Page 19 of Spies Like Us

I drop my hand and pull my dress down.

That all seemed so weird and random. I’m not sure how they are getting away with testing the foster kids and anyone they deem suitable like that. Maybe it’s just me, because they already knew of my reputation, or maybe they are actually blackmailing kids. If they are forced to do those sorts of things in front of the camera, then it’s no small leap to think they are being forced to do more to keep that footage quiet.

I’ll have to tell the guys my theory, but it wouldn’t hurt to suggest that Miller should confess during the week and see if he’s asked to perform lewd acts as well. Sighing, I bend down and stuff my panties in the pocket of my dress and leave the booth. I can’t be bothered with wrestling them back on over my combat boots, and it’s not like I’ll be flashing anyone at the library.

No one is in sight. The church is completely empty of people, so I head out front, hoping Martha will be there with my school bag. I don’t actually need it because I’m not actually going to do schoolwork, but it has my phone in it.

Out on the steps, I find a crowd of people. On one side is Martha, June, Ted, and James. Martha smiles and waves me over when she sees me.

“How did it go?” she asks, and I shrug, not meeting her eyes.

“It was okay, I guess,” I tell her, and she reaches out and places a hand on my arm.

“It’s the first step to a new life, just remember that,” she says gently, and I nod as she passes me my school bag.

My gaze goes to the other group of people at the top of the steps. It’s Max, Ryland, and the chief of police with Father and Melissa Sweeny.

“Oh dear.” Martha sees where my gaze went. “The Turner boys just told Chief Thompson that one of their roommates is missing,” she says, wringing her hands together.

I allow my eyes to widen with shock. “Missing?” I ask, and James nods, pursing his lips.

“Hmm, this is a quiet, friendly town, and we never have any trouble, so I can’t imagine what happened to him.” Pfft, what crack is he smoking? He even admitted his former foster kids had gone missing.

“Probably fell in with the wrong group of people,” June agrees.

“Well, hopefully they find him soon,” I say, and I catch sight of Miller, Lathan, Dayton, and Anders waiting at the bottom of the steps. Stella, Sophie, Jessica, Michele, and Lucy are with them.

“Why don’t you go and join your friends, dear? There’s nothing we can do, and we’re still waiting on Melissa and Daniel to go to lunch,” Martha suggests.

“Um, we’re not friends. I’m just going to head to the library and get some work done. I have to work again tonight, so I don’t have a lot of time,” I tell her. It’s almost one, and I need to be back at the Life Lounge at seven. I’m hoping I can ask one of the guys to run me back to the Standishes’ so I can get changed. I head in their direction after waving to Martha and James. Thankfully, Dayton and Anders see me coming, and together with Lathan, they move a little bit further away from the girls so they can’t overhear our conversation.

As I go to pass Sophie, she reaches out and grabs my arm. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demands, and I snatch my arm out of her grasp.

“Fucking hell, Sophie, what are you, the gatekeeper of all guys in this town? I want to say hello to Lathan and his friends.” I nod in their direction.

“How do you know them?” She puts her hands on her hips.

“What’s it to you? For someone who is supposed to be the president of some chastity club, you’re awfully damn possessive of a lot of men. If you must know, I met Dayton when I had a piercing done the other day, and I work with Anders at the Life Lounge, but you know that, you were there last night,” I point out, showing her how ridiculous she’s being.

“Keep your loose legs away from them. My sister is dating Max, who is their best friend, and she will not stand for them hooking up with trash like you. I’m sure the governor’s aides wouldn’t like their sons doing the same thing. It wouldn’t reflect well on them.”

Fuck my life. What was I thinking, being excited about working a case as a high school student? Fuck this shit. If it wasn’t so important, I’d ask Dad to replace me. No more high school assignments for me, but then again, I’ve known some women and men in their twenties who act like they never left high school at all. That’s only in Princess Kensington’s superficial social circle, though, not any of the low-life scum I’ve had to dispose of.

“Sophie, leave her be. Don’t waste your breath on trash like her.” Lucy pulls her friend away, and I can hear them hissing to one another as I make my way over to the guys.

“Trouble?” Dayton asks, his gaze on the girls behind me, and I roll my eyes.

“Amateur high school shit. Nothing that’s going to make me cry.” I smile at them. “Would it be okay if one of you gave me a lift back to the Standishes’ place so I can get changed before work, and then run me back into town?” I ask.

“Sure, no problem. What time?” Dayton asks before either of the other two can answer. Lathan smirks as Anders pouts.

“You get to run her home, so I don’t know why you’re upset. I’m going to have to sit in the car and run facial recognition on people coming and going all night again,” Lathan grumbles.

“Did you get any hits last night?” I ask him, and he nods, his eyes moving to where Miller and the girls are. Max and Ryland have joined them, and we watch as Martha and her friends start to walk in the direction of Main Street. I guess they are off to have lunch.

“I did. How about I meet you at the library in a little while, and I can fill you in on what we learned?”

“Why don’t you come now?” I ask, and Lathan grimaces.

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