Page 51 of Hide and Seek

“Three times,” she corrects. “This is number four, but to groom number two. So we’re at four weddings and three grooms.”

“She’s really taking the recycling thing to the next level if she’s reusing grooms.”

Echo snickers. “Thank fuck I didn’t have to go to the actual wedding this time and only have to worry about the reception tonight. But seriously, what kind of person doesn’t invite their extended family to the actual wedding and dinner but expects us to show up with gifts in hand for the last few hours of the party?Andthere’s no open bar.”

“Did you end up getting her something?” I ask, remembering her rants from a few weeks ago about having to buy another gift for a duplicate wedding that she wasn’t even invited to.

“I did,” she says with a laugh. “I printed one of their wedding photos from their first ceremony and stuck it in a frame. She’s done this three times already, so that’s all she gets.”

“She’s going to be pissed.”

“Good. Maybe she won’t bother inviting me to wedding number five.” She huffs out a sigh. “And my family says I’m the one ruining the sanctity of marriage by wanting a wife and not a husband. But enough about that because we both know I won’t stop if I start.”

“Maybe one of the bridesmaids will be looking for a little sapphic fun,” I say. “Didn’t you hook up with one of them at her last reception?”

“Yup.” I can hear her grin. “And she’s going to be there again tonight. Hopefully she’s looking for another walk on the wild side.”

“Here’s hoping.”

“Have you heard from Cipher?” she asks.

“Not really.”

“Yeah, me either. Last time I talked to him, he said he’s having some issues with one of his roommates.”

“He is?”

“Yeah, he didn’t tell me too much, just that the guy hasn’t paid his share of the rent for the last few months, and he’s also refusing to move out, so they’re basically dealing with a squatter while they have to come up with extra cash to make sure they don’t all get evicted.”

“Damn, I hope they get it sorted out soon.”

“Yeah, me too. I’m so glad I live alone.” She lets out a disgruntled-sounding sigh. “Ugh. I really have to go.”

“Have fun, and good luck.”

“Thanks, and I plan to. Chat soon.”

“Soon.”

The line goes dead, and I pull my headphones off and put them on the charging stand on my desk. Leaning back in my chair, I absently reach for my shadow cube.

I’m just closing my hand around it when I pause, a metaphorical light bulb going off over my head.

I’ve spent the last two days trying to figure out why he solved the cube and what any of his actions mean. I’ve analyzed which colors were facing out, the angle it was placed at, anything I could to try and make sense of the message.

What if the cube wasn’t the message? What if it was just showing me the real message, and it was a clue of sorts?

Letting go of the cube, I take a closer look at the statue it was moved next to. The character is dressed all in black with abillowing cape. The cube is all black when it isn’t heated. Could that be the connection?

I pick up the statue, and a tiny flash of light reflects off something under the cape.

“What the fuck?” I mutter and tilt the statue to angle the cape and body toward the light.

My jaw actually drops when I see the small black square tucked up under the cape. Is that a camera?

Distracted, I dig through my desk drawer with my free hand and fish out a small flashlight. I click it on, then shine it in the space between the cape and the body of the statue.

“Holy shit.”