Page 116 of Darkest Obsession

“Theo’s going to help,” Sylvia says.

“Does he still refuse to claim you in public?” I ask her. I won’t look at Theo the same until he proudly claims Sylvia.

“It’s not that simple.”

She explains and for now, I have to accept her explanation. I can’t imagine that guy teaching history. I hope I’m not in his class. For that matter, I hope Sylvia isn’t either. I don’t want him manipulating her because of her grades or anything. I don’t know. I guess I don’t trust guys easily. Sex is one thing, but trust is another. Thomas fingers stroke my palm. He’s being so affectionate in front of Sylvia and normally, I would want to scream. Tonight just felt different.

He’s not such a bad guy. It wouldn’t kill me to trust him.

“Crispin told me the cops searched a ten mile radius. They’re attempting a trace on Kola’s phone, but the laws in the UK make it hard to act quickly,” Sylvia explains.

“We’re thinking of it all wrong,” Thomas says. “We have to work backwards from Molly. We have to think of why someone would kidnap Kola.”

“We got too close,” I whisper. “Someone convinced Molly to do this or worked with her.”

“We’re sure it’s not Kola,” Thomas says. Sylvia and I both throw books at his head.

“I’m serious!”

“You just defended her last time we spoke,” I snap at Thomas.

He shrugs. “I’m being a thorough investigator.”

“Kola wouldn’t do this,” Sylvia explains. “She has no motive.”

“She hates white people,” Thomas says, as if his theory makes a ton of sense.

“Clover?”

I elbow Thomas again. He groans and mutters something under his breath that he probably deserves a slap for. Sylvia’s phone vibrates and she glances down.

“Stop sending nudes to Theo, it’s disgusting,” Thomas says.

Sylvia rolls her eyes at him.

“It’s not from Theo,” she says, her voice drawing in nervously. I know that look. My heart rate quickens even before Sylvia speaks.

Sylvia’s hand shakes as she hands her cell phone over to me, completely incapable of forming words.

“It’s an email,” I tell Thomas before I read the email out loud.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: dead slut.

Your bitchy friend is ready for you.

Boathouse under the bright lights.

I took something from her that she can’t ever get back.

I’ll be in touch.

“We have to go down there,” Thomas says, grabbing my cricket bat.

“We have to call the cops,” Sylvia says.