Page 7 of The Attic on Queen Street

Alex began to talk about the “awesome” food choices on campus. Even his mention of vegan selections didn’t erase Nola’s frown.

Veronica approached and put her arm around Nola. “You’ll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that,” she said lightly, her gaze meeting mine over Nola’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

I shrugged. “Jack has ‘opinions’ about Nola’s living arrangements.”

Nola gave an exaggerated sigh. “If I decide on the College of Charleston, then I have the option of either living in the only all-girls dorm or living at home.”

Veronica stilled, her smile slipping. “Which dorm is that?”

“Buist Rivers. It’sancient. The Kelly House apartments are newer andsomuch nicer. And they’re pink.” She glared at the back of Jack’s head. “But Dad doesn’t seem to care whatIwant.”

Nola slunk away to stand with Lindsey and Alston closer to the front, near Alex. The faint scent of Vanilla Musk teased my nostrils, letting me know why Veronica’s mood had abruptly changed.

“Was that Adrienne’s dorm?” I asked quietly. It was the perfume her sister had worn, a guaranteed tell that Adrienne was near.

Veronica nodded. “Room 210. Her body was discovered in a janitor’s closet on the same floor.”

“Why don’t we skip it, then?” I suggested.

“I don’t think it’s the dorm on the tour, but I was hoping we could get inside anyway. Adrienne might want to show you something.”

“I really don’t—”

“What are you two whispering about?” Michael leaned in between us. “Are you finding conflicting data on Melanie’s spreadsheet? Maybe a column’s too wide?”

Veronica turned to look at her husband without smiling. “No, Michael. We were discussing Buist Rivers dorm.”

His eyes widened in question.

“Adrienne’s dorm,” Veronica explained.

“Right,” he said before sighing heavily and looking down at his feet. “Is it on the tour? Because we don’t have to go inside.”

“No, it’s not.” Veronica paused. “But I do want to see if Melanie and I can get into the dorm to look around. I bet we could find someone to let us in.”

I was surprised to see the resignation in Michael’s expression instead of the anger or antagonism I’d been expecting. All of our past conversations on the subject of finding out what had happened to Adrienne had ended badly. Maybe the mere fact that Veronica had finally agreed to sell the family house was the olive branch he’d needed. Or the water on the fire. The flames might have been out, but I was pretty sure I could still feel the steam.

“Fine,” he said. “But you two are on your own. I want no part in any of that mumbo jumbo, Melanie. Whether you really can talk to dead people or just pretend, I don’t care. Do what you have to do and rejoin the tour. I’m staying with Jack and the girls.”

He began to walk away, then briefly turned back to look at Veronica before shaking his head and leaving. I searched for Jack, easily catching sight of him because he and Michael were the tallest people in the group. He stood behind Nola, but was watching me with raised eyebrows.

“Can you let Jack know, Michael?”

He nodded without looking back while Veronica and I headed toward Adrienne’s old dorm, the scent of Vanilla Musk growing heavier the closer we got.

“Do you smell that?” I asked.

Veronica shook her head. “Is it her perfume? I used to smell it a lot after she died, but not so much anymore.”

I nodded, then looked up at the brown stucco building. “This is really ugly. I wouldn’t want to live here, either.”

I turned to Veronica to get her reaction, but she was staring at the glass front doors, her head tilted to the side. “It’s changed a lot since I was here... the last time.”

“When was that?”

Her eyes met mine. “When I came to pack up her things after... afterward. I thought I’d have to do it alone because my parents couldn’t face it, but Michael came to help. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

“Too bad it’s locked,” I said, tugging on the handle, ready to turn away.