“Alex put these kids to work making magic,” I said. “And sulfur has a very distinct smell. The Hunter and I are going to do a locker inspection.”
As we left, Jenny said to Ronnie, “Stay here and keep an eye on Temple. I don’t need a second burned-down school on my conscience.”
• • •
It took six minutes for Jenny to find the first locker. I needed two more to pick the tiny lock in the center of the combination dial.
Inside the door was a miniature basketball hoop and a dry-erase board with a note toRemember math homework.
We found nothing to identify the owner. No mess of old papers or personalized graffiti. But tucked inside a compact, folded-up umbrella was a paper envelope with three black pills. I grabbed those, made a note of the locker number, and moved on.
The next one was more promising. There were no pills in this locker, but Jenny said the sulfur smell was all over the dial and the inside. A series of photobooth pics was stuck inside the door. I tugged them free of the magnet and studied the two boys hamming it up, laughing together, and making out. I recognized the kid on the right. I’d broken his nose two nights ago in the parking lot at the Gauntlet.
A pile of graded papers at the bottom gave me a name: Noah Hovenkamp.
Jenny had already moved down the hall. She stood with her arms crossed in front of another locker. “Annette...”
“What is it?” When I joined her, she wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “This one has the strongest sulfur scent so far.”
I started to work on the lock, but Jenny stopped me.
“Annette...this is Morgan’s locker.”
My thoughts stalled. Why would there be sulfur in Morgan’s locker? This had to be a joke. Was I supposed to laugh?
“Are you sure?” A stupid question, I knew. Jenny was a Hunter. She didn’t make mistakes when tracking people.
“I know his scent.” She stepped aside to let me open the lock.
My hands were unsteady. It took longer to get this one open. Once I did, a single look inside confirmed what she’d found. Morgan’s green-and-black spring jacket hung from a hook. Blake was always grumbling about Morgan forgetting to bring it home after school.
Morgan kept his locker neater than the others I’d checked. I searched it from top to bottom. I found a single loose pill in his jacket pocket.
Jenny took the pill and added it to the envelope with the others we’d found.
“Damn it, Morgan.” I slammed the locker. The sound echoed down the hall. I punched the door, leaving a large dent in the center.
Morgan had so much going for him. He was handsome, confident, and bright. He was smarter than this.
“I’m sorry.” Jenny put a hand gently on my shoulder.
“Me, too.”
We stood in silence for a minute before Jenny asked, “What can I do?”
I gave her the same answer she’d given me. “Help me end this.” I hit the locker again. “Sage probably got his pills from Morgan’s room. He’s over at their house all the time. Maybe he was snooping around, or maybe Morgan gave him a sample.”
Which would suggest Morgan wasn’t just taking drugs, he was dealing them.
“There are more lockers to check,” Jenny said quietly. “If you’re not ready, I can—”
“Our next step should be to question the subject.” According to the clock in the hall, it was almost midnight.
“We don’t have to—”
“Morgan is our best lead, and we know where he lives.” I started walking toward the chemistry classroom. “Let’s go interrogate my grandson.”
