by W. J. May
The blissful bubble popped and the smile vanished from her face. She turned with a chilly expression, to see her brother watching her carefully from the other side of the lane. The two might have not been speaking, but they’d kept pace with each other. He’d been watching for a long while.
“Why do you care?”
He tensed at her tone then gave a quick shrug, dropping his eyes back to the road. “I don’t. Just making conversation.”
She stared at him another moment, then softened in spite of herself. He hadn’t been there that night. He hadn’t been interrogated like the others. He’d simply woken up on a weekday morning before getting assaulted with the news that a favorite teacher was dead and his big sister was the prime suspect. As if that wasn’t enough, he’d been forcibly dragged out of school.
“Every day I stay away is like admitting defeat,” she said quietly. “Like those bloody agents chased me out of my own school. Besides, I have nothing to hide.” Her heart quickened frantically as she shot him a sudden look. “Because I had nothing to do with what happened.”
He glanced up in surprise. “I know.”
For a split second, she almost wanted to hug him. There was no agenda, or sarcasm, or hint of doubt in her brother’s voice. He was simply honest, staring back at her with total trust.
“That’s...” She turned away quickly to hide the tears pricking her eyes. “That’s good to hear. I figured you’d be leading the prosecution against me,” she added hastily.
He grinned, tossing back his dark hair. “No reason I can’t do both.”
They walked in silence for a while longer. Without seeming to realize it, the siblings had drifted toward the middle of the road. Aria dug her hands into her pockets, chewing on her bottom lip. Then glanced at her little brother from the corner of her eye.
“James, why did you want to come to Guilder?”
He stopped in his tracks, staring at her in surprise. “Why would you ask me that?”
She stopped, too, wishing immediately that she could take it back.
In truth, she hadn’t meant anything by it. It’s just that ever since he declared he also wanted to go to the supernatural prep school, she’d wondered as to the reason why.
“It’s just...if I already have the gene—”
He shoved past her, walking briskly to the front gate. “James Wardell,” he said shortly, flashing his student ID. “My sister the murderer is right behind me. Might want to frisk her before letting her inside.”
She stopped in her tracks as two agents stuck their heads out the window. James never even saw them. He kept on walking without a backwards glance up to the school.
BY THE TIME ARIA GOT through what could best be described as ‘heightened security’, the morning classes had already begun. Fortunately, she’d memorized all her friends’ schedules on the first day of school. With the methodical precision of one who’d done it many times before she stood outside each of their windows, holding up a hastily scribbled sign.
Emergency. Make up an excuse.
She started with the boys, who happened to be in the same class. The tittering of laughter clued them in. By the time they turned to the window she was tapping her foot impatiently, holding the sign high above her head. It was at that point that the teacher noticed as well, rolling his eyes with a long-suffering sigh. It wasn’t the first such demand. It would not be the last.
In an effort to put on a decent show, Benji pushed to his feet then promptly collapsed where he stood. Jason let out a theatrical cry and rushed to his side, screaming lines taken straight out of soap operas. “We need a doctor!” and “Back off—give him some air!”
They were excused a moment later, with instructions not to return.
“Didn’t think we’d be seeing you again so early,” Benji said cheerfully, having made a miraculous recovery just in time to join Aria on the front lawn. “Family time get a little boring?”
“Started out that way...” she replied mysteriously, giving them each a wink.
Together the three friends marched across campus to the science building, where Lily was in the middle of taking a test. There were few things the young psychic took more seriously, and she kept her eyes on her paper. Deliberately ignoring them as she continued to write.
Unfortunately, her friends happened to take such things not as a warning but as a challenge.
Instead of leaving, they held their ground—shooting up an SOS of sparks and icicles, recreating a battle from the American Revolutionary War on the campus lawn. It wasn’t until they’d burst into song that the teacher walked up to Lily’s desk and asked calmly if she was finished. The girl let out a sigh, scanned her paper, then handed it to the teacher and gathered up her things. She met the others outside a moment later, looking ready to personally strangle every single one.
“...what?”
Aria smiled sweetly, setting the poster on fire. “I missed you.”
There was a pause.
“Wardell, I swear if you got me out of biology just for that—”
“Of course not.” Aria threw an arm over her shoulder, steering her and the others briskly across the lawn. “I also brought you coffee.”
She hadn’t. But she’d stolen a thermos out of James’ bag in the taxi ride over. She extracted it proudly from her purse, passing it to Lily as they settled on their normal cluster of benches. The very same benches where she’d been officially interrogated just a day before.
“So were you able to find out what our parents are up to?” Benji asked with no preamble, taking a swig from the thermos for himself. “Is that why you’re back?”
“Thief!”
The others lifted their heads to see James storming across the lawn. How he’d known they’d all ditched class was a mystery. Call it a little brother’s intuition.
Benji surrendered the thermos immediately, pointing to Aria behind her back.
“I knew my bag felt lighter.” He crammed it back in the pocket with a glare. “I’m surprised they didn’t confiscate this from you at the gate. Who knows what might be inside...”
Jason glanced between them with a frown. “What’s he talking about?”
