The Concealed (The Lakewood Series Book 1)

by Sarah Kleck

  “Felix, what’s this about?” I asked, taken aback. I couldn’t understand why he was so angry, even hateful, and would not stop provoking these guys. After all, he was alone, and now there were six of them. Or was I supposed to be on his team? I saw from the corner of my eye that Jared was clenching his teeth as if trying to keep himself from teaching Felix a lesson. At that instant, the light in the restaurant started to flicker, which made the entire situation seem even more threatening. Did the whole town have issues with its power lines? The power company needed to look into this. But . . . hold it! Didn’t the lights flicker every time Jared was nearby? Or were those the only times I noticed? Strange . . . Somehow, I was overcome with the impression that this flickering really had something to do with him or, rather, his presence—as if a kind of high voltage emanated from him.

  I still didn’t dare look at Jared. I was sure that the unique blue of his eyes would immediately daze me, as it did every time. The tension in the air was tangible. If I wasn’t alert and lost myself in Jared’s eyes, I’d wind up in the middle of a fight. If that wasn’t where I already was.

  “We’ll leave,” Jared said after a deep breath, and then he turned.

  Something about his tone told me the others in his group would follow. Aiden stared at Felix for a moment before he joined the others.

  Felix snorted with contempt. “Don’t be afraid, Evelyn. I’m looking after you,” he said as soon as we were alone.

  Excuse me? He was looking after me? He had been the one who had provoked those guys to the point of explosion. He had started all this shit!

  If I owed anyone gratitude, it was Jared. He even overlooked Felix’s offensiveness to prevent the situation from escalating. And this much was clear: Felix would have had the worst of it had the situation escalated. Absolutely. Six against one—you didn’t need to be a psychic to know how that would have gone.

  Another thought occurred to me: Did Jared just . . . protect me? Or was I only imagining it? Was this even about me? Had he only wanted to prevent his friends from getting into trouble? On the other hand, he had stood between Madison and me. He had even walked me home so another crazy person wouldn’t ambush me. He had wanted to protect me from all that.

  But did he also want to defend me?

  “Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Felix said, interrupting my thoughts and grinning. “They won’t come back.” His smile broadened. Was he for real?

  “I feel sick. I’m going home,” I said, grabbed my coat, and headed out the door before Felix could comprehend what was going on.

  I disappeared into the first alley before he could follow me. Strange. This wasn’t the first time Felix’s behavior went from one extreme to another in a matter of moments. Sometimes he became riled up so easily I found it a bit eerie. He was unpredictable. And that made me think.

  Without knowing where I was going, I turned from one alley into the next until the paths became more and more narrow and I was surrounded by tall brick walls. Those must have been the unappealing backsides of the buildings near Corn Market Street. Whatever. I’d wanted to explore Oxford one day on my own, anyway. As long as there was daylight, I’d find my way back. The main thing was I’d be left alone by Felix for the day.

  “What are you thinking? You know that’s impossible!”

  I stopped on the spot when I recognized the voice—beyond a doubt, that was the dark-haired guy: Aiden. He was standing around the corner in a small alley only a few feet from me. I tiptoed closer, tried to breathe as quietly as possible, and strained to hear him.

  “She will kill you, and then everything will have been for nothing!” he angrily said through gritted teeth.

  “I know you and your mother are convinced of that, but have you considered that Colin may be right?” Jared! I gasped and held my hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t betray my presence.

  “Colin’s wrong!” Aiden said.

  “And what if he’s not?” Jared asked, still calm and collected.

  “Are you even listening to me, man? She. Will. Kill. You.” There was no doubt that Aiden believed what he said. “We can’t allow that to happen, you know that!”

  We? Was there somebody else in the alley?

  “Tell Karen I won’t let it come to that!” Jared said and no longer sounded as calm. On the contrary: it was the same commanding tone he’d used just a moment ago in the restaurant.

  “Then you’d better do something soon. You know she doesn’t have a sense of humor when it comes to your safety,” said Aiden, somewhat less agitated and with a trace of . . . submissiveness.

