I quickly put the thumb drive in my jeans pocket and closed the tray.
Harry glanced up. "Don't touch anything."
"Sure. Can I go home now?"
He clenched his fists and rolled his neck.
"I'll drive you home as soon as Dispatch sends someone to go over the crime scene. I'll pop by in the morning for a statement."
"Sure."
I waited until several deputies arrived and secured the crime scene. Then I left with Harry.
Once inside his blue and white, he let rip.
"Robyn, what the Hell were you thinking of confronting them without me there?"
"I don't need you to protect me."
"Clearly someone's got to have your back. They're getting desperate, Robyn. How much longer can you keep up this charade?"
"What does it matter to you?"
"I'm just trying to look out for you."
"Like you did Madison?"
He turned away and started the engine.
I fought down pangs of guilt over my harsh words.
He drove in silence. Outside my apartment building he pulled up.
"Harry, I didn't mean what I said. I'm sorry."
"One day you'll realize that the price of finding Madison's killer is too high."
He turned in his seat and faced me. His eyes glinted in the moonlight and seemed to undress me.
I fought down the desire to kiss his full pouting lips.
"Robyn, I can't lose you like I lost Madison. If you feel anything for me, then give up this witch hunt for other people's secrets."
I knew all he had to do was lean over and kiss me. I'd be powerless to resist. His one powerful kiss would have fought down all my suspicions about his involvement in Madison's death.
Our lips were inches away. I could taste his sweet breath on my lips, stirring deep feelings of longing. I couldn't breathe. Inside my mind, I was silently screaming for him to take me his arms and tell me I was a fool for thinking he could murder Madison.
But then, from the deep recesses of my mind, where all my guilt and self-loathing resided, a thought rose up and gripped me. An image of Madison dying alone in the night, without a soul to comfort her.
I heard myself say, "Harry, I can't stop hunting her killer."
He pulled back as if a wasp had violently stung his lips.
"Then Robyn, I can't see you throw away your life. We're done."
He turned away from me.
"It's over between us?"
"Get out."
I opened the door, stepped out and closed the door behind me. As he drove off, I felt like I'd lost a friend and any chance of something more profound. But a small voice in the back of my head said I'd just made another enemy.
In fact, I now realized I had zero friends I could trust.
Inside the apartment, Mai had gone to sleep. Brad had presumably gone back to his house.
I inserted the silver thumb drive into my laptop.
There were two videos on the drive. The first one popped up. Someone was apparently secretly filming Madison running through the woods. She was followed by Jason Drake.
He screamed, "I'm going to kill you, bitch."
Behind Jason, Brad was running hard. He shouted, "Jason, stop. Let her go."
The three disappeared into the trees towards the crashing sound of a waterfall.
I played the second video.
Madison's face appeared. She was in the river. The water fall was in the background. So she'd survived the fall and was trying to pull herself out of the water. She was reaching up to whoever was filming her.
"Please..."
A hand gun, the kind used by cops, a Glock nineteen, appeared at the bottom of the screen.
Madison's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
A gun shot rang out and Madison's head jerked backwards as she fell into the river.
I muffled my scream into a pillow.
Clearly, Madison knew her killer. The question that burned through me was this: did I also know her killer?
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
The next morning I woke early. With a hot coffee I climbed the stairs to the roof and fresh cold air. A parapet of red brick ran along the perimeter of the roof and allowed space for a narrow walk way.
An icy wind ripped the autumn leaves of magnificent burnt orange and crimsons off the trees.
I heard a rumbling noise. I glanced over the parapet and down to the street. Large haulage trucks traveled through the dawn mists out towards the lake.
"They're for the Ice Palace."
I jolted and dropped my hot coffee. I spun around and slipped backwards. A hand appeared out of the orange fireball that was the rising sun. Someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me into their arms.
I blinked as I looked up into Brad's worried expression.
"Can't lose you before the party."
"Thanks. What party?"
He held up a sealed gold envelop and handed it to me.
"It wasn't easy, but I got it."
I tore it open and pulled out a stiff card in gold lettering that read:
The Knights of Kimberley formally invite Robyn Loxley to the Grand masked Winter Ball on the 7th of this month.
Your carriage will arrive promptly at 7:30.
Brad peered over my shoulder at the invite.
"Loxley? That was Madison's surname."
Realization crept over his face.
"Shit, Robyn. You're Madison's sister."
I swallowed hard.
"My secret is out."
Brad shook his head. "Don't go."
"I must."
"After what happened to Madison?"
"Especially because of Madison."
"But why? What can you possibly achieve by throwing away your life?"
"The Winter Ball is the end game."
"What do you mean?"
"It's where Madison's killer will show themselves."
"And you'll be his next victim, Robyn."
"You'll be there?"
"Of course, but I can't protect you if the Red Queen orders her knights to take you."
"Unless you help me, Brad, you'll never be free of the Knights of Kimberley."
He nodded "For Madison's sake I will try to protect you, but..."
