Page 137 of The Darkest Note

Cadence: I’m ready to do business.

Anxiety attacks me hard while I wait for a response.

My phone chirps.

I pounce on it.

Jinx: A secret for a secret, New Girl.

Cadence: Dutch plans to flub my grades so I lose my scholarship and get kicked out of Redwood.

Jinx: Evidence?

The inkling of hope that had been growing in my chest dies a violent death.

Evidence?

I tap my phone in my palm and pace in the other direction.

Jinx: Sorry New Girl. No evidence, no deal.

Cadence: I’m telling the truth.

Jinx: You can’t believe how many scorned women try to use me for revenge. I need more than that if it’ll be worth anything.

Grunting in frustration, I toss my phone back on the bed and keep pacing. My anger’s stronger than the disappointment. Just because one door closed doesn’t mean another won’t open.

I take a few deep breaths and pull myself together. Who else can I turn to?

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

I keep going until I stumble on another path—Mr. Mulliez.

The idea loses steam when his phone goes to voicemail. I send him a text, but there’s no response. Miss Jamieson told me he left the country to further his studies.

Damn it.

I start to put my phone down until I remember I have one more option. Miss Jamieson. She believed me and Mr. Mulliez. And she gave me encouragement when Christa tried to blame me for busting her lip.

“Where did I put her number?” I mumble desperately. Books thud to the ground as I upend my school bag. Dropping to my knees, I desperately shove aside lotions, sugar packets and notes until I find the tiny slip of paper with her number on it.

Relief seeps through me and I dial it quickly.

I don’t breathe as I listen to it ring.

There’s a click.

And then…

“Hello?”

“Miss Jamieson,” I call urgently.

“Who’s this?”

“I—I’m Cadence Cooper. Sorry to bother you but I really didn’t know what else to do.”