Opal took a deep breath. “Logan, the pool is real. That creature was … something we know about. Sort of. I should have told you.”
Something heavy moved behind Logan’s eyes. “Told me what?”
“About figments. About the Darkdeep.”
“The what?” Logan pushed back in his chair and stood. “There’s a name for that … that darkness? What are you guysdoingon that island?”
Opal bit her lip. She had to level with him. “Logan, you’re not losing your mind. If you help me now, I promise to tell you everything. No more secrets.”
Logan stared at her for a long moment.
Opal held his gaze, worried she’d made a terrible mistake.
I had no choice.
“Okay,” he said finally. “It’s a deal.”
The main office of the Nantes Timber Company was creepy at night. Opal wasn’t the only one who felt it. Tyler and Emma huddled close together. Nico darted glances at every shadow. “This feels like enemy territory,” he muttered.
“It is,” Logan shot back.
Nico didn’t respond. Opal prayed the two of them could behave long enough to complete their mission. She hadn’t told the others about her agreement with Logan, and butterflies were playing badminton in her stomach.They’ll understand, right? I had no choice!
Opal pushed the worry aside. She’d done the right thing. She couldn’t sit back and watch Logan lose his mind just toprotect a secret. That’d be way too heartless. Like it or not, he was a part of this now.
“We’re gonna identify this dude and get out of here before anyone sees us.” Logan walked ahead of them down a carpeted hallway. The office was near the edge of Timbers, on the western side of Otter Creek, where most of the land belonged to the timber company. This was Logan’s turf and they all knew it.
“Where are we going?” Tyler asked.
“Here.” Logan stopped at a door labeledHuman Resources.
“Human what?” Emma deadpanned.
“It means ‘personnel.’ ” Logan rolled his eyes. “The people who oversee hiring and stuff. This is where the records are kept.”
The room was standard boring, with drab furniture and harsh fluorescent lighting. Opal spotted a row of metal filing cabinets beside a giant copy machine.
“So we think the skeleton hasn’t been theretoolong,” Emma said, “because the jacket is old-school, but not, like, vintage.” She blew her bangs out of her face. “Like, my mom might’ve worn it, but not Marilyn Monroe.”
“Here.” Logan pulled an album down and slapped it open on the table. “The Christmas banquet happens every year. Employees wear their jackets for the group photo.”
“Except your dad.” Tyler pointed to a picture dated five years before. Sylvain Nantes was in a bright red Santa suit.Logan’s ears turned red. “That was just one year. The regular guy got sick.”
There were hundreds of people in the older pictures. “Did your dad invite everyone who worked here?” Opal asked.
“Still does,” Logan said proudly. “It’s tradition. My grandfather did it that way, too.”
“My mom always loved the food,” Tyler added. Everyone turned to look at him. “What? She worked here for a while before my sister was born.”
Emma tapped one of the photos. “Seems likeeveryonedid. Before the layoffs.”
The room went still. Opal swore she heard an owl hooting in the distance.
“Everyone loves the banquet,” Logan said roughly, flipping through the album. “Nobody misses it, not unless they’re on their deathbed or something.”
“Wait!” Emma caught a page with her finger. “These jackets look right, and the caption lists everyone’s name in the picture. This could really help!”
A vein pumped in Logan’s neck. “How do I know that skeleton is real?”
