I pocket my phone, bending down to pick up the empty shadow box, and return it to the bookshelf. I’m thankful it didn’t break when I dropped it. I stand there staring at it, swearing to myself that I put those photos in there. I’m about to start looking around the room for them when my phone starts ringing. I see “UNKNOWN CALLER” pop up, almost declining the call before considering that it might be the PI.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hi, is this Sloane Keenan?” a female voice replies.
“Yes, this is she.”
“Hi. This is Elle Langdon. Your mom told me you needed to talk to me?”
“Yes. Hi, Elle. Thank you so much for getting back with me so quickly. I wanted to know if you could look into something for me.”
There’s a pause before she responds, “Depends on the thing, I suppose.”
“Well.” I pause. “I had these photos of my father that went missing.” I hold my breath.
“Oh. Your … father.” She clears her throat. “What do you mean,went missing?”
“Well, I had them hidden somewhere in my room earlier today. I left, and when I came back home, they were gone. But, besides that, I’d like to see if you could also find someone for me. There was someone else in the photos with him.”
“I see. Do you think you could describe the photos to me?”
“It looked like they were taken of my father from a distance, and without his knowledge. Some were of only him. Some were of him and another guy.”
“Uh-huh. Okay. What did the other guy look like?”
“Um.” I pause, trying to remember. “He looked to be about my father’s age. Dark brown hair with some gray, a receding hairline, and he was about an inch taller than my father. He was wearing a black suit.”
“Okay. And what was he doing in the photos?”
“My father was handing him a thick envelope in one hand. He was shaking hands with him in another.”
“Right.” She sighs. “Look, Sloane. I’m sure you’re aware that your father was working with some powerfully corrupt people in Hollowcrest. There are things he did that you might not want to uncover,” she warns.
“I know what I’m getting myself into, Elle. Can you please help me?”
She sighs, and there’s another pause. “Okay, yeah. I’ll see what I can find.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I say, relieved.
She laughs. “Anything for Lena’s daughter. Your mother talks so much about you, I already feel like I know you. I’ll let you know if I find anything. Take care, Sloane.”
“Thanks again, Elle,” I say, hanging up.
I don’t know whether I feel better or worse after our conversation. What I do know is that I can’t stop thinking about Riven. I can’t stop thinking about what Callum said about Riven being broken, and me being good for him. I can’t stop thinking that maybe I was too hard on him. So, against all better judgment, I decide that I’m done thinking.
Sloane:Hey. Can you come over? I’d like to talk.
I hit send and immediately pocket my phone before I can ruminate on it.
I run upstairs to take a quick shower, tapping my phone as soon as I get out. I’m expecting to see a text back from Riven, but I have no new notifications. Well, maybe the moment is gone. Wine and horror films, it is. I toss on an oversized tee and a pair of pajama shorts, heading back downstairs to wallow in self-pity.
By the time there’s a surprising knock on my door, I’m already two glasses down and forty-five minutes intoScream. I hit pause and stand, walking toward the door to unlock it. When I open it and look up, I’m met with a pair of polarizing eyes. I swallow, suddenly more sober than I was two seconds ago.
28
Riven
When I got that text from Sloane, it was like time stood still. Now that Van has likely ended up on her shit list,Ihad to find my way back in.