"I know. It's on me. What did you mean when you said the trucks were for the party?"
"They're building a palace on the lake."
"Where'd they get the money for that?"
He shrugged. But in his eyes I could see he knew the answer.
Together we watched the mist snake out from the far shore and Kublai Khan's house. As it slithered over the lake, the water appeared to freeze.
Brad pointed to the lake. "It's freezing on cue just as the knights planned."
"What do you mean?"
"For each ball the Knight's freeze the lake with technology developed by Khan's bio engineering research division."
"He can freeze a lake just like that?"
"He's a genius. The technology is still in development. Harmless to the environment in its current state, although it’s still too volatile to ship in containers."
"How do you know all this?"
"I interned for a year at Khan's research and development division as part of my studies at Kimberley."
"How volatile?"
"Excuse me?"
"How dangerous is it?"
"It has to remain cool. Exposure to intense heat or even too much oxygen can cause it to explode. Yes, very dangerous. So it’s kept in special cooling vats under the lake."
"Is that so, Brad? Then we must make sure nothing untoward happens to the ice makers before I learned the truth."
"If you're thinking what I think you are, then you're crazy."
"You want to be free of the Knights, don't you?"
Brad swallowed hard and nodded.
"What's your plan?"
"Once I’m absolutely certain I've identified who is behind all the secrets and killing
s and found the evidence that buries them, I'll need you to help me escape the ball."
"And if you can't get away with any evidence?"
"Then I want to blow them all to Hell. Every last one of the Knights of Kimberley. Send all their dark secrets to the bottom of Lake Kimberley."
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
After a shower where I found plenty of green gunge in secret places, I dressed and went to the kitchen.
I heard two male voices.
As I walked in I saw Brad with Harry. They abruptly looked up at me and suddenly both stopped talking.
I didn't know where to look. For a second I allowed myself to believe he had come to apologize. Then I berated myself for wanting Madison's betrayer and possible murderer in my life. I took a deep breath and returned his hard gaze.
Harry cleared his throat. "I'm here for your statement about last night."
It was all business with Harry. He wrote down my story. But in his eyes I could tell he didn't entirely believe me.
He typed up my statement on a tablet and handed me a marker to digitally sign it.
"A copy will be automatically emailed to you."
When he left I asked Brad what the two of them were talking about.
He shrugged. "Guy stuff."
"Really?"
"I used to be his fencing instructor."
"So you were talking about fencing?"
He smiled, stood and headed out. "Don't forget to R.S.V.P."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
A minute later, Mai rushed into the kitchen as I was preparing coffee.
"Robyn, I just heard."
"Heard what?"
"You're going to the ball, right?"
I nodded.
Mai's old smile I knew and loved returned.
"It's only three days away. We need to prepare."
"Can I borrow one of your dresses?"
She shook her head.
"Mai, it doesn't have to be one of your nice silk ones. And this time I promise I won't ruin it."
"No, Robyn."
"OK, I see how it is. Never mind."
"No, silly. You can't borrow one of mine, because you'll need a ball gown."
"A ball gown?"
"And mask." She sat down by her tablet. She patted the chair next to her. "We don't have all day."
"For what?"
"To design your ball gown, silly."
"You’re kidding? Can’t I just rent one?"
"Too late. All the best ones in your size will have gone. Besides, this one has to be extra special."
"Why?"
She fixed me with a weary look. "Robyn, all eyes will be on you whether you like it or not. Now, what's your favorite color? I think you'd look amazing in..."
Two hours later, Mai looked very pleased with herself. She had designed a fairy tale dress fit for a princess. The idea that I could even look at myself in something like that was crazy. Let alone go to a ball in it.
Eight coffees later, she turned to me in her seat and asked, "Show me your ballroom moves."
"My what?"
Her brow furrowed. "You can dance, right?"
"Sure. Sort of..."
"What does that mean?"
"What's to know about dancing? You just stand there, wave your arms a bit and if you have anything worth showing off; shake it."
"I'm not talking the nightclub shimmy around your hand bag. I mean full-on ballroom dancing. Waltz, foxtrot, tango..."
I swallowed hard and felt my skin burn.
"You mean like with feet? Coordinated?"
Mai nodded. "Thought as much."
She dialed her cell phone.
"Who are you calling?"
"Your Sorority is coming to the rescue."
I felt my eyes bulge out on stalks. "Oh, no. Tell me you're not calling them."
The smile I had recently grown to hate crossed Mai's face.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
My head was about to explode. Two days of watching the Wilson sisters arm in arm, spinning around the living room floor, and then listening to their snickers as they watched Mai and I try to emulate their elegant steps.
When the dress arrived on the day of the Winter Ball, I called a time out on the dance lessons.
Mai had worked through the night to produce a red silk princess ball gown. The Wilsons stripped me down to my underwear and I stepped into the dress. Mai pulled it up my body. Around my chest it was tight. At my waist it flared out to the hem in a bell shape.
Mai and the Wilsons practically carried me to a wall mirror.
