Page 50 of What Happened on Roslyn Street?
“An accident,” he says. “We really must go.”
Caldwell is urgent as he guides me out of the house, pushing me past the crowd. It’s impossible to miss what he’s hiding from me. Another body.
If I didn’t know better, I would say he’s freaked out. He’s quiet and urgent, shuddering as soon as we step out of the house.
He’s a decent actor, I’ll give him that, but I won’t fall for his tricks again. The watch alone may not be enough to say Caldwell is involved, but...
I left him and came back to him running from a body. His pocket watch is on a creepy painting, wearing the same mask I found near Poppy’s body. The evidence against Caldwell is piling up.
It may even be enough to convince Margaux, but instead of acting, I let him lead me around. He pretends to be shaken, going completely silent until we’re walking to my dormitory.
The night air sends shivers up my spine, and my arms wrap around myself to stay warm. Goosebumps form across my skin. Is it from the cold or fear?
“What did you see?” He’s dripping with urgency, and this is when I know I was right all along.
I’m not sure what he’s referring to—the body or what I saw upstairs. Either way, it’s clear there is something in the club Caldwell doesn’t want me to see.
“Um…” I laugh it off, hoping to seem flustered. “Consensual BDSM, if you must know.”
He lets go of my shoulders and steps away. “Jesus…” Rubbing at his temples, he exhales slowly through his nose. “You didn’t see—the body? The killer? Anything?”
“No. It must have happened when I was upstairs, right?”
“It did. All hell broke loose the second you left. It was terrible, but I’m glad you weren’t around for it.”
“Didyousee anything?”
“It was a dark room. I didn’t know what happened until they turned on the lights.”
“Right.” I stop outside my dormitory. “Just another day in Castine, I guess.”
“Are you all right?”
“Would anyone be? I’m a little shaken.”
At least when I talk about being shaken, it isn’t a lie. While I’m staying surprisingly calm, I wasn’t expecting the night to take such a drastic turn.
Whathappenedwhen I was gone?
He sighs slowly, running his fingers through his hair. “Yeah. Me too.”
“I think we should sleep it off.”
He nods, agreeing—but doesn’t budge from his spot.
“Well… I had a nice night,” he says, “aside from nearly losing you. And the uh… murder.”
“There’s always an aside after our dates.”
“I enjoy myself nevertheless.”
“But you weren’t going toloseme. You’re very dramatic,” I say, smiling softly. “I’m sure you’ve beentold that before.”
“I have.” He hesitates. “Will I see you again?”
“I imagine you will.” I’m evading the question. Things nearly went too far tonight; should I continue the ruse? “We’ll see each other on campus.”
He smiles wryly. “You know that’s not what I mean.”
