She chuckles.
I pick up the last stray candy as his friend walks past, cell phone raised to his ear. “Hey, Maya,” he says. “I was going to call you later.”
His voice fades, and I find myself watching his back, cheeks still blazing.
I stand up clutching my purchases tightly. “Maybe I should head back.”
Lila doesn’t respond. She’s watching Gideon Stockwell approaching other members of the group from the Academy, his shoulder sloping each time they shake their head and walk away. He stops, rakes his fingers through his hair, and peers around Main Street.
His gaze settles on us.
He must recognize us as students, because he heads our way, mouth set in a grim line of determination.
“Hello,” he says before we can escape. “Are you studying at Elderwood?”
Lila freezes. But something in his dull eyes tugs at my chest and makes me want to help him.
“Yes.” I hear Lila’s sharp intake of breath. “Are you Gideon Stockwell?”
He blinks rapidly. “My sister Iris died at Elderwood last year.” His gaze hops back and forth between me and Lila. “I don’t want to scare you, but you must be careful. I don’t believe that Iris died from natural causes. She was healthy. She did everything right. She…” His voice catches.
“I’m so sorry.” It’s what people said to me when my parents died because they didn’t know what else to say. “We will be careful. Thank you.”
We go to walk away, but he calls us back. “Will you help me?”
I turn back, aware of other students watching us. His eyes are pleading, and I know they’ll haunt me if I don’t at least find out what he wants. “I don’t know how we can.”
“Someone knows what happened to Iris. Someone is covering up the truth. If you see or hear anything suspicious…” He rummages in his pocket and produces a battered business card which he offers to me. “Will you call me? Please?”
Neither of us takes the card. “I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Please.” He’s desperate now.
“They’re carrying out regular health checks,” Lila says. “For omegas.” She backs away.
“It’s too little, too late.” His arm is still extended, the card in his trembling fingers.
I take it from him and stuff it inside my pocket. I don’t look back as we walk away.
3
ELOWEN
I’m still thinkingabout Gideon Stockwell when we get back to the academy. His card feel like an elephant in my pocket, weighing me down, and I’m starting to question why I took it.
What is he hoping to find? How will I even know what to look for? And if I discovered anything untoward, would I call him or would I go directly to the police?
Too many questions, and classes haven’t even begun yet.
The fun part of getting to know my peers first has been obliterated with one man’s quest for truth, and I don’t know how to get back on track.
Until we walk into the dining hall and I realize that no one else seems to be having the same problem. Everyone is gathered around a few tables at the back of the hall, and everyone has something to say.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
