Page 33 of Artifice

“And how much longer do you have?”

“Don’t know that either. Don’t think my parents are in a hurry for me to get back home and cause them more headaches.”

Olive’s heart pounded harder. She could only imagine how hard it would be to feel unwanted by your parents. Despite her father’s deception, Olive had always known her parents loved her.

She shifted. “Do you have any friends here?”

Surprise registered in his gaze. “Why do you want to know that?”

Olive shrugged, determined not to scare him by being too forthright in her questions. “I’m curious what it’s like for students here.”

She needed to play her cards carefully. She wanted to reveal that she knew Colin and that she was here looking for him. But she also didn’t want to blow her cover.

She needed to feel this situation out first.

“I didn’t come here to make any friends.” The defensive edge returned to his voice.

“You weren’t even friends with Colin Andrews?”

Abe’s eyes widened, and suddenly Olive had his full attention. “How do you know about Colin?”

“I know he disappeared.”

Abe studied her as if unsure if she was trustworthy or not. “They say he ran away.”

“That’s what administrators seem to think.” Her heart pounded in her ears. “But what doyouthink?”

“I think it’s all messed up.” He scowled. “That’s what I think. And I think if I’m not careful, I’m going to disappear too.”

CHAPTER 18

Olive’s heart pounded harder in her ears at Abe’s words.

Maybe this was just the conversation she needed to have.

She leaned toward him. “Why do you think you might disappear?”

Before Abe could answer, the door opened. Margaret stood there.

Had she been eavesdropping? Again?

Margaret looked at him with a laser-like stare. “Abe, get back to class. We don’t want your grades to suffer.”

His gaze remained on Olive another moment before he finally averted his eyes.

Was he going to sell her out?

Olive didn’t think so. But mentioning Colin had been chancy.

She prayed the risk paid off.

“Yes, ma’am,” he finally said.

Then he scurried away.

Olive desperately wanted to talk to him again, however. She just needed the right plan to make that happen.

Margaret turned toward Olive after he left. She remained in the doorway, a slight but formidable force. “I hope your talk went well.”