Page 71 of Ghostlighted
“I’ll call her and see if she’ll check. Was Liam still there?”
Avi hesitated for an instant, then nodded. “He just put that new cell phone Ricky bought her the other day in the suitcase.”
I growled, low in my throat. “What do you bet he took her others, too? Snuck in and swiped them just to make her think she’d lost them?”
“No bet,” he said flatly.
“Keep an eye on him again? I told Yaz that something might be going down here, so they’re going to alert Kamilla, but we have to have something concrete for her before she makes a move. Give me maybe five, ten minutes and then come back and report?”
He nodded and popped out.
I wasn’t familiar with Patrice’s teaching schedule, so I just dialed her number and hoped she’d be available.
She answered on the first ring. “Maz? Is there another manifestation?”
“Yes and no. We’ve got something to tell you about, but that’s not why I called. I have a huge favor to ask.”
Patrice’s chuckle was decidedly rusty. “You’re the sole conduit to the first spiritus manifestation in Ghost. There’s little I wouldn’t do for you. How can I help?”
“I understand you went to Harvard, and that as an alumna, you have access to the online student directory.”
“That’s correct.”
“Could you check on a current student for me? He should be graduating this month.”
“Name?”
I grimaced. Crap. What name would he be using? I had no idea what Sofia’s first husband’s last name had been, but I’d bet Gil’s kibble Liam wouldn’t be using it, norGuillermoeither.What was his stepfather’s name again? Ricky had told me, but—Got it. “Frost. Liam Frost. Possibly William Frost.”
“One moment please.”
While I was waiting, Avi returned, looking nearly as angry as I felt.“What?”I mouthed. He just shook his head and wrapped his arms around his middle.
“I’m sorry, Maz, but there is no student by that name, graduating or otherwise.”
“Thank you,” I said woodenly.
“You’re welcome. I look forward to hearing about the latest developments whenever you’re ready.” She disconnected the call.
Not one for social niceties, Patrice. It was one of the things I most admired about her.
I set my phone on the counter gently, because if I threw it against the wall and shattered it, I’d release some frustration now, but trade it for the aggravation of replacing the phone later.
On the other hand, maybe I’d be able to score one from Liam. He evidently had a few extra lying around.
“So.” I planted my palms against the counter. “We know why Liam was so against Sofia coming to his graduation. He’s not graduating.”
“He’s failed out of Harvard? But isn’t he supposed to start law school?”
“He didn’t fail out. He’s not even a student. I doubt he’s ever set foot in Cambridge or anywhere else in Massachusetts, his stupid gold keychain notwithstanding. That jerkwad has been scamming Sofia out of more than a hundred grand a year forfour freaking years.” No wonder he could afford a Porsche, not to mention a place in Capitol Hill.
“He’s about to keep doing it, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“He has one of those big light boxes, the kind you can use to trace drawings? He’s using it to trace Sofia’s signature onto a check. For a hundred grand.”
“Son of a—” I slapped the counter. “How the hell does he think he can get away with something like that? I mean, he doesn’t even need to. If he asked, she’d probably just hand him the money, no questions asked. He’severythingto her.” I didn’t want to think about what it would do to Sofia to find out Liam had been lying to her for years. “She was soproudof him.”
