Page 4 of Dark Tangled Truths
Mike takes a clipping from the stem with some of Evan’s blood on it and puts it in a petri dish. He hands me back the bag. “You might want to take this to wherever your girl is. They might need to confirm my findings.”
Mike begins preparing his workstation. I study the rose. It’s evidence, but we’ll have our own results to go off. He makes a valid point though. I’m surprised Mr. Watson didn’t call the police to come investigate, but he probably didn’t suspect someone of actually tampering with the rose. Just that Evan had been cut and it was bad.
He’ll have to fill out a form at the school for the injury. Mr. Watson wasn’t in the room when I went in to get the rose. Hawk can find out what Mr. Watson knows and if we need to do damage control.
“You’ve got my number,” I say. It’s not a question.
Mike nods, but he’s not really paying attention to me at this point. He’s got a mystery to unravel, and I’ve got a girl to see.
CHAPTER 2
Cam
When I getto the urgent care, Mia sits in the waiting room. I look at the doors to the back and know they probably won’t let me in to see Evan. Hawk must be back with her. He wouldn’t have left her side. I head over and drop into the seat next to Mia. I waited with Evan last weekend and then for her. I guess I’m doing that again now.
Except my skin crawls with the need to go and make sure she’s really okay. My stomach is tied in knots. Someone fucked with our girl.
“Do we know anything?” I ask. My knee bounces as I stare at the door. I already texted Hawk about the flower and he said the doctors don’t think it was anything too toxic. She’s already doing better.
Mia shakes her head. Her face is pale and her lips tight. “She had blisters on her fingers. Maybe we should have taken her to the ER.”
She looks about two seconds from bursting from her seat and storming back there to get Evan and take her to the hospital instead.
“This was closer. Hawk says she’s doing better.” I blow out a breath and rub my hands together. I didn’t see our girl beforethey took her back, but if Mia is worried... Fuck. “If they thought she needed the ER, they would have sent you right away.”
That’s for Mia, but I need to hear it too. It wasn’t bad enough for the ER.
Mia nods and rubs her hands together. “Who would do this? I would have noticed if Jackson slipped in. Wouldn’t I?”
That question comes out shaky. She seems just as worried as me.
“He might have someone on the inside.” It’s what keeps going through my head. Who does he know at our school? Anyone could be bought, or someone could be jealous of Evan or us.
Fuck, it could be Mia. She’s been friendly enough and even handed over her phone without hesitation. But she could be playing us. This could be her game to get Evan out of the picture so she can fuck us.
Girls have done crazier things for stupider reasons.
It would be better if we knew the real motive, but all we can do right now is guess.
“Brandt’s play was going on at the same time. I saw Abby during the break. We were chatting. She really doesn’t like Evan.” Mia releases her breath and leans back in her chair. “But I can’t see anyone doing this to her intentionally. Yes, making snide remarks or bitching about her. But to physically harm her? That’s fucked up.”
“You’re new to this school. Anteros is super competitive about everything.” I train my gaze on the doors to the back. “There are plenty of people who would stab you in the back to get your part.”
Mia shakes her head.
The outside door bursts open. A woman similar in features and build to Evan races up to the front desk. I sit forward.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asks.
“EvanAnn Ward. She was brought in. I’m her mother.” Her hands shake and there’s this anxious air around her.
After a second, the receptionist says, “She’s in the back. I’ll buzz you in.”
“Thank you.” Mrs. Ward goes to the door, and it buzzes, letting her back.
Heather Ward. At least she shows up when it matters.
“You can head out if you want,” I say to Mia.
