Page 125 of The Unravelings

A Greenwood University student was violently attacked. A local nurse was murdered in cold blood. Could it all be connected to another Greenwood student’s murder? An investigation is underway into all the tragedies plaguing Greenwood.

Wade blinks several times, going over the article. “Wow. I didn’t even think about it all being connected.” His face pales slightly. “Me? Dane? And all the others they’ve been finding? You think…” He trails off, staring between Simon and me for answers we can’t give.

“Could be, man. Let’s hope they get that stabbing maniac off the streets soon.” Simon shivers. “Imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t gotten away…” Simon’s face twists, and he pales again. “On second thought, don’t think that. Fuck.” He rubs at his forehead.

“I’m sure your mom is involved in the investigations, too, right?” I take a seat in the chair next to his bed. “They’ll find out who did this.” At least I hope. Maybe Wade can get me some more information to investigate.

“Yeah, man. She’s mortified that this keeps happening around here. We were one of the safest schools around until this shit started happening.” He shakes his head. “I still can’t believe Dane is gone.” A sadness washes over him as he takes another bite of his ice cream, a little less enthusiastic now. “He was a good dude. I hope they find out who did that to him. I can’t imagine the pain…” Wade trails off in a soft voice.

“They’ll find out who did that to both of you,” Simon says with determination. “I swear. Or I’ll find them for you, man.”

“How’s your arm feeling today?” I ask after a beat of silence.

Wade cringes, swallowing his bite. “It hurts like hell, but the pain meds keep it all right. They got me fucking good. I can’t believe they jumped me after my date and tried to kidnap me. I didn’t even see them coming. I was walking.” His nose wrinkles. “Then it was nothing but pain. They left me there.”

“Did you get a good look at them?” I lean forward, eager for an answer. If it’s the same people who hurt Dane, then maybe he’d have more to tell the police.

Wade cringes. “I wish, man. It all happened so fast, I couldn’t get a good look.”

For the next hour, we sit with Wade, entertaining him until his nurse comes in and asks us to leave so Wade can get more rest. We say our goodbyes, promising more pints of ice cream tomorrow, whenever Simon gets back from his stay with Daniel.

As we’re walking out of the hospital, my phone buzzes in my pocket several times, and I frown at the messages waiting for me.

Mack: Don’t forget our group project tomorrow, assholes. Noon. @ the library. Study room 3A. I got it reserved every damn week for the foreseeable future until we get this shit done.

Mack: Unless Oli wants to hand over the case files to me and I can get it done without you assholes.

I wrinkle my nose at his damn text message. Rude as hell.

Wilder: Same to you, dick…

Wilder: And no way in hell are we trusting you to finish this shit without us.

Wilder: I won’t be on time. I have some shit I need to do beforehand. Might be late…

Mack: Late? Might as well not come and leave it to me. *Shrug emoji*

Wilder: In your fucking dreams, asshole.

A sinking feeling washes over me as they keep bickering over text. These two have never liked each other and have never been in the same room together without fighting.

And I’m about to be stuck in a small study room with the two of them, working on an impossible project.

How fun.

Oli: I’ll be there.

Great. After everything that’s happened, it almost slipped my mind that I have a group project with two brothers who hate each other and are on opposite sides of everything.

I swear, sometimes the universe laughs at my pain, and today is no exception.

36

Olivia

The moment I step into the stuffy, reserved study room, I want to run back to my dorm and never come out. Maybe finish the project myself. I have all the materials to do that. My nerves eat away at me. I can handle a lot. Investigating gang leaders and corrupt nursing homes? That’s my specialty. But this? Having to be in the same small room as Mack, interacting with him in close quarters, and finishing this bullshit project together? It makes me want to run for the hills, hide, and pretend this was never a thing.

Too bad I’m stuck.