AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Like she already knows who’s blackmailing her. But that makes no sense. If she did, she’d have no reason to involve me.
When I get up from the table, Mina hugs me and tells me that I’m the sweetest boy in the world. Even though she doesn’t mean it and she’s probably saying it for all the wrong reasons, it’s still nice.
I find Sam lying in bed when I get back to the room, headphones over his ears. He stays that way all through study hall, snuffling quietly into his covers. He sleeps in his clothes.
Wednesday he barely speaks and barely eats. In the cafeteria he picks at his food and responds to my most outrageous jokes with a grunt. When I see him in the halls, he looks haunted.
On Thursday he tries to talk to Daneca, abruptly chasing her out onto the school green after breakfast. I follow them, dread in the pit of my stomach. The skies are overcast and it’s cold enough that I won’t be surprised if we get sleet instead of rain. Wallingford looks bleached out, gray. For a moment Sam and Daneca are standing close together, and I think he’s got a chance. Then she lurches back and starts off in the direction of the Academic Center, braids whipping behind her.
“Who?” he yells after her. “Just tell me who he is. Just tell me why he’s better than me.”
“I should never have told you anything,” she shrieks back.
People want to lay bets on the identity of this mysterious guy, but no one’s willing to go to Sam with their guesses. He looks wild-eyed, stalking around the campus like a madman. When they come to me, I am glad that I already gave up the business.
By Friday I’m worried enough that I make Sam come home with me. I leave my Benz at Wallingford and we drive over to my mom’s old house in his grease-powered hearse. As we pull in, I notice there’s already another car parked in the driveway. Grandad’s come to visit.
6
I WALK IN THE FRONT door to the house, Sam right behind me. It’s unlocked and I can hear the chug of the dishwasher. My grandfather is standing at the counter, chopping potatoes and onions. His gloves are off and the blackened stubs where his fingers used to be are clearly visible. Four fingers; four kills. He’s a death worker.
One of those kills saved my life.
Grandad looks up. “Sam Yu, right?” he says. “The roommate.”
Sam nods.
“You drove up from Carney,” I say. “And you’re making dinner. What’s going on? How’d you even know I was going to come home this weekend?”
“Didn’t. You heard from that mother of yours?” Grandad asks.
I hesitate.
He grunts. “That’s what I thought. I don’t want you to get caught up with her bullshit.” He nods toward Sam. “Kid can keep a secret?”
“He’s currently keeping almost all of mine,” I say.
“Almost all?” Sam says, the corner of his mouth lifting. That’s the closest he’s been to smiling in days.
“Then both of you listen up. Cassel, I know that she’s your mother, but there’s nothing you can do for her. Shandra got herself in over her head. She’s got to get her own self out. You understand?”
I nod.
“Don’t be yessing me to death when you mean no,” Grandad says.
“I’m not doing anything crazy. I’m just seeing if I can find something she lost,” I say, glancing toward Sam.
“What she stole,” says Grandad.
“She stole from Governor Patton?” Sam asks, clearly bewildered.
“I wish it was just that idiot she had to worry about,” says Grandad, and he goes back to his chopping. “You two go sit down awhile. I’m making steaks. There’s plenty for three.”
I shake my head and walk into the living room, drop my backpack near the couch. Sam follows.
“What’s going on?” he asks. “Who’s your grandfather talking about?”
“My mother stole something and then tried to sell a fake back to the original owner.” That seems like the simplest explanation. The details only make the whole thing more confusing. Sam knows that Lila’s father is a crime boss, but I’m not sure he really thinks of anyone’s parent as potentially lethal. “The guy wants the real version, but Mom doesn’t remember where she put it.”
