Page 68 of Deposed

“Underwood,” said Blake.

Angry, red blotches appeared on his face. “For the last time, I don’t know anything about the Underwoods. Now, fuck off, and don’t come back again!”

Chapter 23

The tenant slammed the door, and Edward stepped away from the house, rubbing the back of his neck. He turned to us, brows raised. “What on earth was that?”

I glared in the direction of the limousine. “Duncan. The slimy little snake sent us on a wild goose chase.”

“He didn’t count on Henry taking him hostage when he lied,” said Blake.

I clapped a hand over my mouth. “What if he escaped while our backs were turned?”

Henry sprinted to the limo, flung the door open, reached inside, and dragged Duncan out by the arm. The smaller boy stumbled across the sidewalk, sloshing the contents of his champagne glass over his front. Rolling my eyes, I followed after them with Blake at my side. Duncan also hadn’t counted on getting drunk after being banished with a bottle of champagne.

“What’s wrong?” Duncan slurred. “Did Coates and the others not let you in?” Henry gave him a rough shove, and Duncan staggered back, his ass knocking into the side of the limousine. “What was that for?”

Edward advanced on him, his eyes as cold and as sharp as icicles. “You gave us the wrong location.”

Duncan clutched the half-full champagne glass to his chest. “Charlotte said it would be at her father’s London apartment, I swear.”

“Stand aside.” Henry pulled him up by the lapels. “I’m going to shake this skinny bastard until he spews out the answer.”

“N-no, don’t,” cried Duncan. “I’ll wet myself.”

Henry let go of him as though the champagne down the front of Duncan’s shirt was urine. “Oh, for goodness’ sake!”

Duncan staggered toward a lamp post and fumbled with the flies of his pants.

Everyone, including me, turned their heads.

Ignoring the sounds of urination, I turned to Blake. “Send texts to all the girls at the academy you think Charlotte might have invited. One of them should be able to tell you where they are, especially if they’ve worked out the boys have paid for their company and have stormed out in disgust.”

He frowned but pulled out his smartphone. “Alright.”

We all piled into the back of the limo. Duncan sat with us in case he remembered anything he might have overheard. I sent Rita a text in case she had heard from anyone about the party, but she replied straight away to say she hadn’t. The only person I could think of was Alice, who had defected to join Charlotte. I sent her a quick text to ask if she was at Charlotte’s party.

“Have you heard from anyone yet?” I asked Blake.

“Give them time,” he replied. “Parties are noisy, and most girls keep their phones in handbags, so they might not feel anything vibrate.”

“I say we interrogate Blackwell,” snarled Henry.

“Beat me up all you like.” Duncan swigged from the bottle he had brought from the front. “But I don’t know any more than you.”

Edward rubbed his chin. “All the bus companies local to the academy might be closed at this time of the evening, but it doesn’t hurt to try them.”

I nodded and fired up the Google app. While Blake texted every girl in his smartphone, Henry explained that the party could be in any city within driving distance of Mercia county. The only ones I recognized were Brighton, Chichester, Canterbury, and Oxford, but the more places he listed, the more my spirits plummeted.

“Charlotte would hold the party in London,” said Blake. “I’m sure of it.”

Duncan swigged from his champagne bottle. “She did say her party would rival the Valentine’s Day Massacre.” He shot me a hurt look. “Thanks for inviting me, by the way.”

I let the sarcastic comment wash over me. If he had been at the gauntlet, I would have made sure he’d had a place. But I wasn’t about to admit that to an ally of Charlotte.

My phone buzzed, and a message from Alice flashed on the screen. I’m there, and I’ve been throwing up all evening. Never mix a cocktail and penicillin.

My heart flipped. “I’ve heard from Alice!”