Page 129 of A Dead Man's B-Side
He never did.
The problem with Lily Poole was that she had known him.
And up until his death, that had haunted him.
Chapter Twenty-two
Alexandr Miroslav
1982
During lunch, when most students were piling their plates in the Dining Hall and engaging in animated conversation, I found myself facing five of my peers during broad daylight, as opposed to the darkness that shrouded us when we usually entered the parlor hidden in the library. “As you all know, I accepted Callum’s offer to join the Queen’s Club.”
Rain sat cross-legged and narrow-eyed. “What did he say?”
I recalled the conversation I’d had yesterday. “He restated his offer and said it was for afresh mind. Though, I highly doubt that. He proposed I start in January, as their play is already underway and we’re well past half the semester. But that isn’t why I called this meeting… Callum might have insinuated knowing about the Founder’s Society.”
A heavy beat of silence fell over the room at my words, a tense silence that Rain didn’t allow to lengthen. “That’s not possible. His father may be on the board, but he didn’t appoint him for a reason.So why tell him? In fact, he isn’t allowed to disclose it until he isinthe Founder’s Society.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think his father kept it a secret, though. I mean, you knew, Rain. Can we be sure his father stuck to the rules? Or maybe Callum found out on his own, but either way, I’m pretty sure he was threatening me.”
Ajax let out a deep breath. “Okay, okay, what exactly did he say?”
I hadn’t realized I was pacing the length of the room, the fireplace unlit behind me, until after I started. “I asked about what the Queen’s Club was exactly, and he said I’d have to join and find out; that they don’t offer the information to outsiders. That I’dunderstand. He said it exactly like that. Insinuating the word.”
Marigold’s soft voice sounded from the corner of the couch she took up residence on, “He could be talking about… He could be talking about something else. Like information about yourself that he couldn’t find?”
August snapped his fingers in her direction before stretching his arm out towards me. “Yeah. Anyone who’s anyone knows your past is under lock and key. It’s like you’re the board’s secret weapon or something.”
Rain shook her head at August. “Don’t be ridiculous. Alexandr is not the board’s secret weapon–” She looked towards me, and said, not the least bit apologetic, “No offence.”
“None taken,” I mumbled, glad of Rain’s interjection, not knowing if she’d done it because of our deal.
Although that wasn’t exactly the outline of said deal.
Rain continued. “Callum might be hinting at that, but being a secret project of the board is far-fetched.”
She took in a breath to finish speaking before she paused. We all watched as the cogs in her head worked for a beat before she laid her narrowed eyes on me. “Do you know who’s sponsoring you?”
I shook my head despite the lie. I had my suspicions, but Thaddeus's sponsorship of me still didn’t put anything together. The main question is why.
I didn’t hold any relation to the man—that I know of—and Cassius couldn’t have swayed his options, because Thaddeus continues to keep him in the dark.
“I suspected Thaddeus, but we can only know for certain by narrowing it down.”
Ajax nodded once, understanding filled his eyes, as he stood to get the book.
Again, we found ourselves hovering over the picture we’d seen before.
“Alright.” Rain started. “Getting the easy ones out of the way. Thelema Jett appointed me, Evander Kingsley appointed Wolf. The Letum chair is out of the picture. Does anyone know anything?”
Ajax groaned. “It pains me to say this, but… Madeline Fenlon could have appointed me. It makes the most sense, what with my past relationship with her son.”
I nodded. “Okay. That leaves Thaddeus, Adama Osei, Queen and… Cassius Vale.” The last name came out as casual as I could force it.
Wolf pointed to Adama Osei in the photo. “Paris said she knew her. She was friends with her mother.”
A small part of my mind wondered if she’d woken up, and I began tapping my finger against my thigh before realizing what I was doing and stopped.
