“Well, you haven’t been to class in the last few days.”
It was funny how the minute daimones and gods came back into my life, I seemed to throw my journalistic dream out the window. I needed to eliminate this threat so I could get back to my normal life. I sighed. Who was I kidding? This all had been something for me to play at. In truth, I would never escape my family, nor the entities they were tied to.
He leaned forward and caught my gaze. “I was wondering if I could take the story if you weren’t interested.”
“I’ll write up the article tonight.” No way was I going to sit here and answer his questions about what happened on that roof. “Actually, the reason I came was because I had some questions about Tessa.”
He stiffened. “What about her?”
“You interviewed her roommate and friends. Did any of them mention seeing signs of depression?”
He shrugged and turned back to his computer. “Her roommate said she’s been down after she’d had a big fight with her boyfriend. You know. Usual college stuff.”
“Except most of us don’t commit suicide,” I muttered.
“Yeah, well is two a coincidence?”
“I don’t plan on waiting for number three,” I said.
He wrinkled his nose. “Kids kill themselves all over the country all the time. How do you plan on finding the next person?”
I shrugged. “Maybe my article will help reach those who need to know they do have a way out. That they aren’t doomed.”
James’s words rang in the back of my head and tickled at my thoughts. Hadn’t there been a daimon of doom? My power wasn’t the only thing to become rusty while away from my family. I’m have to check my books again when I had a chance.
“So now you plan on writing an inspirational piece?” He sneered. “What happened to reporting the truth?”
Like anyone knew what that was anymore. “It can be both. We don’t need to report all horror without giving a little hope.”
I snorted. Another insidious evil that was released from the Pandora’s jar, maybe the most of all. Hope pushed man past his limits. It allowed him to toil and suffer with some misguided belief that things would get better. But, because of hope, we endured this long.
“Anyway,” I said. “Did you talk to her ex-boyfriend?”
He smirked. “For all the good it did. He’s kind of a dick. I don’t think he even cares she’s dead.”
“What’s his name?”
Marty raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so interested in Tessa? She and James didn’t know each other.”
“I’m probably going to have to mention her death in my story,” I said. “I just wanted to know the facts.”
“Then give the story to me,” he said. “I can make a nice tie-in and everything.”
“If I did, how much would you bug me?” I asked. “I’m not really up for talking about what happened.”
“I’ll be gentle,” he said. “Only what you want to tell me.”
I studied him with narrowed eyes. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
He held his hand up with his palm in my direction. “God’s honest.”
“Tell me the name of Tessa’s ex and we have a deal.”
“Why are so interested?”
“Because you won’t tell me.” I kept my voice light and casual.
He shrugged and pulled out a tape recorder. “Fine. So, let’s get started. When did you notice what was happening?”
My heart thudded as Mercer’s face, so close to mine, flashed in my mind. “I heard screams and headed in that direction. James was on top of the roof. Everyone was just standing around and gaping at him.”
“So, you decided to do something?”
I nodded. “Mercer Chaplin, too. We headed upstairs.”
“Where was everyone else? The classes?”
I kept my face blank and shrugged. “I wasn’t really paying attention. My friend was in danger. I needed to get to him.”
“Wasn’t he your ex?”
I flinched as my stomach squeezed. “Yeah, but it didn’t matter at the time. He needed help.”
“So what happened on the roof?”
I stared past him at the clock ticking down the seconds on the wall, but not really seeing it, either. James stood in front of me on that ledge instead. Then he disappeared.
I cleared my throat and rubbed my eyes. “We were too far away and not fast enough.”
Marty raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? No epic speech?”
“He said something about not being worth anything.” I sighed. “If I had been quicker …”
Quicker at figuring things out, at least.
Marty shut off the tape recorder. “Well, it’s not great, but it gives me a reason to talk to Mercer. His name always brings in sales.”
Good luck with that, I thought. “Well?” I asked. “I think you’re forgetting something.” “Hmmm?” Marty raised an eyebrow.
“The name. You promised me the name of Tessa’s ex in exchange for the interview.”