Page 51 of Symphony for Lies

“That’s not how this works.” His smirk widened slightly. “Either you come with me, or I won’t help you.”

I scowled. “I’m not driving with you ever again.”

“I came in my car, and I promise to drive slow.”

His brown eyes gleamed with something unreadable. For once, there was no teasing behind them. He was serious.

I hesitated.

Did I want to go to his house? Absolutely not. Did I need to? Probably. If the book could help me understand the message and maybe even prevent something terrible in the future, then I had to take it.

“Getting cold feet?” Zane taunted.

Say no.

Tell him to leave.

Tell him—

“Okay.”

A flash of triumph crossed his face.

I opened my mouth to ask why he looked so damn pleased, but before I could, the door flew open.

There was a sob and a sharp, panicked cry.“Amelia!”

My stomach plummeted. Simon?

Tears streamed down his face, and his hands were covered in blood.

“Miss Walker!” Jade shrieked, clutching Simon’s arm. Both of them looked terrified.

When the children rushed toward me, I crouched beside them and grasped the boy’s shaking wrists.

“What happened?!”

Zane demanded, “Whose blood is that?”

Simon hiccupped through sobs, “It-it’s not mine.”

Jade clutched my arm, tiny hands trembling.“Miss Walker,” she sniffed. “Come quickly, please!”

The fear in her voice made my stomach turn, but I stood up immediately. “Zane, get Simon cleaned up,” I ordered, but neither of them listened.

“As if I’d leave you alone now!” Zane exclaimed.

The dimly lit schoolyard stretched before us as we stepped into the cool night air. Jade led us toward a statue in the middle of a flowerbed and pointed toward the bushes nearby.

“I-I was just playing,” Simon stammered. “And when I fell, I felt something…”

There were clear signs of struggle on the ground, broken twigs, disturbed leaves, and footprints. Something inside a gap in the bushes caught my eye. A medium-sized bag partially concealed beneath the foliage.

The smell hit me. The sharp tang of metal and something chemical. Something wrong.

“Step back.” I gently squeezed Simon’s shoulder in reassurance, and Jade clung to my waist, her little fingers digging into my coat.

Every muscle in my body screamed at me to walk away, to call someone else, but I couldn’t. I had to check.