  “I know,” Jared said coolly. Then it was quiet for a moment. Only their regular breathing told me they were still there.

  “Come on, the others are probably waiting,” Jared said conciliatorily, and I heard him pat Aiden on the shoulder. “Surely you haven’t eaten yet,” he teased him with a laugh.

  “That asshole MacMillan . . . ,” Aiden said as their steps became more distant. “Next time I won’t hold back—not even for your sake. Somebody needs to shut his mouth,” I heard him say before they turned the corner and I couldn’t make anything else out.

  I stood frozen in the alley for a while and tried to process what I’d just heard.

  “She will kill you,” Aiden had said.

  Who was she? Why would she want to kill Jared? Did he have enemies? Was he really in danger? One thing was certain: Aiden was convinced of it. Aiden Mayflower . . . Jared spoke about his mother and Felix, too, had made a barbed comment about Aiden’s mama. No. That couldn’t be a coincidence. He must be Professor Mayflower’s son. Their ages also matched up. She was in her midfifties; he was in his early twenties. Without a doubt, Professor Karen Mayflower was Aiden’s mother. Aiden said she didn’t have a sense of humor when it came to Jared’s safety. His safety. Somehow that sounded completely exaggerated. As if one were speaking of the queen or the prime minister, whose bodyguards were ready at all times to throw themselves into the line of fire.

  Suddenly, an image shot through my head. I saw Professor Mayflower before me as she spoke to Jared—on my first day after she had looked at me so strangely and then stormed out of the lecture hall—and just then I knew it was true. Mayflower wanted to protect Jared from someone. But who? Who was trying to take Jared’s life? Was it about money? Perhaps. After all, Jared was the sole heir to a fortune according to Sally and Felix. But Aiden clearly spoke of a woman. “She will kill you,” he had said.

  An insight struck me like lightning. Jared’s words echoed loud and clear in my head: “Can you be happy when what you desire most will bring you to your doom?” He’d said it himself. What he desired would lead him to his doom. Would kill him. She would kill him. And she was . . . the woman he desired, the woman he loved. I became dizzy. Why were Aiden and Jared talking about this immediately after our encounter in the restaurant? Why had Jared told me at the party he was unhappy? And why had Colin been encouraging me not to give up on Jared? Had Jared also felt what I’d felt when our hands touched? I barely dared to even consider the thought: Was I the one he desired? Was she . . . me? No.

  That could not be right. What reason did I have to harm Jared? It didn’t make sense.

  My thoughts collapsed upon themselves like a house of cards, and I no longer knew anything. I wasn’t even sure if I’d really heard everything or just imagined it. My powers of reasoning were abandoning me, leaving my mind in chaos. I was becoming seriously worried that the events of the last few weeks and months were causing me to lose my sanity. Was I really starting to see things that weren’t there? Were these conversations I believed I’d overheard real or not?

  I was trotting numbly through the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town when I noticed a movement on one of the side streets. Was that . . . ? I hurried with determined steps toward an entrance where I thought I had seen a man. A man with black leather gloves and a dark-gray wo
ol coat. A second later, I turned the corner and there he was with the same ice-cold expression on his face. I gasped. He had followed me here! Every cell of my body urged me to run. But . . . no! I would not let this guy scare me anymore! It was now or never!

  “Who are you? What do you want from me? Why are you following me?” I yelled.

  He approached me in a calm manner. I was incapable of moving.

  “Get away from here!” he said. “Get away or I will no longer be able to do anything for you.” He turned without another word and disappeared into the maze of alleys and narrow streets.

  CHAPTER 8

  Get away or I will no longer be able to do anything for you. The man’s words echoed through my head when I woke up in the morning. Why should I get away from here? And what was that supposed to mean, he would no longer be able to do anything for me? I sluggishly sat up and rubbed my temples. What was it all supposed to mean? I shook my head with my eyes shut. I was going to go stir-crazy if I didn’t find a distraction. Since there were no lectures on weekends, I’d have to find some other way to get through the day. Sally hadn’t called in the evening, so I assumed she was planning to do something today with Colin.

