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I smiled sweetly. “That is very, very kind of you, sir. I can’t wait to be part of this.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Sullivan. You may leave.”
My phone was already ringing by the time I got to the main gate of the college. I answered quickly.
“Hey, are you there?”
Her voice was sweet. Almost bird-like. “I’ll be there in twenty. Can’t wait to meet you.”
Café La Folie was as American as it could be, a pretty blue building with large windows for natural light, with a scent of heady coffee that caught me an entire street down.
It had sleek wooden chairs and tables and minimalist light fixtures. Colorful paintings adorned the walls, making everything about the place feelsafe.
I ordered a latte and settled into a comfy chair by the window while I waited for my guest.
“Aurora? I’m sorry, I’m looking for a girl in a white dress and sneakers and totally apologize if I’m making a blunder. Not good at this.”
I turned my eyes to the slender girl and her sweet smile. We’d be friends.
“Nah, you hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Emma, I’m guessing?”
She nodded, and I gestured to the seat in front of me.
“I told him to join me in an hour. He doesn't suspect anything, but I can already tell you he's going to freak out when he knows what we’ve been up to.”
“Well, he can’t say he didn't have coming, though.” I grinned. “Would you like to order something? Coffee?”
She got a vanilla chai latte and took some time to let the ambience around her sink in.
“I love the café culture here. Someday, if and when the world feels safer, I hope to get out of the house more. Spend more time in little coffee shops and eateries, get to know local cuisines, maybe write a book.”
She is so sweet. My heart.
“Emma...”
She turned her fawn-like eyes to me and smiled. “I know why you called me. What I don’t know is how much you know.”
I sighed. “Enough to make me want to take over and play the part of Karma. I don’t even want you to get too involved in this, but I’ve been asked to be the main speaker at the gala, and I needed some details on the where and when of it all. If that hits too close to home, I totally understand.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s absolutely fine. Aurora—”
“Call me Rory.”
“Okay.” She grinned. “I’m not going to stop you if you’ve made up your mind. When I had mine set on doing what I could not do, nothing anyone said would have stopped me.”
“Then you know how I feel, Emma.”
She looked at me without saying anything. It was like she was reading my face and gauging every feeling inside me.
“I know a fellow survivor when I see one. And I respect that. Okay. What do you need to know?”
“Everything you can tell me will help.”
“Use a wire. That’s my first bit of advice, and definitely something I should have done if I had another shot at it. Abbot’s words are what will add to his culpability.”
I nodded, bringing out my pen and notebook.
“Is that... is that a revenge list?”
