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I need to find him. And deal with him. Before it’s too late.
Claudia
“Wow.” George breathes as I lead her through the garage door into the lofty foyer of Malloy Manor. She turns in a slow circle to take in the sweeping staircases, gaudy chandelier, and the eldritch blown-glass and ceramic statuary the Malloys seemed particularly fond of. “I always wanted to see inside this place.”
I lead her into the kitchen, where Noah is banging pots with his uninjured arm and cursing. He’s tied a flowery apron over his clothes and it’s adorable. I roll my eyes at George. “Don’t tell me – you were one of the sickos creeping around the perimeter, peering in the gates hoping for a glimpse of the Malloy ghost.”
A faint flush creeps across her cheeks. “Maaaaybe. I wasn’t being morbid, I promise. It was for research purposes. I am Emerald Beach’s favorite true-crime podcaster, you know.”
“I know. And I’m going to need to see every piece of research you have on my family and the Malloys. We need to find Brutus and—”
“Claaaaaws, I didn’t expect you to be here. I come bearing dinner. Noah says he’s cooking again, so I figure we needed supplies.” Gabriel wanders in, pointedly ignoring Noah’s coal-eyed death glare. He clutches a stack of gourmet food containers that smell divine. He’s followed by Queen Boudica, who must smell something fishy because she has her tail up in the air and a hungry look in her eyes. When Gabe sees George, he drops his booty and throws his arm around her. “I knew Claws would drag you here eventually. Welcome to Castle Clawstein. You must see the sound system in the media room. It’s out of this world.”
I am so fucking grateful to Gabe, who fully doesn’t give a shit that George is social pariah number one at Stonehurst Prep. He may appear superficial, but he’s also an artist – he sees beyond the masks people wear. And what he sees inside George is all the things that make her an amazing friend. Her kindness. Her loyalty. Her badass taste in music.
“Is Eli here?” George’s eyes light up.
Noah and I exchange a glance. I shake my head. “He hasn’t taken my news as well as you. He wants to be left alone.”
“No, he doesn’t. That’s the whole reason he started this research project,” George says. “He wants to protect you. I don’t think he knows you can kill a man from across a room with a cake knife.”
“Hang on, what?” Noah’s eyes narrow, but George and I ignore him.
George’s lip quivers. “You shouldn’t let Eli be alone if he’s in danger.”
“I’m working on it. But it’s complicated, as you’ll learn in a moment.” I whip Antony’s cake sack from his hands and shove it toward her. “Eat up. This is going to take a while. And you’ll need chocolate.”
Gabriel passes me a plate of shrimp carbonara. Excellent – carbs. I’ll need them to get through this.
As George chews her way through an impressive chunk of cake, I lay the story out for her the same as I told the guys. I leave out the bits I’m not ready to talk about – the coffin, and the man without a face who I now know is Brutus. I’ve held on to my secrets for so long I feel naked without them, and I need to keep some close.
When I finish, she’s practically bouncing with excitement. “Okay, you’re definitely the topic of my next podcast.”
Noah frowns. “Didn’t you just hear what she said? No one can know she’s not really Mackenzie—”
“No, I mean, this is how I help, right? I won’t put anything on air you don’t want out, but I’ve got a whole network of fans all over the world who can help us with information as long as we’re fighting for a noble cause.”
Gabriel grins. “I can’t think of anything nobler than saving Claw’s shaggable arse.”
George continues. “Since Eli’s dad is connected to this Brutus guy, that gives me reason to start digging through my old files again. Oh, speaking of Brutus, I think I know where he is.”
I drop my fork.
She’s kidding, right?
We’ve been looking everywhere for this guy, trying to keep this secret from George, and all along she’s had the information we need?
How did she manage to find him when Antony couldn’t?
Antony leans forward, and I swear his ears perk up like Queen Boudica when she hears me opening a tuna can.
“Okay, pipsqueak, we’re listening.”
Claudia
“Run it by me again how you managed to figure out where Brutus is hiding out?” I growl.
It’s Sunday. I’m in the kitchen with George and Gabriel, frying steaks for dinner (or rather, I’m frying. George has her research spread out over the table. Gabriel is pulling spatulas from the drawer and trying to whack my ass with them). We’re waiting for Noah to get back from his final winter track meet (fuck knows how he’s explained the cuts on his arm from the whip) and Antony to return from the club so we can head out to have a little chat with Brutus.
