Page 45 of If Anything Happens To Me

“Minerva, I’ve apologized for hurting you that time,” he said.

“I should have told someone,” she said. “My parents, your parents. I could have called the cops on you, Fitch.”

“I told you I was sorry!”

“Are you doing it to other people?” she asked.

“Of course not! It was a mistake, I told you. Just leave it, will you? This is important. I’m looking for two girls who probably came in here,” he said, and I heard him describe me and Iris.

“Nope,” she said. “Haven’t seen them.”

“They were standing right out front twenty minutes ago,” he said.

“I told you, no one like that has come in today. What do you want them for?” she asked.

“One is very sick, on the edge of a breakdown. The other is my friend’s girlfriend.”

At the wordgirlfriend, I couldn’t help it, but my heart jumped. Did Matt think of me that way? How could I still feel excited when I knew Matt might be behind my sister’s death? I felt guilty and ridiculous for it, so I shut that feeling right down.

“Well, I’ll keep my eyes open for them,” Minerva said.

“Okay,” Fitch said. “Text me if you see them.”

“I will,” she said. Then, “How’s your sister?”

“She’s not doing well,” Fitch said. “More episodes.”

“Well, give her my love,” Minerva said. “My little cousin Abby-Gale.”

I exchanged a look with Iris. Gale. Abby-Gale. Abigail.

And now more things began to click for me. Fitch’s sister, Abigail, who had had a seizure and had to leave school. The illness that had affected the Sibylline sisters, the disease that ran in the family. Related elements, falling into place.

“Listen, I need some dust, and the keys,” Fitch said.

“The keys, fine,” Minerva said. I heard her open a drawer and the jingle of keys as she handed them to him.

“Now the magic dust,” he said.

“Go away, Fitch,” Minerva said. “It’s valuable, and I need it for my work.”

He laughed. “You’re here only because Daphne is subsidizing you. You’re her little favorite. If you won’t give it to me, I’ll just take it.”

I heard his footsteps getting closer. He opened the closet door, and light poured in.

Iris and I shrank farther into the shadow of the boxes. I could see Fitch reach up to the highest shelf, grab a jar. As he did, gold dust sprinkled down on us. It tickled my nose, and I nearly exploded, holding a sneeze inside.

He closed the closet door behind him.

“You know, cuz,” he said. “Your attitude is really disturbing.”

“My attitude?” Minerva asked.

“You know I need this for my work. My research. It’s integral to finding the cure.”

“Gold dust, Fitch?” Minerva asked. “Have you been reading the old tome? Daphne’s magic spells? I thought you were the scientist of the family. How would your mother feel to know you’ve forsaken medicine for soothsaying?”

“Shut up, Minerva. Leave my mother out of it,” Fitch said, and I heard anger building in his voice.

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