“Nothing,” Aria said threateningly, eyes trained on her brother. “You can sit down and shut up, or you can leave. Your choice.”
He hesitated a moment, almost leaving out of spite, then decided he’d rather know what was going on. With a look of supreme unconcern he sank onto an empty bench, stretching out his legs.
“As we were saying...” Lily continued testily, still upset for being rushed out of her test. “Were you able to find out anything about the formal investigation?”
“I couldn’t,” Aria said with false regret, “as things were really busy. First we were playing Candyland...”
Lily tilted her head curiously and Benji explained under his breath.
“It’s a video game where you battle zombies in a post-apocalyptic bog.”
She shot a startled glance at Jason. “Is that true?”
He shrugged.
“Then later that night,” Aria continued, ignoring the interruption, “I went to New York on a mission for the Privy Council.”
Dead. Quiet.
After a few seconds, Lily elbowed Benji in the ribs.
“Shock her. See if you can wake her back up.”
“It’s true,” James said miserably. “I saw her and my dad leave. When my mom got back from France, she was freaked. Set the new kitchen table on fire.”
“What happened?” Benji demanded.
Aria leaned back on the bench with a smug smile. “It’s kind of a long story...”
THE THING ABOUT COVERT missions was that they were, by definition, highly classified. Aria considered this for only a moment, then decided she didn’t care. She wasn’t a sanctioned agent of the Privy Council, so she couldn’t be held to their rules. Instead of keeping anything close to the vest she shared every single detail, taking her friends from one moment to the next.
She edi
ted...only slightly.
She exaggerated...only slightly.
The janitor became a private security team. The mop was a high-tech baton. When she got to the part about taking down Morten and his associate, the topiaries were excluded and the entire thing sounded suspiciously similar to a fight scene involving Jason Bourne.
Her friends listened with rapt attention, ignoring the bell that dismissed them from class and the one that rang in the new one. By the time she finished, it was almost lunch.
“I can’t believe it,” Benji murmured.
“I know,” Aria replied, feeling unbearably superior. “It was pretty incredible.”
“No, I can’t believe you went on a mission before me.” He turned to Jason. “I’m the capable one, right? I’m the bigger talent?”
Jason clapped him on the shoulder with an affectionate grin. They might be competitive, but the boys were close as brothers. He’d been forced to answer the same question many times before.
“Yeah, Ben. You’re the bigger talent.”
Temporarily satisfied, Benji broke into a side conversation with Lily and James, while Jason turned to Aria instead. It was the first time the two had a moment in private since the kiss.
“So you’re okay?” he asked softly. “With...with everything that’s happened?”
Their eyes met and a brilliant blush flamed in her cheeks.
“I’m, uh...I’m handling it.” Her eyes flickered up to his, unexpectedly shy. “Some parts have been better than others.”
A secret smile warmed his face, but before they could say anything further the others tuned back in with various degrees of confusion.
“Wait—what did you ask her?” Lily said suddenly. “If she’s okay with everything? Of course she’s not okay. She’s being investigated for murder, Jason. Be a little more sensitive.”
He looked down with a secret grin, nodding quickly. “Yeah, I will.”
“Are you okay,” Lily scoffed. “Unbelievable.”
“Sorry.”
Aria bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing. “Don’t let it happen again.”
His eyes twinkled as they met hers. “I would never dream of letting it happen again.”
Benji glanced between the three of them, looking abruptly bored.
“Back to the investigation...” he prompted pointedly.
“Right.” Aria clapped her hands briskly. “The way I see it, we have two people who we know were out of bed—along with whoever else on the tatù registry has speed.”
“The registry that Hidgens keeps with him at all times,” James reminded sharply.
“Yeah—that one won’t be easy.” Benji stared off into the distance, lost in thought. “So you think we should start by looking in to Oliver and Alexander?”
Aria nodded quickly. “Yeah, something didn’t add up about their stories. Plus, they were caught out of bed at the time of the murder. We’d be idiots not to investigate them.”
“What about you and Jason?” Lily asked mischievously. “You were out of bed, too.”
“What happened to being sensitive?” Jason demanded with a grin.
“I’m a hypocrite.”
“No, she’s right.” Benji cocked his head with a playful smile. “We investigate all leads. On that note, maybe we can ask your mom to see that memory for ourselves—”
“No!” Aria and Jason shouted at the same time.
THE CONVERSATION STOPPED in its tracks as the others turned to them curiously. Aria panicked for a split second before coming up with a hasty explanation.
“I mean—we can’t let them know that we’re digging in to this ourselves. You know how they are. They’d yank us out of school and into some private tutoring program.”
“Good point.” Benji’s eyes twinkled as they drifted her way. “So I guess we’ll just do this the old- fashioned way.”
She laughed breathlessly, feeling like she’d dodged a bullet. “You mean breaking every rule the school has to offer?”
“Precisely. It’s gotten us this far. No need to break with tradition.”
Chapter 11
They decided to start immediately, launching into the investigation the very next day.
Phase one: Oliver Jack.
