Page 72 of Artifice

Either way the thought bothered her.

She watched as Ms. Strickland reached for something at her waist. She placed it near her mouth.

Was that a radio?

That was Olive’s best guess.

She held her breath as Ms. Strickland walked closer to the edge of the cliff.

The woman paused only steps away from the dramatic drop-off into the ocean. The wind whipped around her, blowing her hair from the bun where she had it secured. The dress she wore—one that reminded Olive of something someone would wear in Victorian days—billowed around her.

The next instant, the flashlight and her radio fell to the ground.

Then Ms. Strickland was gone.

Olive gasped as she realized exactly what had happened.

The woman had just jumped off the cliff into the tumultuous waters below.

CHAPTER 37

Without thinking, Olive darted from her place in the woods, Tevin on her heels.

They ran to the cliff, pausing a good foot from the edge.

Olive sucked in a breath as she peered over.

But Ms. Strickland was nowhere to be seen.

However, the angry turbulent water below could have easily sucked her up. It was at least a four-hundred-foot drop.

Olive’s hand covered her mouth. “What just happened?”

“She jumped. There’s no way either of us could have seen that coming.”

“But . . . it just doesn’t make sense.” The pieces didn’t fit in Olive’s mind. “Why would someone who wanted to commit suicide walk out here with a flashlight and a radio? Who had she been talking to even?”

“That’s something we need to figure out.”

“Should we call 911?” Olive still stared at the water, halfway hoping that this was a mistake, and she might see Ms. Strickland hanging on the edge of the cliff.

But she didn’t.

“There’s no way she survived that jump,” Tevin said. “And if we call the police it’s going to be obvious we were out here.”

“But it feels wrong . . .” A lump formed in her throat.

Tevin gripped her arm. “I know. But we don’t have any other choice right now. They’ll discover she’s missing, and they’ll probably start a search tomorrow. If not, maybe we can call in an anonymous tip.”

Still feeling dazed, Olive nodded.

Tevin pulled her back another step.

But before leaving the area, Olive reached down and grabbed the radio.

This might help them get answers—answers they needed.

But the image of what had happened tonight would haunt her for a long time.