  I’d had enough of Felix for now. Especially since he had called at least five times last night and sent several texts. Apparently, he wasn’t able to understand my sudden disappearance and didn’t have a clue what was going on with me. So be it. I decided to spend the day on my female narcissism assignment for Bronsen, which was due soon, after I’d taken a refreshing shower. My phone rang just as I was getting dressed. I cast a disdainful look at the display, assuming it was another one of Felix’s calls. However, when I saw Sally’s name, I was surprised and pressed “Accept.”

  “Hi, Sally,” I said.

  “Good morning, Evelyn. Sorry I didn’t call yesterday. Colin and I hung out all day.”

  “That’s okay. I understand you want to spend time with him. What are you doing today?”

  “Listen, something strange happened yesterday,” she said and abruptly stopped. “I want to talk to you about it.” Her concerned tone startled me.

  “Sure,” I replied, perplexed.

  “Shall we meet at the library in half an hour?”

  “Okay. See you there,” I said and hung up.

  I repeated Sally’s words. “Something strange happened.” Had Colin done something to her?

  “Evelyn,” Sally called from afar. She stood at the entrance of the Bodleian and waved at me.

  “Hi,” I said when I was only steps away. “Everything okay, Sally? What happened?”

  “Let’s go inside. I’m freezing my butt off out here,” she said and hurried toward the entrance. I followed her to a reading desk.

  “What’s the matter?” I said as soon as we had sat down. I was seriously starting to worry.

  “I was hanging out with Colin all day yesterday,” she started with a lowered voice and looked me straight in the eye. “It was really wonderful. He was so attentive and nice and . . . it was really perfect.”

  I returned her smile. “That’s lovely, Sally. I’m really happy for you. You wanted to meet just to tell me that?”

  Sally took a deep breath. “Later in the evening, Colin got a call. From Aiden Mayflower—Professor Mayflower’s son. I don’t know if you know him. In any case, Colin left the room to talk to Aiden. So I didn’t hear everything they talked about.” Sally breathed deeply again. “After a few minutes, they were arguing. Colin yelled at Aiden and called him an idiot. He got really angry. Then he hung up.”

  I gave Sally a questioning look. I still didn’t know what she was driving at.

  “In the conversation there was talk of a High Council and some decision it would have to make.” She leaned forward. “The whole time, the names Jared, Karen, and . . . Evelyn were dropped again and again,” she quietly continued.

  I looked at her completely dumbfounded. I had not expected that. “What? Do you think they were talking about me?”

  She sized me up. “After Colin hung up, he came back in and told me he had to meet Jared, that it was urgent. And he insisted I spend the day with you—in public.”

  “Why with me?” I asked her, desperately trying to understand. “And why in public?”

  She leaned even farther over the table and looked deep into my eyes. “Colin says you need to be looked after for a while.”

  “What?”

  “Shhh.” Sally put a finger to her lips.

  “What the hell does he mean by that? Why would I need looking after?” I asked in a quiet, though no less defensive, voice.

  “I don’t know any more than I’ve already told you. But believe me—Colin was dead serious! It looks like someone has it in for you. And it has something to do with Jared Calmburry and someone named Karen.”

  A dark thought made me shudder. “Karen Mayflower,” I said while I attempted to sort through my thoughts.

  “Professor Mayflower?” she asked and thought for a moment. “Well, it makes sense. She’s Aiden’s mother. But what does she have to do with all this?” The question was meant more for herself than for me.

  As much as I pondered, I could not make the pieces fit. Someone had it in for me, as Sally put it. And Jared, Colin, Aiden, Karen Mayflower, and, most likely, the man with the leather gloves all had something to do with it. But what? Sally also spoke of a High Council . . . “And how long is all this supposed to take? I mean staying in public and all that,” I asked, frustrated.

  “Colin said he’d tell me when it’s over.” I knew she would have liked to tell me more but apparently it didn’t make sense to her, either. But she was taking Colin’s warning seriously—that much was clear.