The plan was relatively simple, even borderline adolescent. But it was also highly effective. It all started when Lily strolled through the parking lot, carrying a giant raspberry smoothie...
“Crap!”
With a high-pitched shriek she tripped dramatically, spilling the drink all over her silk blouse...right in front of the Porsche Panamera that had parked just moments before.
The door opened and Oliver stepped onto the asphalt, circling around the back of the car to find her dripping bright fuchsia goop.
“Good morning,” he said, trying to restrain a smile. “Having some trouble?”
She flashed him a look, globs of pink smoothie dripping down strands of ivory hair. But instead of snapping back with something sarcastic, she flashed an embarrassed grin.
“Wasn’t looking where I was going.” She shook out her hands, staring down at her clothes in dismay. “You’d think by now I’d be able to see stuff like this coming.”
Oliver smiled back good-naturedly, but at the subtle innuendo his face lit up with sudden interest. “That’s right—you got your tatù. Happy belated birthday.”
She smiled sadly, gesturing to the ruined blouse. “For all the good it did me...”
He let out a sparkling laugh, leaning against the trunk of the car. “Hey, the first time I tried out my ink I ran straight into a wall. Hit it with so much speed, I broke my nose and had to spend the rest of my birthday in the hospital. At least you only tripped.”
Lily giggled charmingly, tying her hair back in a sticky bun. “There’s still time.” She glanced twice between the lot and the school, biting her lower lip before lighting up with sudden inspiration. “Hey, do you mind if I change my shirt in your car?”
His eyebrows shot up and he straightened suddenly. “In my car?”
She held up both hands, looking like a paint-splattered doll. “I won’t get anything on the seats, I promise.”
“No. It’s not that,” he said quickly, raking back his hair. “I was just surprised. I mean, the dorms are right over there—”
“Yeah, and Madame Elpis is always watching,” she finished with a rueful grin. “I come in dripping liquid raspberries and she’s going to tear my eyes out as punishment.”
He chuckled again, unlocking the Porsche with a click of his key fob. “Of course. Take your time.”
For the first time, Aria—who was hiding two cars down with Benji—felt a bit guilty. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Oliver had nothing to do with Professor Dorf’s death. It was just as ludicrous as suggesting that she or Jason had done it themselves. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Furthermore, they’d been friends since they were kids. It felt wrong to intentionally mislead him, no matter how serious the cause.
Then Lily knelt down to pick up her books and he surreptitiously peered down her shirt.
Would you look at that? I don’t feel so guilty after all.
“You’re a gem.” Lily flounced past him with a sunny smile. “Stand guard, will you?”
He saluted with a grin, turning his back deliberately as she slipped inside and shut the door behind her. At a glance, it was a gentlemanly thing to do. Only at a second glance could you tell that he was watching in the reflection of a nearby Audi.
Benji and Aria shared a quick glance before standing up at the same time. A second later they were walking towards him, acting as though they’d only just arrived themselves.
“’Sup, Ollie.” Benji flashed a grin, gesturing with his sunglasses. “You know there’s a girl stripping in the car behind you?”
Oliver jumped guiltily, then rolled his eyes with a grin. “Your friend spilled a drink, just changing her shirt.” He lowered his voice slightly, taking a step away from the car. “Sh
e’s also sixteen all of a sudden. When did that happen?”
Aria tried very hard not to roll her eyes. They’d played together since kindergarten, but now that Lily had gotten her ink all of a sudden she was fair game? Her only consolation was that he was wrong. Lily was not just changing her shirt. She was looking for clues as well.
“It happened shortly after fifteen,” she answered lightly, positioning herself between him and the Audi. “So what did I miss at school yesterday? Did those guys question you some more?”
His face stilled for a moment before clearing with a casual smile. “Nah. When your aunt cleared me with Carter, I think that was enough.” He paused suddenly, looking genuinely concerned. “I heard it might not be enough for you, though. I’m sorry, Aria. That really sucks.”
Okay...I feel guilty again.
“It’s fine.” She shrugged it off dismissively. “One way or another, they’re going to officially clear me. Hopefully when they find whoever the real killer is.”
Benji stifled a shudder, gazing out across the lawn. “You know, that’s the creepiest part. That the guy was there, just a stone’s throw away from us, and we had no idea. For all we know, he’s walking around campus right now.”
The others followed his gaze, turning grim.
“Thanks for that, buddy,” Aria muttered under her breath.
“Seriously,” Oliver laughed humorlessly, “really brightened up the day.”
Benji flashed an apologetic grin, glancing towards the dorms as the campus echoed with the ring of the first bell. “Just keeping things in perspective. See you later, man.”
“See ya.”
Benji and Aria strolled across the lawn together, feeling pretty good about how calm and convincing they’d been under pressure. They were just in the process of congratulating each other, when a throat cleared suddenly behind them and they froze at the same time.
I knew we were forgetting something.
“Are you serious?” Lily demanded, wearing a brand new cardigan tucked up furiously around the elbows. “You just left me in the car?”
Aria bit her lip as Benji lifted his hands diplomatically.