Mai Ling lifted my hair off my shoulders and smiled.
I shrugged. "Pretty bad, right?"
Charity snorted. "You're such a bitch, Mai."
"What did I do wrong?"
"You made cherry girl the most beautiful dress."
She turned her back and grabbing Virtue's arms she shouted, "I won't forget this."
Charity slammed the door on the way out.
I looked at Mai, "I can’t figure out the Wilsons. Especially Charity. One minute she hates me. The next she she's helping me and the next she hates me again."
Mai smiled. "Maybe she's in love."
"With me?"
Mai laughed. "No, idiot. With Harry."
"She can have him, with my blessing."
Mai pulled a face as if I'd made a bad smell.
"Seriously, Mai, I'm done with officer Hotness."
Mai shrugged. "Doesn't much matter to Charity."
"What do you mean?"
She accidentally on purpose bumped into Harry. "Hinted not so subtly that she was in need of an escort to the knight's Winter Ball."
I felt my stomach back flip at the thought of seeing Harry at the ball on Charity's arm.
"And?"
"And, Robyn, Harry turned her down."
"Oh?"
"Oh? Is that all you can say."
"What should I say?"
"How about acknowledging that Harry is obviously head over heels for you?"
"Me? I don't think it could work out."
Mai leaned over, and with her knuckles lightly rapped my forehead. She shook her head. "Is everything in there scrambled?"
I gritted my teeth and felt my hands clench into fists. "I'm fine."
"We speak the same language but everything is lost in translation."
I lost it. "Fine, you want to know why I don't let myself fall in love with the most gorgeous guy on campus?"
Mai tilted her head. "I'm listening."
I shouted, "Harry may be Madison's killer."
Mai's jaw went slack and bobbed up and down as if on the end of a bungee rope.
She said nothing and put her arms around me.
"How sure are you?"
"Pretty sure. Not a hundred percent, but enough to make it hurt."
Softly, she said, "How long have you known?"
I felt tears on my cheeks as I choked, "I suspected Harry before our first date."
She pulled away and stared hard at me as if I was mad.
"You went on a date with Harry knowing or at least suspecting he was Madison's killer?"
"I needed to find out for certain."
"And did you?"
I shook my head.
"So what now?"
I shrugged. "The killer will be at the Knight's ball."
"How do you know?"
"If I was the killer, I'd want to put a stop to the girl stealing everyone’s guilty secrets."
"The way they put an end to Madison?"
"Only this time, I'm ready for them."
Mai shook her head from side to side. "You have no idea what you're getting into, Robyn. Why don't you take what evidence you've got to the police? Let them handle it from now on."
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Every secret that I stole was on a thumb drive marked with the special symbol of the Knights of Kimberley."
"The cross sword and mask?"
I nodded.
<
br /> "So Mai, that means the knights trade in secrets."
"Why would they do that?"
"That's what I need to find out before I go to the police. Until I know just how deep this conspiracy goes, I can't trust anyone. Not even the police."
"Not even me?"
"I trust you not to speak with anyone about what I just told you."
"It won't make any difference."
"What do you mean?"
"The Knight's Winter Ball. It's all for you, Robyn. It's a trap and no matter what I say to warn you, you're walking right into it."
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
"Our carriage awaits."
Since I put on the scarlet silk princess ball gown two hours previously I couldn't sit down.
"Mai, I don't think I can drive Rust Bucket in this dress."
She laughed. "No, seriously, our carriage is waiting downstairs."
It was already dark when I peered through the living room window. A silver carriage like something out of a fairy tale and with a team of four horses had parked up outside the apartment building. The driver sat up top in red costume and huddled in the light snowfall. A footman waited patiently by the door of the carriage.
"Does everyone get this service?"
Mai smiled. "Would it make you feel less special if I said yes?"
I shook my head from side to side. "It's still out of this world. Who pays for it all?"
"The White King."
"Who?"
Mai avoided my eyes. "You'll see soon enough."
We took the elevator to the lobby and were met by a footman in Renaissance clothing of crimson velvet and a mask that covered all but his eyes and lips.
He opened the nearside door and lowered a set of steps. He took my hand and helped me up the steps and into the carriage. Mai followed.
We perched on blue leather cushioned seats, anxious not to crease our dresses. Despite my less than secret mission to confront whoever was behind the dark secrets of the Knights of Kimberley, I was totally seduced by the theme of the Winter Ball and attention to detail. Including the heated blankets for our legs and the warm air circulating our feet.
Mai fiddled with the clasp of her clutch bag. "I can't get it closed."
"What have you got in there, the kitchen sink?"
She giggled. Just my insulin shots. The needle won't fit. I didn't want to bring a stupid bag in the first place. I'm bound to lose it."
She raised the hem of her skirt up over her thighs and revealed her garter belt and suspenders holding up her silk stockings. She took out two vials of insulin and slotted each one under a garter next to her thigh.
Guilty Secrets (Campus Love and Murder Sorority Eyes Romance Book 1) Page 12