Page 28 of Artifice (Pros and Cons Mysteries #4)

A s a knock sounded at the door, Olive looked up from Director Ingraham’s desk and rubbed her eyes, which were tired after studying the papers.

She’d snooped through Margaret’s office when she had the chance. She hadn’t discovered much, but she had managed to find a pamphlet on Simon Long. She photographed the information to evaluate later.

Principal Denarau—or Michael—stood at the door with an easy grin on his face.

He looked nothing like the conniving man she’d seen in the warehouse last night.

She could spot a con artist a mile away.

“Good morning, Ms. Bettencourt.” He stepped inside, his demeanor remaining friendly. “How are you this morning?”

She smiled up at him, determined to act pleasant. “Just fine. And you?”

“Fantastic.” He said the word with zest. “Lunch is in fifteen minutes. I thought it might be a good chance for you to see the students in action and talk to them. Although, I must say, you should do so at your own risk. They can get rowdy.”

“I think I can handle it.”

“I’m sure you can.”

Was there an edge to his words, or was Olive imagining it? She wasn’t sure.

“Shall I come back for you in fifteen?” he asked.

Olive stood and met him at the door. “I’m actually ready to wrap up here. I could use a break from studying these papers.”

She had so many questions she wished she could ask. But there was no subtle way to ask those questions without letting Michael know she’d followed him to the warehouse.

Still, she was more curious than ever as to what he was up to.

The blueprints had been no help. If the tunnels were there, they were hidden.

Someone didn’t want them to be found.

These blueprints could have been switched out for the real ones—especially if someone wanted to cover something up.

But what if they were keeping Colin—and maybe the other two missing students—down there for some reason?

She needed to find out.

Side by side, Olive and Michael started toward the cafeteria.

“We appreciate your family’s consideration of our school,” Principal Denarau told her.

“We’ve been blessed with much and love the opportunity to give back to worthy organizations.”

“How did you say your family came into this money?”

Her muscles tensed. Was he feeling her out?

“I didn’t,” she told him.

“Please, I don’t mean to be nosy. I was just curious.”

“It’s old family money,” she finally told him. “Grandfather owned several businesses and invested heavily in the stock market.”

“Sounds like a wise man.”

“He was very wise, and now, generations later, we’re still enjoying the fruits of his wise decisions.” She slowed her steps. “I also have a question for you. I was looking for Ms. Strickland earlier, but I didn’t see her. Is she absent today?”

A shadow crossed his gaze. “Aren’t you observant? Were you looking for her for a reason?”

Interesting response—and he’d avoided answering the question.

Olive remained calm as she said, “I observed her class yesterday.”

“I heard that didn’t go well.” His voice turned apologetic.

“I have to be honest and say I wasn’t impressed.”

Half his lip twitched down in a frown. “I’m still not sure what Margaret was thinking when she placed you there.”

Neither was Olive. “I was simply curious if Ms. Strickland was as unenthused outside the classroom walls.”

“Unfortunately, that answer is yes.”

His honesty sent a jolt of surprise through her. “Then why did you hire her?”

“It’s not easy to find people who want to teach here. It’s hard—and sometimes dangerous—work that comes with little pay. Maybe if we had more funding, we could change that.”

Maybe that was why Margaret had placed her in Ms. Strickland’s class, Olive mused.

“You still didn’t answer my question,” Olive reminded him. “Is Ms. Strickland here today?”

“No, she’s not. She’s feeling under the weather.”

“I see.” But Olive couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story.

They stopped in the dining area, where most—if not all—of the school’s thirty-seven students sat at three rows of bench-style wooden tables. They all seemed calm and composed—no signs of whatever trouble in their past had brought them here.

On their best behavior.

Olive again wondered if they’d been coached to act this way today or if this was how they always acted.

School staff lingered on the edges, watching everyone carefully.

Something about the scene took her back to her days at Oakridge.

Oakridge? Olive hadn’t thought about that school for so long.

She had too many bad memories of the place.

She put those thoughts aside.

Right now, she had too much work to do to dwell on the past.

Olive spotted Abe sitting at the end of the table, not many other kids around him.

Which would work out perfectly.

She lowered herself into a seat across the table from him, grabbing a plate and placing a sandwich there as she did so. All the food was served family style—which sounded cozy—but none of it looked appealing.

Abe looked up at her, surprise flashing in his eyes. “You again.”

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.