Page 18 of Cruel Riches

“At least she cares. My parents didn’t even text me to see if I arrived on the island safely.”

My face fell. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m used to it,” she replied with a shrug. “Anyway, I’m Claire.”

“Alexis. Nice to meet you.”

“You too. Looks like we’re neighbors for the semester,” she said. “What are you studying?”

“Journalism. You?”

“English.”

“Cool. We’ll probably have a few of the same classes,” I said. I tilted my head to the side. “I’m guessing from what you said earlier that you’re not from Avalon?”

“No. I’m from Chicago, and I don’t know anyone here, so I’m pretty nervous about everything.”

“I’m nervous too,” I said. “But hey, you know me now. Seeing as we’ll be living right next door to each other, we can totally hang out if you want.”

She smiled again. “That’d be great. Do you want to check out the dining hall with me later?”

“Sure.”

“How about six? I’ve got a ton of unpacking to do, but I should be done by then.”

“Me too. See you then.”

I spent the next few hours trudging back and forth between my dorm and my car, arms laden with bags and boxes. When they were all safely within the confines of my dorm room, I started unpacking them.

I’d already purchased my entire required reading list for the semester, so those books went on the shelf above the desk on the left side of the room, a few feet away from the queen-sized bed. A door on the other side of the room led to a small but well-appointed bathroom with every amenity I could possibly need and plenty of space for my hair, skin, and makeup products.

On the right wall was a white armoire and a tall set of drawers for my clothing, along with an accent table for odds and ends. I put the glass dome of roses on the accent table, making sure the pretty bow faced my bed so I had something nice to look at before I drifted off to sleep every night.

When most of my stuff was unpacked, I yawned and headed over to the window on the far side of the room. The island was beautiful at this time of the day, lit up by the glow of the dying sun. It was a shame that such a nice place hid a festering underbelly of rot and evil.

Checking the clock, I saw that it was almost six, so I grabbed a coat and scarf and wandered outside to meet Claire. We walked down to the large, lavish dining hall together and spent the next couple of hours chatting and laughing as if we were old friends. I was relieved to have met someone I got along with before the semester officially started, because Blackthorne had a reputation for snobbery, and I’d arrived here with a nagging worry that I wouldn’t make any friends at all.

Just after half past eight, we returned to our respective rooms. As soon as I was inside, I gave Sascha a quick call to wish her good luck for her date. We didn’t talk for long, because she was about to head out, but she was happy to hear that everything was going well for me here and that I’d already made a new friend in Claire.

After we ended the call, I finally finished unpacking the last of my boxes. When I was almost done, I happened to look over at my empty desk, and with a sudden jolt, I realized I’d forgotten to do something important.

Every week, I ran a short ad in the classified section of Avalon’s main newspaper.

If you have any information about PETER JOHN COVINGTON of Thunder Bay, Avalon Island, please contact 410-565-0143.

I knew it was a long shot, but lots of people still read newspapers instead of using online news services, and I figured that there might be someone out there who knew something that could help me in my investigation. They might’ve been too scared to say anything back in 2009, but now that ten years had passed, they could be willing to speak up.

I was supposed to call or email my contact at the newspaper every week to confirm the renewal of the ad, and I usually got in early and did it on a Friday. Today was Saturday, and the cutoff was midnight.

“Shit,” I muttered, casting my eyes around the room. Where the hell did I put my laptop bag? It was nowhere to be seen.

I pulled my phone out to call Sascha again, figuring I must’ve accidentally left the bag behind at our apartment.

There was a text notification from her sitting on the screen. She’d messaged me about an hour ago, just after we ended our last call.

Hey! OMG I’m such an idiot. I told you I was going to put your computer in that big box when I was taking stuff down to your car earlier, and I totally thought I did, but I just realized it’s still sitting on the dining table. I must’ve forgotten. I’m so sorry!

I sighed. I really needed my laptop, and that meant I had to drive all the way back to Avalon City tonight.

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