I was tucked at the last table in the middle aisle. The lights overhead cast a glow over the heavy books I had opened as I read up on the epidemic diseases in the eighteenth century. The words blurred in front of me. I needed a break, but I’d been procrastinating on my assignment, and I wanted to be ready to present my data to Mazzie when we met for our tutoring session next week. Plus, with the football bye week, I had to get as much done as possible.
My phone pinged with a text from a number I didn’t recognize.
I opened up the app and saw Greta’s name in the message.
I’d called the casino hotel to talk to Kurtis but found he’d checked out on Monday, the day after he’d been at the house. Short of driving to the Silver Spur Casino, which would be suicide if Coach found out, I’d reached out to Mazzie’s former boss to see if she’d seen or heard anything about a fight involving Kurtis.
Greta
I asked around about your father. You’re right. He checked out of the casino hotel. Security doesn’t know anything about any fights involving your father. But Justine, one of the servers, heard that your father had a run-in with Mr. Blackwood’s son, Shane, and his friend, Josh. That’s all I could find out.
Fury sped through me. I’d known Josh had something to do with Kurtis’s black eye.
Did Justine say what it was related to?
If Shane Blackwood had been involved, I would bet that Kurtis owed money. If I was right, the blowback could affect my mom.
Greta
Justine doesn’t know.
If you do see Kurtis, can you call me? Also, do you know where I can find Shane or that guy Josh who manhandled Mazzie that night?
My knee bounced nonstop as something else hit me. Mazzie could be in danger. What if the Blackwoods were trying to force Kurtis to pay his debt by endangering someone close to him? My father had pissed off Josh. But if a debt was the issue, Shane Blackwood might not care how he got the money. I would like to think Josh wouldn’t let his convict friend use Mazzie as a pawn, but the jerkwad could be capable of anything.
Greta
I haven’t seen Shane since the night you were here. As for Josh, I couldn’t say. If I hear anything new, I’ll let you know.
I thanked Greta then sent Mazzie a text. I recalled her saying something about studying for her biochemistry exam.
Midnight, call me as soon as you see this.
We weren’t allowed to make calls from the library. So I closed the book about smallpox. It was useless to study. My brain was as foggy as hell. I was comfortable with the thesis statement that I’d come up with. From here, it was a matter of gathering information about the key topics and compiling them into a coherent outline.
I texted Ajax as my paranoia increased.
Hey, man, was Mazzie in class with you today?
I thought she had biochemistry that morning. I packed up my books while I waited for Ajax to respond. My phone vibrated.
Ajax
Did you lose your girl?
I could hear his sarcasm as I read his text.
Ajax
Yes, she was. Though she seemed wound tight.
My brow creased as my gut churned.
What do you mean?
Ajax
She bites her nails when she’s stressed.