  I would have preferred to be alone for a few minutes just to think in peace and quiet. Instead, I let my eyes wander across the overflowing bookshelves until they stopped on a tall, slender figure heading straight for us.

  “Felix,” I burst out when I recognized him. “What’s he doing here?”

  “I called him and asked him to meet us.”

  I looked at Sally surprised and annoyed.

  “I thought one more couldn’t do any harm. Don’t you want to see him?” she asked.

  “Actually, I saw enough of him yesterday!”

  “Hello, Evelyn,” he said when he arrived at our table. “I see you’re still alive!” He was about to leave when Sally grabbed him by the arm.

  “What’s going on between the two of you?” she asked, confused.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Evelyn seems to enjoy driving me crazy with worry,” he said and gave me a look that was both sad and angry. “Where were you?” he asked desperately, and I could see in his eyes that he was really worried. I immediately felt guilty.

  “I’m sorry, Felix,” I said. “But you really upset me in the restaurant yesterday. Why did you get so angry? I almost didn’t recognize you.”

  Regret was all over his face. “I didn’t want to frighten you. I’m sorry.” As a peace offering, he extended his hand to me. His expression brightened when I accepted and shook his hand.

  “So,” he said to Sally. “What’s up? Why did you call me?”

  “Well, I . . .” Sally stopped midsentence when she saw my look.

  She realized immediately that I didn’t think much of inviting Felix. After all, we were talking about the same people who had infuriated him so much the day before.

  “It’s Saturday—I thought the three of us could do something nice,” Sally said, just barely making the save.

  “Don’t you have a date with Sullivan today?” Felix asked with a negative tone. “I thought you two were inseparable now.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Shut up, Felix!” Finally, the old Sally was back.

  “Do you feel like a guided tour of town?” she asked me, ignoring Felix.


  “Sure, why not?” I said and we got on our way.

  “Finally!” Sally said, relieved when her phone rang in the late afternoon. After touring the town exhaustively and—at my request—viewing all the imposing old buildings of almost every department, Sally, Felix, and I had retreated into a cozy little café in the downtown area.

  “Is it Colin?” I asked and rubbed my sore feet.

  Sally nodded and held the phone to her ear. She almost dropped it in her excitement. “Hi, Colin, what’s up? What’s happening?” She spoke so fast her words almost blurred together. I held my breath.

  “You guys are almost acting as if you were waiting for Sullivan’s call,” Felix said in a wary tone. Sally and I had not enlightened him about the real reason for the sightseeing tour. Although I wanted to avoid making him suspicious, I didn’t react to his assumption. Instead, I listened closely to the phone call, which confirmed Felix’s observation. I could hardly wait to ask what Colin was telling her and searched Sally’s face for hints of good or bad news. Suddenly her expression lightened a little and she nodded.

  “Okay, I’ll tell her it’s all clear.” She nodded again. “Will I still see you today?” Sally asked hopefully and a second later a smile spread across her face.

  “Okay, till later. I’m looking forward to seeing you!” She hung up still smiling.

  “Oh God, how sickening,” Felix said and rolled his eyes. “I’m looking forward to seeing you,” he repeated in a squeaky voice and batted his eyelashes. If that was an attempt to imitate Sally’s voice, it had failed miserably.

  “So, what’s going on?” I asked.

  “Debriefing,” Sally answered curtly so as not to give away too much to Felix. Although I would have liked to find out all the details, it was clear that I just had to be content with “debriefing” for now.

  “What debriefing?” Felix asked. “What the hell are you two talking about?” A question mark virtually hovered over his head.

  “Mind your own shit,” Sally snapped back, causing Felix to turn red with anger. Without taking further notice of him, she said that she’d go home to get ready for her date with Colin. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Evelyn. Tell you all about it,” she said and winked at me. I guessed I’d have to be patient. Although it was hard for me to let her go, I wished her an enjoyable evening and watched her almost dance out the door. Sally had such a crush on Colin that you might have found her picture in the dictionary next to the entry for lovestruck.