Page 32 of Artifice

Her cheek twitched. “Ethan comes from a rough background. He’s been here about three months now, and we’re working on making him into the best version of himself he can be.”

“I see.” She wasn’t sure what it was about Ethan that kept the student at the forefront of her mind.

Maybe it was the fact that he reminded her in some obscure way of her own father.

Why was that?

Maybe it was his looks. The two had the same basic facial structure. The same boldness.

She couldn’t put her finger on it exactly.

But the thoughts caused a fresh round of grief to press on her.

She and Margaret paused outside her office door, and Olive braced herself to meet the student who’d locked her in the Quiet Room.

As soon as Olive walked into the office and saw the boy sitting on the other side of the desk, her heart quickened.

It was Abe Garcia, Colin’s friend.

He’dbeen the one to lock her in that room?

Olive wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

She observed him. He was fifteen and of Latino heritage. His dark hair had been buzzed, and his eyes appeared hollow. Plus, he was remarkably thin, like he didn’t get enough to eat.

“Abe.” Director Ingraham peered down her nose at him. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

The boy glanced up, his gaze heavy. “I’m sorry for what I did.”

“I think you can do better than that.” Her voice sharpened with reprimand.

Abe shifted, looking as if he hated every moment of this. “I shouldn’t have let my impulses get the best of me. I thought it would be funny to lock you in the room, but now I realize that it wasn’t humorous. I’ve learned my lesson, and I won’t be repeating my bad behavior.”

Just as during her interviews earlier, the lines sounded so rehearsed.

Even though she didn’t want to feel sorry for Abe, she did.

“I accept your apology.” Olive turned to Director Ingraham. “Would you mind if I had a moment alone with him?”

Surprise flickered through her gaze. “Is that necessary?”

“I just want to talk to him one-on-one.”

Margaret looked as if she were trying to think of any excuse to say no.

Finally, she nodded. “I suppose that’s okay. But only five minutes, and then he needs to get back to his class.”

“Understood.”

She waited until the director closed the door.

When Margaret was gone, Olive went to sit beside Abe. She turned to him and lowered her voice. “That wasn’t nice what you did earlier.”

“I said I’m sorry.” A touch of insolence filled his voice. “What else do you want me to do?”

Olive studied his face, the defiant lines across his forehead and around his eyes. “How long have you been at Lighthouse Harbor, Abe?”

He offered a half shrug. “I don’t know. Five months or so.”