Page 148 of The Other Side of Green

“You’d never cut it as a spy.” I stretched out of the cab, turning to Alex.

“So Lyra looked pretty cut up earlier.”

I arched my brow. “She’s been through a lot.”

He let out a sigh. “I wish I’d known what was going on.”

“What and ruin that idyllic childhood you lived?” I smirked.

“Hardly. You know what’s it like at home.” His lips pressed into a line.

Yeah, I knew what it was like at his house. Messed up head games in a family that would rather spend money than talk.

“You could have my childhood and worn bruises instead of new clothes every day.”

“How’s the chip on your shoulder?”

“Fine. How’s yours?” I sighed. Okay. Leave Alex alone, you’re supposed to be the mature one. “What did you find?”

Alex smirked. “My father really should use a better filing system.” He opened the file. “Audition and application notes from two years ago. You were right, the second placement got the scholarship again.”

I wished that made me happier. It didn’t.

Just made me ache for Lyra that she’d been treated this way.

“Did I sit in on the auditions? You know for the life of me I don’t remember it.” I’d been wracking my brain since Elijah Fairclough’s call.

Alex’s smirk grew. “Look.”

I flipped through the pages. As always, the list of audition judges were stated. Part of some formality that I’d never bothered to understand until now. Now I knew it was in place to cover ass when the past came back to bite it.

“I was there.” I frowned.

“You’re a clever man, Jack. Read more than the first page.”

I scowled at Alex but did as he said. Second interview in the afternoon, I wasn’t listed. There was a note at the bottom saying I’d gone home ill and my place had been taken.

Ah, now it was coming back to me. I’d been sick with stomach flu for forty-eight hours with little reprieve. I almost gagged just thinking about it. Obviously, Miriam had been a heartfelt nurse—not.

So if I’d not been there as part of the six judges, who had been? I scanned the list and then lifted my eyes to Alex. “Shit.”

“I’d say.”

I clutched the folder a little closer in case anyone mugged me for it.

“You said you had something else?”

Alex nodded. “I have a feeling this is going to get me in a truck load of shit.

I hesitated. My own future balanced on a tight rope of destruction… did I want to take Alex down with me.

“It’s okay, Jack. I’ve got a trust fund no one can touch.”

I snorted. “Come on then, let’s have it.”

Alex pulled his cell out of his pocket. “Can I just say, Lyra gave me this idea when she tried to honeytrap me that night.”

“She did not!”