Page 42 of The Words We Lost

I smile.

Ingrid

I’ll be up and showered by seven. But you’re on your own with that machine. I have no clue how it works.

Joel

I’ve got you covered. Seven it is.

Ingrid

What’s the probability of knocking out a couple chapters before you head off to work?

Joel

After a couple shots of espresso? I’d say high. My morning is more flexible than my afternoon.

Ingrid

Good. Because my day is going to be filled with treasure hunting.

Joel

You find one of Cece’s old scavenger hunts? I thought I burned all those.

My fingers are practically shaking with adrenaline as I type.

Ingrid

Nope. But I did find out why Cece’s manuscript wasn’t on her laptop!

A string of question marks follows, and I’m giddy over his interest.

Ingrid

Drumroll please....Cece wroteThe Fate of Kingsin notebooks! By hand.

The phone in my palm buzzes immediately and my stomach flips over.

“Hi,” I say in a pitch three times higher than my regular voice.

“You’re serious?”

I laugh, though I’m not totally sure why. It’s like my body has forgotten how to attach the appropriate response with the appropriate emotion. “One hundred percent serious. Wendy said the blue light on the screens was giving her migraines and—”

“You asked Wendy about it?” His voice isn’t exactly firm, but it’s not exactly friendly, either. I rush to fill the gaps. The last thing I needis for Joel to think I went behind his back to interrogate his aunt. I’d cuto off an appendage before I’d willingly hurt Wendy.

“It actually came up in a roundabout way. She was talking about Cece’s last few weeks and months and I pieced it together from a few things she said.”

He makes a thinking noise. “I can’t believe I never thought about her writing it in notebooks.”

“None of us thought about it.”

“What do you know about them? Color? Size? Possible storage locations?”

Again, I feel an almost giddy wave of delight at his curiosity. “I don’t know much yet. Wendy said they resembled the ones she used in high school, but she didn’t mention color. Oh, she also said you’re supposed to give me a spare house key to her place so I can search when she’s working on her projects. But my first mission will be to search the cottage in full. Wendy mentioned her writing here, just like Allie did. I’ll check the storage unit, too.”

“Wow. Well, congratulations. Those are some big leads to come from a single night. No wonder you’re excited.”

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