Page 22 of What Happened on Roslyn Street? (Strode University #1)

It’s true. Even Margaux buried her head in the sand until I yanked it out. Whether it’s Caldwell’s gift of sight or my stubborn loyalty to Poppy, we’re the only two willing to push forward with the investigation. I like to think Margaux would have found her way here eventually, but…

He’s right. She has fangs—and deeper ties to this school than either of us.

“This is me.” I stop outside of Professor Cruz’s lecture hall.

It’s nerve-wracking to be here again, considering our last conversation, but I tell myself it was nothing. He was only trying to keep his students safe, and I can’t blame him for that.

But I don’t regret keeping my suspicions from him. If I had given in that day, I wouldn’t have Caldwell and his magic on my side .

“A shame,” he says. “I was hoping to steal a few minutes with you. Alas… we have to part ways.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re very dramatic?” An echo of an earlier sentiment.

“Yes,” he says, his eyes twinkling. “Many, many times. I like it best when it’s coming from you.” He leans in, his lips brushing against my cheek so softly I hardly feel it.

It’s over, a whisper of a moment that passes by.

My lids are heavy as I gaze up at him, and I want more. I rise onto the tips of my toes, a hand moving around his neck to pull him back in.

“We’re taking it slow, remember?” Caldwell chuckles and places his hands on my shoulders, pushing me onto flat feet.

“But—”

He steps away, his gaze dark and penetrating. “Enjoy your class, Tobey. I’ll meet you after.”

That’s all. He doesn’t give me another kiss or a moment of his time before turning to leave.

I’m left with a deep want, a desire that cannot be fulfilled—and one I’m still too scared to put into words.

A bright voice from behind me kills the moment. “Tobey!”

Amelia’s strawberry hair catches my attention.

Jun is following behind her. He gives me a slight nod before walking past us, likely only here to see Amelia to class.

“Hey,” I say weakly, lifting a hand.

Amelia has been a good friend since my first day here, and I feel horrible. I’ve been so preoccupied with everything else, and I’m especially preoccupied at this moment.

“It’s been too long!” she chirps. “I mean—technically, it’s only been two days since we sat next to each other, but… you kn ow what I mean!”

“I do.” I force a smile. “We can sit next to each other today. Come on!”

Amelia follows like an overly excitable puppy as we make our way through the classroom, settling into our usual seats. We’re a few minutes later than I would like, and Professor Cruz has already started his lecture.

That doesn’t stop Amelia from continuing to pester me.

She leans in, whispering under her breath. “Did I see you with Caldwell?”

I nod.

“You’ve been with him a lot lately.”

“We’re friends,” I say. “What about Jun? Does he always walk you to class?”

“Sometimes. It’s the buddy system. That’s what the professors say to use, right?”

“Right. It’s the same with me and Caldwell.”

“I still have my heart set on Professor Cruz.”

We dissolve into giggles, hidden behind our hands, and I swear I feel his eyes on us.

Right. Vampire. He can hear every stupid thing we say.

“Sh!” I nudge her with my elbow. “If you’re so interested in him, maybe you should pay attention to his class.”

That keeps her quiet for the rest of the lecture—or perhaps it’s Professor Cruz’s sharp glare that does it. The silence is only gifted to me until things wrap up, and then she’s back at my side, following me out of class.

“Am I going to see you at dinner tonight?” she asks, batting her lashes.

“Um… I don’t know…”

“You’re with Margaux every night! I wanted to join, but she and Jun don’t like each other. I don’t know. It makes it complicated.”

There’s an inexplicable pressure behind her words. Amelia was one of the first people to warm up to me at the school, but that doesn’t mean I’m required to maintain a friendship with her.

I don’t have time for that, anyway—but of course, she wouldn’t understand.

“Margaux is an old friend,” I say. “But I can try to detangle myself from her for a night. Just for you.”

I don’t particularly want to. Margaux keeps me safe… and more than that, we have a lot to talk about.

