Page 52 of Artifice

Her father had done something. He was somehow responsible for those two families withdrawing their pledges.

Just like he’d had something to do with the robbery at Zoe’s grandma’s house.

Olive confronted him when he got home that evening. She followed him into his office and showed him the notepad.

He’d merely shrugged. “I made some investment proposals to people I met through school events. Nothing unusual about that.”

“But they pulled their donations to the school after investing with you.”

“Their financial priorities changed.” He grabbed some bills that had come in the mail and began flipping through them as if this were a casual conversation. “That happens.”

“Did you know it would happen when you asked me to join the fundraising committee?” Olive held her breath as she waited for her father’s response.

Please say no. Please say no. Say you had nothing to do with this.

Her father’s expression softened slightly as he looked away from his desk and at her. “Ollie, I never asked you to do anythingwrong. You volunteered, you did good work, and the school appreciated it. Everything else is just . . . business.”

Just business? Was that how adulting worked?

If so, Olive never wanted to be an adult.

CHAPTER 27

PRESENT DAY

True to his word, Tevin had another car waiting for Olive the next morning. He’d also arranged for her first rental to be towed, and she didn’t believe Principal Denarau had seen it yet. Olive desperately hoped her cover wasn’t blown.

Except Simon obviously knew she was up to something. But he was up to something also, so that should give him incentive not to share details about their encounter with anyone.

Still, Olive would definitely need to keep an eye on the man.

She’d planned on skipping breakfast. But after that phone call she’d overheard last night, she decided not to. She’d already told Tevin about the conversation, and he was also going to keep an eye on the situation as well.

“I did some research on Northwest Shipping Company,” he whispered to her as they met in the upstairs hallway before breakfast.

Her heart pounded harder. “And?”

“They have ties to at least three shell companies with questionable international transactions. And there’s a connection to someone who regularly contacts this house.”

I knew it!However, Olive’s moment of victory was quickly replaced with somberness. “I’m worried about Mrs. Potts. I’m going to see what I can find out.”

“Just watch how you play your hand.”

“Always.”

With that, Olive started down the stairs. She would descend first, and Tevin would come down a few minutes later.

All the other guests at the B&B were already seated at the table—other than Tevin—when she got there.

She glanced at Mrs. Potts and noticed that the woman seemed even more tired this morning than usual.

That late night phone call could have done it.

Olive called hello to everybody and then took her seat. A few minutes later, Tevin joined them, right on cue.

Breakfast this morning was French toast with locally tapped maple syrup and thick slices of applewood smoked bacon. Just as yesterday, Olive skipped the caffeine and instead opted for some orange raspberry tea.

General chitchat went around the table as Olive ate her food. She waited until everyone else had finished and slowly trickled away from the table.