Page 50 of Artifice
Just as Olive grabbed an apple, a voice in the distance caught her ear.
She froze.
Even though she couldn’t make out the words, the conversation sounded heated.
After checking to make sure no one else was around, she crept closer to the door labeled “Private.”
Yes, the voice was definitely coming from inside Mrs. Potts’ residence.
Olive pressed her ear to the door, hoping to hear more.
It sounded as if Mrs. Potts was talking to someone on the phone.
“I know,” she murmured. “I’m doing everything you told me.”
There was a pause.
“You just need to give me more time.”
Another pause.
“I promise I’ll do what you said. Just don’t hurt my Henry!”
Olive took a step back as she heard a creak, indicating that Mrs. Potts was walking toward the door.
During her whole stay here, she’d yet to see Mrs. Potts’ husband. Olive had assumed it was because maybe he was antisocial.
But what if there was more to it?
In fact, Director Ingraham had set Olive up at this bed-and-breakfast. Had she done that so she could control the situation? Was she—or someone she hired—holding Henry hostage?
Olive had no idea, but it was a theory worth considering.
She hurried back up the stairs before she was caught. She didn’t want Mrs. Potts to know she’d overheard that conversation. Not yet.
But whatever was going on here, she didn’t like it.
CHAPTER 26
TWELVE YEARS AGO
Olive sat at the fold-out table in the school gymnasium, carefully organizing pledge cards into neat stacks.
As the newest member of the student fundraising committee, she’d been tasked with the responsibility of recording donation information from the annual phonathon.
“You’re doing such a careful job,” Mrs. Renwick, the faculty advisor, said as she passed by and observed Olive a moment. “Most students just toss everything in a pile for me to sort through later.”
Olive smiled. “I like organizing things.”
Her words were true, but . . . it was also what her father had suggested when he’d encouraged her to volunteer for the committee.Make a good impression. Go above and beyond. This will be a great experience for you.And community service looks good on school records.
She couldn’t argue with his words.
But she hadn’t forgotten about what happened with Zoe’s grandmother either. The person behind the robbery hadn’t been found yet.
Olive couldn’t help but wonder if it was her father.
She hated the thought. She hated herself for eventhinkingthe thought.
