Page 69

I don’t think she’s crazy; she’s scared. I sigh.

“I’ll see if I can find Jordyn,” I tell Penn. Then I turn to Kyra. “Mrs. Hoff, can you go wait over there so I know where to find you when I come back?” I point to one of the cream chairs near the fire. To my relief, she nods. I wait until she’s out of earshot. Then, turning to Penn, I say, “Call security…actually, scratch that, she’s already too upset. Ask someone from maintenance to come up and we can ask them directly about Adam Hoff.”

“Are you sure?” Penn takes off her glasses, polishing them on a corner of her scrub top. “She could be dangerous.”

“Have you met the head of security?” I ask between my teeth. “He’s a real peach…”

Her eyes narrow at my tone, but she nods.

“Did you page Jordyn?”

“Twice…”

“Page her again. I’ll see if I can find her.”

The admissions office window is closed with abe back latersign stuck to it. The hall beyond is empty. I check the bathroom, the storage room, and an exam room, but there is no sign of her. I knock on Jordyn’s door and wait. Nothing. I knock again, harder, and try the knob. It’s locked like Penn said.

There are noises, a groan, and what sounds like a plastic bag being crumpled. I knock again.

“I know you’re in there… Jordyn?”

Everything goes quiet. I press my ear to the door. There is definitely someone in there. I pound with my fist.

When the door flies open, Jordyn is in her undies. I stare in shock, which she doesn’t seem to register; her eyes are unfocused, and her skin is waxy.

“Um…” I curl and uncurl my toes in my sensible shoes, my teeth gripping the inside of my cheek. Just say it. “You need to put some clothes on.”

Jordyn stares down at herself, then slams the door in my face.

“Holy shit.” I lean my forehead against the door.

When she opens the door again, Jordyn is wearing dingy white scrubs, but it’s an improvement over the nudity at least. She lets me in, eyeing me suspiciously.

There is a blanket and pillow without a pillowcase lying dejectedly in the corner. The room smells funky, like unwashed body and Pepsi. From what I understood, Jordyn has an apartment upstairs in the Victorian section. Why would she be sleeping in her office?

I walk to the window and crack it open. When I turn around, she’s sitting behind her desk blinking slow and cow-like.

“Jordyn…” I kneel in front of her, trying to get her attention, but her eyes can’t seem to focus. A sick feeling materializes in my belly.She’s tripping on something. I’ve seen that look on my mother’s face more times than I care to count.

“It’s Iris,” I say gently. My hands are on her knees. I shake them a little, and she seems to come to.

She holds my gaze for a second, the blue of her eyes floating in a yellow pond.

“Jordyn, are you okay?” I lower my voice. “Let me help you. Talk to me…”

“Yes.” Her voice is thick. “I’m fine.” She rubs a palm across her face, squinting at the brightness of the room. She’s definitely not okay. I stand up, taking a step back to give her some space. She looks around as if she’s surprised to be there.

“Iris?”

“That’s me.” I smile. “Can I get you something to drink?”

She shakes her head, leaning down among the stacks of files on the floor to reach her water bottle.

“It’s a hard day for me. My brother died ten years ago today.”

“I’m so sorry.”

She nods. “It’s just me left.”