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“Are they pulling funding?” Wren asked in a panic.
“What happened?” Piper cut in.
“It’s Gabriel. He’s running the grant.”
The entire room went silent again.
“I’m sorry,” Mollie said. “Could you repeat that?”
“Gabriel started the grant after he got rich from his video game. He did it. He’s been it the entire time.”
“What?” Grace shook her head. “No way.”
“He sent you that note. He was probably nervous that he would get caught, which is why the handwriting was shaky. Go look at my yearbook at the note he left me. It’s the same handwriting.”
“He barely would have known Cain then,” Mollie said as Grace went to the yearbook. “Why would he pay his legal fees?”
Piper added, “Theo came after Gabriel left. Why would he help him?”
“To cover for himself,” Wren offered. “Maybe he knew he couldn’t pick favorites, so he had to be nice to us all.”
“Maybe, but his actions don’t match that.” Piper crossed her arms. “One of the main things I’ve learned is to watch people’s actions, not their words.”
“That’s what I do,” Grace added. “It’s how I help people.”
“Right,” Piper said. “So, these actions are him watching closely and jumping in where people need it. He’s not asking for glamour. The STM grant barely wants to be named.”
“He cares.” I said it quietly. “That’s why.”
“So why is he leaving?” Mollie asked.
“That’s the part I can’t figure out,” I said. “And he won’t tell me either.”
“Why did he leave the first time again?”
“He said it was because he hated small towns and he wanted to explore what was out there.” I shrugged. “And then he changed his mind once he was out there. I don’t know. This whole thing is why I haven’t slept.”
“Does anyone else know him? Is there anyone else you could ask?”
“Is it worth it to?” Wren asked.
“Something is going on here,” Grace said. “There’s a mystery, and if anyone can figure it out, it’s Jade.”
“Should I?” I asked. “I broke up with him.”
They all stared at me.
“You . . . broke up with him?” Piper asked.
“I did.”
“Why?” Wren asked.
“You were hesitant before,” Jade said.
“I was. I am.” Wren sighed. “I’m conflicted.”
“How do you think I feel?” I asked and buried my head in my hands. “God, I didn’t want to break up with him, but if he did all of this and is still planning on leaving? It doesn’t make any fucking sense.”