“Please! We miss you at our end of the table.” Amelia giggles. “And don’t let her fill your head with lies about Jun, okay? He’s a sweetheart!”

“I believe you.”

Margaux hasn’t told me about her issues with Jun, and he hasn’t done anything to make me doubt him—although he was a little cold today. The drama with Margaux must go both ways if he’s icing me out.

Behind Amelia, my savior appears—Caldwell, here to rescue me from this mildly awkward interaction. In another circumstance, I would be happy to be Amelia’s friend, but the guilt and pressure turn me off.

I’ve never been so relieved to see him. He approaches tentatively, watching us with a curious expression.

“Am I interrupting?” he asks.

Despite the calm timbre of his voice, his appearance makes Amelia jump.

She looks between us, shaking her head, visibly flustered. “No! We’re just making dinner plans, but… I won’t stop you.” She smiles at me—specifically at me , hardly giving Caldwell a moment of her time. “It was great to see you again, Tobey!”

I return the smile with some hesitance. “I’ll see you at dinner… soon.”

But I don’t make promises about it happening tonight. I have a feeling it will be a busy night.

Caldwell offers his hand, and I take it, not stopping to think about how it looks to Amelia. I denied our relationship, and she hardly believed me. Now, she definitely won’t.

He pulls me away, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“Did your visions tell you I needed saving? I ask.

“What?” He laughs.

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

We have plans to meet with Margaux again, this time with more privacy. We gather in our dormitory—which means nothing, but I’m flushed as I enter the room with Caldwell’s hand in mine. It’s his first time in my room. I wonder if it will be the last…

I need to get my mind out of the gutter. We have important things to focus on.

Margaux rests on her bed with her legs crossed daintily. She watches us with a curious expression. “You’re on time.”

I roll my eyes. “When am I not?”

“Not you,” she says. “Caldwell. You earn a point.”

“You are not doing a point system.” I glare at Margaux as I sit on the edge of my bed.

Caldwell stands in the middle of the room before finally settling onto the chair at our shared desk, sitting on it as though he thinks the chair will break.

“We have to work as a team,” I say. “If you two are going to be at each other’s throats, this is never going to work.”

“I’m not at anyone’s throat.” Margaux lifts her hands. “In fact, I’m starving, so if we could make this meeting a quick one… I have a werewolf to meet with.”

“You’re still seeing him?” I lean in. “How does he taste?”

Caldwell clears his throat.

“Let’s focus,” he says, watching Margaux with a level expression. “We have to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

“And we have to hope we have enough information to work with.” I frown.

Even with the three of us working together, it feels like we have nothing. We’ve already lost our only suspect. Having Caldwell on our side is helpful, but now we’re directionless.

“Let’s start with you,” Margaux says, nodding at Caldwell. “You have the gift of sight. What has it told you?”

“I already shared the brunt of it, but…” He sighs. “I was told to come to Strode and that I was needed to investigate a murder?—”

“You were told?” Margaux repeats. “By your visions?”

Caldwell hesitates. “Yes.”

Margaux hums under her breath. “All right. Carry on.”

“All I know,” he says, “is that the deaths are… deeper than they appear. It’s not just a hungry vampire or a power-hungry witch.

There’s something else for us to discover.

” He presses his lips together. “The vision pointed me to Tobey and confirmed Poppy is connected to the on-campus murders. That’s all I have. ”

It isn’t much, but it’s more than we had before. I’m pleased.

Margaux isn’t.

“That’s all?” She scoffs. “Typical witches…”

“Excuse me?” Caldwell’s eyes narrow.

“Your gifts are fickle,” she says. “It’s a well-known fact that sight is nearly impossible to control, and false visions are common. I’ve never met a witch who can stare into a crystal ball and choose to see. It always happens so… sporadically.”

“Our visions come when they are needed,” he says evenly. “Not a moment before or after. We’re taught to trust the timing of these things. I wonder if you were taught trust at all.”

