Jaded (Jaded #1)

“Shut up,” I laughed.

He leaned over me and got in my face. “What’d that cop say?”

He had me trapped, pinned between his two arms, so I surrendered and confessed, “He left another note for me.”

“Oh.” A moment later, “What’d it say?”

“I have to go to the police station to get it.” I pushed him off and sat up again.

“And she said a lot of crap about how it’s Corrigan because his prints were on the note. That’s all.”

“That’s all!?” Bryce followed me into the bathroom, incredulous. “That’s a lot.”

“She just wanted to mess with my head. It’s not Corrigan—” I stopped at the look on his face. “Right? It’s not Corrigan.”

Bryce blinked.

“Bryce!”

“Sorry.” He snapped back to attention. “No, of course, it’s not Corrigan. But…the thought has some merit. I mean…Corrigan must’ve touched that note somehow.

So…someone would have to follow him around, pick up a blank piece of paper that he had touched and that’s all it would take.”

“That could be anyone.”

“Corrigan doesn’t go to classes, so that narrows the search. And he didn’t take notes when we were handcuffed. So…what else has he touched lately?”

“He doodled in Mr. Hankins class today, but that was it,” I murmured.

“So who’s in Mr. Hankins’ class?”

“I don’t know.” I sighed, washed my hands, and moved back to the bedroom.

“This is useless. The cops can figure that out, but I want to know who comes to the party and who doesn’t.”

Something in my voice caught at Bryce’s attention. He stopped and commented, “What?—you don’t think he’s coming, do you?”

“No.” I rolled my eyes. “I think he’ll come, but I think he’ll skulk around outside.

It’s what he must’ve done at Harris’ party. Leisha had to walk two blocks so I think he caught her outside. He was probably just watching the party.”

“I think…you got a new alarm system, right? Did they install video at all?”

“What? Yeah, I ordered a new system the next day, but I didn’t ask anything about video.” That was creepy.

“Maybe we should install video output in a few hidden spots?” Bryce suggested.

“And not tell anyone and I mean anyone, not even Corrigan.”

“We have to tell Corrigan.”

“No, we don’t. Besides, he won’t get mad. He’d understand.”

“Why? Because some secrets are worth keeping?” I heard my own words, caught the flash of emotion on his face, and asked abruptly, “What? What secrets do you guys have from me?”

“Secrets that are for your own good.” Bryce clipped out and shut his mouth.

A fist pounded at our door and Corrigan shouted, “Put on some clothes and get out here. We have a party to plan.”

I threw open the door.

Corrigan looked disappointed to see us fully clothed, but he said, “Everyone knows. I passed the message to be here at nine tonight and ready to party. Everyone’s bringing their own booze, but we gotta supply the food, music, and everything else.”

Bryce said quickly, “Sheldon, go with Corrigan and Logan. Get the food and everything else. I’ll work on that other thing.”

Corrigan frowned, but shrugged.

“Fine,” I murmured and led the way as Corrigan followed behind, excited. He threw an arm over my shoulder and murmured in my ear, “For the record, thanks for going to bat for me today. You know, against that cop.”

I stopped, frozen, in the hallway and asked, “What are you talking about?”

“About those things she was saying, about me being the stalker guy.”

“How do you know about that?”

A knot formed…

Logan waited for us at the door…

Corrigan shrugged, “I came up for something to drink after all of us went downstairs. You were out there and we thought we’d give you some privacy, you know—” He sent a furtive glance in his girlfriend’s direction. “—you don’t like everyone to know your business, but…it’s hard not to overhear when you were almost shouting and I was just on the other side.”

“I don’t understand. The door was closed.” And the walls were nearly soundproof.

“Yeah, but…the window was open, Sheldon.” Corrigan told me and my world spun about in that moment.

“I reset the alarm this morning. It would’ve gone off if a window was open.”

Corrigan froze and I realized that my own window hadn’t sounded the alarm.

Numb, I announced, “My alarm system doesn’t work.”

Bryce came to the stairwell at that moment and our eyes met as I looked up.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Bryce firmly volunteered to order a third alarm system and watch while the guy installed it. Corrigan and I were sent out for chips and dip while Logan went home to change and pack a bag. She figured she’d be spending the night and Corrigan told her that she was correct, but not to expect much sleep.