A glass vial that looked like an airplane bottle of liquor slid into my hand.TheAuroraArcherAhad been stamped into a wax seal on top.
“What are the chances this is poison?”Iasked.
Jack sat in thought for a moment. “I’dsay fifty-fifty.Bottom’sup,Juliet.Let’splayRussianroulette."
We broke into peals of laughter, andJack’schest shook against my back.Itwas easy to be around him.Comfortable.
“AmIcrazy ifIopen it and smell it?Imean, it might just be water.”
Jack grimaced. “Idon’t know if that’s a good idea . . .”
“It was my aunt.Nota serial killer,”Isaid.
“I’m not entirely sure there’s a big difference in the sanity department.”
I laughed and shook my head asItried to open the wax seal.
Jack sighed, reached into his shorts, and pulled out a pocket knife. “Letme see it.”
He flicked the blade open and cut a ring around the drips of dried wax, just enough to be able to open it without messing up the seal.Itwas a clue, after all.
Jack closed the knife and pocketed it, then sucked in a deep breath. “Ifwe both die up here after sniffing this poison, it was nice knowing you.”
I rolled my eyes, butIwas giddy with anticipation.
To my surprise, the lid was a twist-top.Itopened with a crack.Maybeit actually was a liquor bottle.
Jack went first, swirling it in front of his nose like he was at a wine tasting. “Smellslike alcohol.”
I took a sniff as a slow smile formed. “Itsmells likemoonshine.”
19
JACK
THE PANTS SITUATION
“Maybe it’s not about the alcohol and it’s something to do with the moon?”Auroracalled from the kitchen where she was sanding cabinets.
“You should really be wearing a dust mask,”Ihollered down from the bedroom at the top of the stairs.Thisfucking wallpaper was going to be the death of me, but it was a small price to pay for an evening spent bantering with her.
“I’m using it as a headband,” she shouted.
We had passed the time while we tackled items on her to-do list by hypothesizing about what the liquor bottle hidden on the balcony meant.
“I feel like that’s a leap,”Isaid. “Whatare you supposed to do with it?Useit as a telescope?Aren’tclues supposed to be connected?”
Aurora huffed. “Cluescan be whatever they want to be.”
There was a dull thump, then silence. “Roar?”Icalled out.Myheart ached as it tumbled around in my chest.Idropped the metal scraper and jogged into the kitchen.
Aurora was sprawled out on the floor.
“Hey—”Idropped to my knees and immediately pressed my fingers to the side of her neck, checking for a pulse.
Aurora swatted my hand away. “Whatthe hell are you doing?I’mfine.”
I huffed and sat back on my haunches. “Ithought you had passed out or something.Whatare you doing on the floor?”