“Enough!” I stand with my hands on my hips. “If you two are going to bicker, I’m going back to doing this alone.”

Caldwell settles down, his posture shifting. Margaux does not. She’s as stiff as she was when we appeared.

“I don’t want to bicker,” Caldwell mutters.

“I’m trying to get information!” Margaux says.

“He’s on our side,” I say. “We don’t need to torture information from him.”

“If you think this is torture, just wait…” Margaux grumbles.

“What information do you have to share?” I ask her. “You’ve been going to school here longer than us. Your father works here. You’ve known about this school your whole life, and I have a feeling you’re a big name in this little community. Surely, you have something to share.”

“I—” Margaux inhales, closing her eyes. “I don’t. I don’t have anything. That’s why I’m so stressed! My father is a big name in our community, sure, but me? I’m nothing. He doesn’t tell me anything, and?—”

“Margaux.” I step closer and rest a hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine. You don’t need to feel bad, but the point is… we need Caldwell.”

“I know,” she says softly.

“I have information,” I say, turning away from her.

“There was a bird mask near where they found Poppy’s body, and on the inside, there was a Strode crest. That’s what led me to the school.

And…” I reach deep into my pocket, pulling out Caldwell’s watch.

“Is this really yours?” I dangle it in front of his face.

He nods.

I let the watch drop into his hand, having no further use for it. “This was another clue I thought I found, but if it’s yours… it’s nothing.”

“Thank you,” he says weakly, holding the watch with white knuckles.

“The last thing,” I say, “is a painting. The one at the club. It may be nothing, but when I looked at it… it burned. And it was wearing a bird mask, exactly like the one I found on Roslyn Street. I don’t know how it can relate, but I have a feeling…

the people who own the club or are involved with it… they’re involved with the murder, too.”

“It sounds like the painting is charmed.” Caldwell frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me this that night?”

“Because I didn’t trust you,” I say.

Margaux snorts. “She thought you were the one in the bird mask.”

“I would never wear something that tacky.” Caldwell rolls his eyes. “Where do we go from here?”

“Um…” I look out the window. “Roslyn Street. That’s where it happened.”

“I have rehearsals,” Margaux says, her posture returning to normal. “You two go. Text me if anything happens. I’ll be there in a flash.”

“All right.” Caldwell stands.

“And Tobey?” Margaux watches me intensely. “Let’s have a private word before you go.”

Caldwell hesitates with his hand on the doorknob, watching me for permission to leave. I give him a slight nod.

Once he’s outside, I turn to Margaux. I don’t have to prompt her to speak; words spill from her mouth.

“I still don’t trust him,” Margaux says. “I’m sorry. I want to, but I have a feeling he’s hiding something. I don’t know what it is, but his heart was a hammering mess when you brought out that watch.”

“And you’re letting me go off alone with him?” I lift a brow.

“Yes, because for some reason… I don’t think he’ll hurt you. Just be on guard. If you’re not back before dark, I’ll hunt him down.”

Margaux is misguided. After everything we’ve been through, I know I can trust Caldwell. He’s had many opportunities to do away with me if that’s what he wanted—but it isn’t.

I mean something to him—even Margaux can see that—and he wants to solve this mystery as badly as we do.

“I’ll be fine,” I say gently. “Don’t worry about me.”

“How am I supposed to stop worrying?” There’s a soft, genuine nature to her words. “You’re the only human here. Half the people here could snap your neck without any effort, and?—”

I fling my arms around Margaux, pulling her into a crushing hug. She slumps against me, pressing her forehead into my shoulder.

“I’m safe with Caldwell,” I say. “And I’m safe with you. I go everywhere with you two. No one else is going to get to me when you’re around.”

“I know,” she says softly, the words muffled. “So… stay safe. That’s all I want.”

“I can do that.”

“And Tobey?” She pulls away, fixing me with a stern look.

“Yes?”

“Don’t go to the vampire club without me. I want in on that action.”