Page 15 of Mending Fate

“Aye, lad. Of course.”

“Thanks, Da.”

After a few seconds of silence, the call ended, and I dropped the phone next to me. I put my head back, closing my eyes and wishing that this was all a nightmare. I wasn’t usually one to entertain such fanciful ideas, but I was at my wits’ end, without an idea of what to do or where to go next.

“Alec.”

I turned my head as Eoin came into the living room. “Aye?”

“You’ve been talking to Da.” Without waiting for an answer, Eoin came over to sit on the edge of the chair closest to the couch. “I just got a call.”

I sat up straight. “From?”

“Vice Principal Cornelius Harvey from Kurt Wright School.”

“Bastard.”

Eoin’s eyebrows went up. “I’m assuming you’re not a fan?”

I growled, and my brother’s eyebrows rose even further. “He’s one of those arseholes who think his position means he can do or say whatever he wishes, and no one can stop him.”

Eoin frowned. “Is he an honest arsehole?”

I shrugged. “I doubt it. Our few interactions make me think he’s the type of man who will twist things until they suit his needs.”

“All right, then, I suppose any information I get from him needs to come with a grain of salt.”

“What information?” I asked, leaning forward, my elbows on my knees.

“Evanne’s teacher wasn’t at work today.”

“I don’t understand why that’s pertinent. When she chooses to take days off is none of my business.” I tried not to think about who Lumen might be spending the day with.

“Alec, come on. You’re involved with this woman, and that’s when Keli decides to take off with Evanne? She isn’t around, helping us look, and then she calls off? You have to admit, it looks suspicious.”

I stared at him. “You think Lumen is involved with Keli and Evanne’s disappearance?”

He lifted his hands, palms up. “I’m saying it looks bad is all.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Lumen has things going on in her own life. That’s why she hasn’t been here helping us look for Evanne.”

Not to mention the shitty way I’d treated her, no matter how justified I felt at my anger.

“Besides, she’d have no motive.”

“Money’s always a motive,” Eoin said quietly. “Maybe Keli paid her.”

I thought of the financial information I’d uncovered. Keli would have had the resources. But, still, I couldn’t believe it.

“Not Lumen. She’d never do something like that to Evanne. There’s another explanation about where she is today.”

“You’ve heard from her, then?”

“No, but it’s not possible.”

“What’s not possible?” Brody joined us, the bags under his eyes telling me he’d gotten as little sleep as the rest of us.

“Lumen having a hand in this,” I said. “It’s a non-issue.” When Eoin opened his mouth, I held up a hand. “We have other matters to discuss. First, Keli canceled her phone.”