Page 56 of Artifice

Despite his lack of enthusiasm, she grinned. “Good afternoon to you also. How are you doing today, Abe?”

He shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich, practically ripping the bread with his teeth. He didn’t bother swallowing as he said, “About like I am every day.”

This kid clearly wasn’t happy, and Olive wanted to know why. She wanted to know what exactly he knew.

“We didn’t finish our conversation yesterday,” she started.

He glanced around as if to make sure no one else was listening. Then he said, “No, we didn’t, did we?”

“You were about to tell me something when we were interrupted.”

Abe didn’t say anything.

“Was it, by chance, about your friend, Colin?”

“What do you know about Colin?”

“I know he’s missing. I know people are concerned. And I don’t like the runaround I’m getting about what happened.” Olive prayed she hadn’t said too much.

Abe glanced around again before lowering his voice and saying, “This isn’t the place to talk about him.”

At least he hadn’t completely rejected what she said. “Then where is?”

He leaned closer. “Meet me tonight by the lighthouse.”

She squinted, not liking the sound of that. “How are you even able to reach the lighthouse at night? The building is locked down.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “I have my ways. If you want to talk, that’s where we need to meet.”

Olive stared at him another moment, and she knew he was telling the truth. He wasn’t comfortable enough to talk to her here, and she couldn’t blame him.

But she also had to wonder if he was trustworthy. Even though he’d been Colin’s supposed friend, what if this kid had something to do with Colin’s disappearance?

And meeting at a secluded lighthouse at night had bad idea written all over it.

Yet it might be the only way Olive could find the answers she needed.

She observed him another moment before nodding. “What time?”

“Eleven. Don’t be late.”

“Oh, I won’t be.” She took a bite of her sandwich and wondered what exactly he had to tell her.

CHAPTER 29

Olive didn’t want to stay at the table with Abe too long and raise any suspicions. So as soon as she finished eating she made her way around the cafeteria, trying to talk to as many students as she could.

The students seemed on edge—some huddled in tight groups, whispering, while others sat alone, hunched over their food trays. Several kept glancing toward the doors, as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment.

The atmosphere of the cafeteria was notably tense, with an anxious energy that made the hair on Olive’s arms rise.

Right now, she sat at a table of girls—all of whom looked rough.

Were any of these girls Peyton? Or was Peyton a boy?

Maybe she could find out.

She turned toward them. “Say, does anyone here know a Peyton?”