“Can you look into something else for me?” I ask, and Corinne grunts down the line.
“I need you to look into Chelsea Grayson and Sierra Montgomery’s friendship. What were they into?”
“I can do that. Anything else?” she asks, and I can hear the excitement in her tone.
Corinne lives for this as much as the rest of us. There’s a sense of satisfaction that comes with uncovering hidden agendas and crimes.
“Can you see if there’s a connection between the owners of the old Montgomery Estate right outside The Communes in Florida and Sierra Montgomery’s family?”
“I can tell you already that I won’t be surprised to discover a connection with the Montgomery name. The news has reported that Sierra was a wealthy socialite whose late grandfather was connected to illegal gambling and extortion.”
Holy shit.
Nina and I share a glance.
That’s exactly what Montgomery Estate is—illegal gambling at the very least.
As the pieces of the puzzle start to come together, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease. What led Sierra to Falls Haven? And does it connect to Chelsea’s death?
“I’ll loop in Darian to help,” Corinne says. “He’s a little too familiar with the shadowy side of New York City. If that woman tied to the Order is from there, he might be able to learn a bit about her and the Order itself.”
Excitement bubbles within me as Corinne reveals her plan to tap into her brother Darian’s connections. I’m hopeful that we’ll soon uncover the answers we seek.
With the death of Sierra coming to fruition, our quest takes on new urgency. The Order of Providence may hold the key to unraveling the murders, and I’m more determined than ever to uncover their secrets and bring justice to those young girls.
21
The Moon…Reversed
I wake upin a cold sweat, the remnants of the dream I just had still clinging to my mind like cobwebs. It felt so vivid, so real. Mrs. Fields, my quirky neighbor, was wandering through the night, peering into windows and snatching ornaments off neighbors’ yards while they slept.
Eventually, she returned to her house, almost in a trancelike state, depositing her stolen treasures in her garage like some sort of shrine to her nocturnal thievery.
It was unsettling, to say the least.
Shaking off the icky feeling, I leave the bed and head to the kitchen, craving the comfort of a cup of coffee.
I shoot off a quick text to Ava, checking in on her. I’ve spoken to her every day since she left, but the past couple of days it’s all been via text. She’s got her head down, diligently working on her piece for the spring showcase. She still has two months, but I’m told the project is massive.
It’s all she’ll give me. The whole thing is meant to be a hugesurprise to everyone outside of the school, and Ava’s done her part in keeping her lips zipped.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Isla says, catching me off guard.
I whip my head over my shoulder and heave a breath. “Where have you been?”
She snickers. “Around. Mostly just watching like a creep. Not much else to do since you keep wandering off and leaving me here.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve had some important stuff going on with a friend, and I had to concentrate on her. Having…”
“A ghost around isn’t conducive to life?” she says, smiling to show she’s playing with me. “I get it. I’m just ready to be somewhere else.”
I run both hands down my face, feeling terrible that Isla is stuck sitting around while the rest of us go about life. It’s not fair that she wants to move on and can’t.
“I’ll talk to Nick,” I vow. “I’m not sure how it’ll go, but I’ll do what I can to get him on board with helping you.”
Her face lights up, and she wiggles in place. “He’s home now. No better time to send the spirit home.” Her hands are lifted into the air, and she shimmies her hips.
I chuckle at her antics. “I said I’ll discuss it with him, but I can’t promise it’ll happen today.” I hold her stare. “Please be patient with me.”
