by Smoke, Lucy
"Oh my," Delilah whispered. "I've never had a man look at me like that." She nudged me. "If anything, I think you've got someone interested in you for much more than a dance or two as well." She thought Knix was looking at her and that Marv was interested in... well...he was interested in me. But Knix wasn't interested in her. The very thought brought the little green monster back to life and the knowledge that I would soon have to tell the both of them the truth – as well as tell them about what Grayson had said – put a major damper on my feelings.
I quickly descended the stairs and both of them stepped forward as I arrived at the bottom. "You look beautiful," Marv said.
"Yes, Little Bit, you look absolutely lovely," Knix agreed. Then he turned his eyes to Delilah, who blushed under his stare. "And you look just as radiant."
I frowned their way but didn't comment. "Shall we start our practices?" Marv asked, holding out his arm. I smiled and took it.
When Ms. Enders was satisfied that we were all able to descend the staircase in a line without tripping and causing the rest to fall like dominoes, we were finally allowed to get into the limos and head to the venue. The venue – a place called the Bluestone House – was an antique, country mansion several miles away usually reserved for weddings, but Ms. Enders had a standing reservation each season that she held her camp. As we arrived, I watched out of the window, staring at the twinkling lights dressing the tops of the mansion and the outdoor gazebo in the distance.
"It'll be fine," Marv whispered, leaning in towards me. I nodded. "Just act natural. You've done your part and gotten us in." My hands balled into fists. It felt like that was all I was here for, to get them in. To be their prop. That wasn't why I was here. I looked at him and shook my head before glancing around the inside of the limo at the rest of the couples.
"Not here," I whispered back. He tilted his head to the side but sat back in agreement.
When the limo stopped, the guys all exited first and then stood in a line, helping each girl out and then walking her towards the back door. There were already guests inside, mingling, drinking. I could hear the music, the laughter. We were to head up the back staircase and get into formation to be introduced. It was supposed to be like the olden days when young ladies were introduced into society. I didn't really understand it, but for a few of these girls, it was merely a reason to dress up and party.
For the guys and me, it was a chance to figure out who was behind the blackmailing and also to find out who the target was. My heart thudded against my breast, scared, but also hyped. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I was ready for this. More than ready, I was downright done waiting.
"Let's go," Marv said, holding his arm out. I took it and we strode up the back stairwell together.
The smell of the old mansion was mustier in the upper floors. The carpet was clean but worn from how many people had trod upon it, and the walls were a washed out white. Still, though, there was a uniqueness about the building. An old soul living in its walls that called to me. It was alive, the building, something that had been there for far longer than I had been alive. So many people had been through this place. I wondered about all of the people that had walked its halls and slept in its rooms as we got into formation. Finally, when Ms. Enders gave the signal and we began to move forward, I glanced back over my shoulder one last time. I could have sworn I saw someone standing in one of the darkened doorways of the rooms.
Chapter 16
Everything about the Bluestone House was beautiful. Even though the upstairs seemed more antiqued, it was clear that someone had put time and effort into modernizing the downstairs portion of the mansion as much as possible without losing the antique ambiance. The pillars along each side of the room were adorned with lush greenery. It smelled real as I passed by. It must have been expensive or hard to keep up.
Marv spoke quietly in low tones. Somewhere, Texas and Bellamy were sequestered in one of the cars with a couple of Texas’ laptops and headsets. Both Marv and Knix wore their earpieces tonight. Now, more than ever before, I felt left out, and I was angry. Knix had tried to explain to me that it was because they didn’t want me drawing the attention of whoever we were tracking. We weren’t sure yet if these girls were really being raped, but if they were – I understood where the guys were coming from. Didn’t they see, though, that with a little risk, we could catch this guy and get him before he could hurt anyone else?
I stood off to the side as Marv observed the room and relayed what he was seeing to whoever was on the headset with him. I rolled my eyes. I could have at least done that much. Knix twirled a blushing Delilah across the dance floor, and I could see it in her eyes; Delilah was absolutely taken with him. It made me want to punch her out and that made me feel even worse about my situation with the guys.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Isador left her date – escort, I reminded myself… Marv was not my date either – and approached me. “Hey,” she said, “what’s up with him?” she motioned towards Marv as he stood by one of the pillars.
I shrugged. “I don’t think he’s feeling very well,” I lied. It kind of amazed me how easily lying was starting to come to me now. I didn’t even have to think about it.
