Now, I realize it’s a superpower.
“This is Dr. Jenna Williams,” Dr. Shannon says, and the fake last name almost feels real in the moment.
“Molly Bradford,” the girl says her name, her eyes scrutinizing. “You look familiar. Are you from around here?”
I shake my head, swallowing the way my heart jumps in my chest. “No, I’m actually not. I’m from Texas.”
“Oh,” her brows raise, her voice flattening. “You’re a long way from Texas.”
“Sometimes change is good.”
“Absolutely,” Dr. Shannon echoes me, and then nods to the door. “Thank you for dropping off the essay, Molly.”
“Of course,” she snaps her gaze from my face to her professor’s, and then gives her a nod. “Best of luck with the baby.” With that, she exits the office, shutting the door behind her.
Dr. Shannon lets out a sigh, and then meets my gaze with a smile. “She’s one of my best students. Her family runs the big tree farm at the edge of town. Really great people. Her father is a decorated retired Marine Officer.”
Something hangs in my throat.
“Oh.” I force the word out. “Well, that’s good to know.” I pick at a piece of lint on my pants, and then look up at her. “Is there anything else you’d like to know about me?”
“Can you start tomorrow?” She bursts into a light laughter, and I force myself to join her, as if somehow, that’s actually funny.
“Well, I can,” I say as the laughter dies down.
“Then be looking for my email after we get the background check back.” She wraps up my interview then, and I stand to my feet, feeling a little imbalanced.
Honestly, this feltwaytoo easy.
Other than the background check. Ugh.
I ignore the sick feeling in my stomach. “Thank you for your time. Hopefully, I’ll hear from you soon.”
“Thank you.” She gives me a final nod, and I slip out the door of the office, heading straight for the nearest exit. I push through the doors, the sharp, cold Colorado air slapping me across the face and cutting through my cheap black coat. I wrap my arms tighter around myself, and then scan the area.
Cade, are you really around here?
I pull out my phone and scroll to the picture of thepresumedCade and the man with the cowboy hat. I stare at the location, and then make my way to the parking lot listed. I slip past laughing students, dead grass peeking through melting snow, and the faded holiday party flyers.
I follow a sidewalk, my flats quiet on the pavement, to a gravel lot on the very edge of campus. I glance back down to the photo, matching the background of a parking garage. Nothing about it stands out.
My gaze scans the cars, the ground, and the faces, as if somehow, maybe it’ll bring my brother out of the air right here.
Obviously, it doesn’t.
I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath.I just need to pass this stupid background check, then I’ll make a plan.And what is that plan?
I have no freaking idea.
And before I can mull it over too much, my phone blares, my mom’s ringtone cutting through the icy air. I glance down ather face filling the screen, an older, more traumatized version of myself.
“Hey,” I answer the call, mostly just to make her face go away. “What’s up?”
“Where are you, Jen? You’ve got me worried sick. You were in California, then you sent me some message about going to Colorado? What is going on?”
“It’s complicated,” I clear my throat, unsure of exactly how to explain. “I was able to find a lead…”
“Oh honey,” her voice drops. “You think he’s really there?”
