Page 128 of Failure to Match

We’re not exactly sure.

Mabel

Apart from Jackson, Molly and I are the only other people who have ever been allowed in.

Molly

Not to worry, though, dear. We just need you to grab a couple of books for us, nothing nefarious.

Mabel

We’re bedridden and wasting away, aren’t we, Molly?

Molly

If the illness doesn’t take me, the boredom will.

You’re terrible liars.

Mabel

The key has been tucked under the vase to the left of your suite. Avoid the main kitchen area at all costs.

More instructions to follow.

The silver skeleton key was, in fact, tucked under the very large, very irreplaceable-looking vase to the left of my suite. It was also looped through one of those rainbow twill necklaces kids made at preschool. The colors were worn, and the fraying twill had been tied in three separate places—but not as a method of repair. Trapped above each knot was a bright blue plastic pendant in the shape of a letter. J, M, and M.

I should have taken it as a warning.

I didn’t think I’d ever been as unprepared for something as I was for what was on the other side of that door. Then again, if Molly and Mabel had tried to describe it to me, I wouldn’t have believed them.

I hadn’t moved in a very long time. I’d unlocked the door, stepped through what must have been an invisible portal, and promptly froze.

It wasbeautiful. In every sense of the word, Jackson’s library was breathtakingly and awe-inspiringlybeautiful.

It also made no fucking sense whatsoever.

The only things that sort of checked out were the floor-to-ceiling bookcases that lined three out of the four walls… but eventhose had been drawn and painted on.Everythinghad been drawn and painted on. There were tiny little flowers and leaves and stars and candy-colored critters etched into every wooden surface in the room.

It was nothing like the rest of the penthouse.

There was coloreverywhere, and so much sunshine. How could there be so much more light spilling through these windows compared to the rest of the penthouse? It was like I’d been trudging through perpetually grey weather and hadn’t realized it until I’d stumbled onto a field of flowers on a clear summer day.

And this room actually looked lived-in. There was a red blanket thrown haphazardly over the side of a dented, wrinkly leather couch, a forgotten mug left on top of the drawing-covered coffee table, and a handful of dog-eared books with bent covers lying around in various unkempt positions.

Even the Persian carpet was faded and aged.

I loved it. All of it. It was homey and cozy and beautiful, and had I known it existed, I would’ve spent a hell of a lot more time in here over the last couple of weeks.

Did Jackson know his library had been vandalized by a group of children of varying ages and drawing skill levels? Because if not, he was going to throw a fucking fit when he found out.

The mug user hadn’t even bothered with a coaster. It wasbad.

What is this place?

Was it a setup? Had I been sent here as bait because they needed someone to blame for the mess? Ria always said it was the innocent-looking ones you had to watch out for.

Molly

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