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Alek reaches for the napkin, offering to plate up a serving of pelmeni. “I’m sorry about that. She doesn’t know when to quit. Bon appetite.”
His apology surprises me.
“Bon appetite,” I reply, but unbeknownst to Alek, I am hungry not for food but, rather, for uncovering what the hell is going on.
Day 56
“UGH,” IGROAN, falling back onto the pillows. Massaging my temples, I wonder if the action will help me see through the fog clouding my brain for the past two days.
Saint clearly gave me more credit than I deserve because I’m no closer to decoding his journal. After dinner, I moved into his old room. It surprised me how quickly he was replaced because apart from the wallpaper, the bedroom looked completely different.
It saddened me that my things were brought in because I would have preferred to sleep in a room where his scent and presence still lingered. But Alek wouldn’t have it. It seems out of sight, out of mind, but Saint never strays far from my thoughts.
I haven’t heard from him yet. I assume he has a lot to take care of. Zoey, for one. I wonder if he’ll take her back home or rehabilitate her here, saving their parents further heartache. I have so many questions, but sadly, those answers will have to wait because until I hear from Saint, I’m left guessing.
I scoured the room for cameras, and when I was pretty certain I was not under surveillance, I perched myself on the bed with Saint’s journal on my lap and went to work. It didn’t take me long to work out that The Circle has three game players.
Astra is one.
The Oscar Wilde quote had me guessing that Saint was hinting Oscar, the vile man I met nights ago, was another imperative piece to the puzzle.
Which just leaves me with one more person.
I have stared at Saint’s clue for endless hours but am at a complete loss at what seven deadly sins+2means. The numbers in the sudoku box are even more cryptic. It’s so frustrating because I know the answer is there, but I just don’t know what it is.
When a knock sounds on my door, I quickly spring into action and hide the journal under the mattress. The switchblade sits in my back pocket. I’m ready. But when it opens and I see Sara, I sigh in relief. She enters and softly closes the door behind her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. We need a secret knock.”
I smile because, in light of everything, it’s nice to have a comrade in arms.
“I have to be quick, but I have a letter. It’s from Saint.” I watch as she hunts through her pocket to retrieve an envelope.
“You saw him?” I ask, my trembling voice betraying my happiness.
She nods and walks over, passing the note to me. “He’s still in Russia. In a safe place. With Zoey. He told me to give you this. It’ll help with figuring out his journal.”
“Yes!” I exclaim, unable to hide my excitement.
Unable to wait, I rip the envelope open and unfold the sheet of paper. The moment I see Saint’s handwriting, a nostalgia hits, and I slump onto the end of the bed, afraid my feet won’t hold me up. I scan over it, and even though it doesn’t make any sense, I clutch the paper to my chest, needing a minute. “Ho-how is he?”
Sara appears just as nostalgic as I am. “He’s Saint.” Her response elicits a playful scoff from me because I know what she means. “He wanted me to tell you he made a new friend.”
I pale, bracing for the worst, but what she says has me laughing.
“Harriet Pot Pie the Second?” She phrases it as a question because to anyone but Saint and me, it doesn’t make a lick of sense. “He said you’d know what that means.”
“I do,” I confirm, unable to stop smiling. “It was the name of my pet chicken when I was shipwrecked with him.”
Sara nods with half a grin.
“Chicken would mean he’s probably out of the city then?”
“Yes, he’s hiding somewhere remote, no doubt, but he didn’t tell me where. He knew where I was because this time every week, I pick up Alek’s shirts from the dry cleaners. Just like clockwork.”
“Thank you, Sara. I know this is dangerous for you.”
She shakes her head. “I will do anything to see Alek go down. He has to pay for what he has done. I have to go. I’ll check in on you later.”