“Oh, that sucks,” she said. “Well, do you want to dance with my escort?” she offered. “My feet are so sore. It was such a bad idea to wear these shoes tonight.” She stuck her foot out and showed me the startlingly beautiful, gem encrusted heels. Despite their beauty I could tell that the back of her heel looked red.
“New?” I guessed.
She nodded. “First time wearing them too,” she admitted. “It was stupid, but they were so pretty.” She sighed. “That’s what I get for falling in love with pretty things.” I could say the same, but I wouldn’t mean shoes.
“So, dancing?” she asked.
I shook my head, but smiled. “No,” I said. “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m okay right here.”
She looked at me for a moment before flicking a glance over at Marv. “Okay,” she said, though the way she said it made it sound like she thought it was anything but. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” She drifted off just as Marv came back around the pillar and put a hand on my waist.
He dipped close to my ear and whispered, "Knix just saw Wallace heading upstairs."
My head jerked up and I looked around. I hadn't realized it, but Knix and Delilah were both missing. "Where–"
"Hold on, let's dance." He grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. I wouldn't have minded so much – we had danced together before on Sweratt Island – but just as our feet touched the dance floor the quartet struck up the waltz. I could have freaking died right then and there.
"No," I hissed. "I'm not good at this."
Marv looked down at me like I was crazy as he positioned his hands on my waist and raised my hand in his. "We've danced before," he said. "You'll be fine."
"No, you don't understand, I–" Before I could finish my sentence, Marv had yanked me into the twirling masses of dancing couples on the floor. I whimpered and nearly head-butted him as I tried to stare down at my feet. What had Mr. Giovanni taught us? One. Two. One. Two. Step. Step. One of my heels jabbed Marv's foot and he winced looking down at me.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"I'm counting," I snapped. "I told you. This is the waltz. I can't waltz."
More of that Harlow's crazy look. He rolled his eyes. "You're fine," he assured me. "You're just over thinking it. Here, let me–" Marv wrapped one of his arms fully around my back and his muscles flexed as he lifted me fully onto his feet. The toes of both my heels were pressed firmly to each of his shoes.
"Won't that hurt?" I asked hesitantly.
He shook his head. "No, if there's just a constant pressure, it's much easier to manage than you stabbing me with the point of your heel every time we turn." He grinned as he looked down at me before his face sobered and he looked up and over my shoulder. "Knix took your friend out on
the balcony. We're gonna cross the dance floor – make sure we're seen and then we're going to head upstairs."
"Do you really think Mr. Wallace is the one we're after?" I asked.
Thunder gray eyes met mine. "I do," he said. "Why?"
I shook my head and clung to him as we whirled around. My feet stayed firmly planted on his. It really wasn't so bad like this, I realized. In fact, it was quite nice. We weren't really waltzing, but no one was paying attention to our feet.
"Har-ley?" Marv grunted and corrected himself before he finished with my real name. I smirked and looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Why did you ask that?"
I frowned and then my nails dug into his shoulder as he took several steps that ended with us on the side of the dance floor. "Because I'm not too sure," I admitted.
"About Wallace?" Marv clarified. I nodded. Marv was quiet for several moments as he moved us towards a back door. It looked like it led toward the kitchens. I could smell food and hear the clanking of dishes.
"Come on." Marv had me step off of his feet and then took my hand. Together, we hurried through the doors that had caught my eye before. I was right, it was a kitchen. No one paid us any mind though. Either the workers were too busy to notice, or they just didn't get paid enough to care that two people in formal wear were running through their kitchens in the middle of a big party. Whatever the case, Marv and I managed to get to the hallway without anyone stopping us.
"Okay," Marv said, stopping and pushing me up against the wall. I blinked at him in confusion. "Tell me why you think Mr. Wallace is innocent?" he asked, placing a hand on either side of my head.
"Um..." I gulped. "Well..." Why did he have to stand so close? "Doesn't it seem a little too easy?" I asked.
His eyes lit up. "What do you mean?"
"Well, we originally considered Ms. Enders," I stated. "We were giving in to the rumors. But then we got here and you and Knix interviewed her and I kinda interviewed Delilah I guess. I don't think it is Ms. Enders. She puts too much pride in her work. Then with what we found out about Mr. Wallace's daughter – Kayla..."
Marv nodded. "You don't think his daughter's suicide could have put him over the edge?"
I shook my head. "Maybe, it could have," I admitted. "But his whereabouts have been fairly easily tracked, right?" Marv's eyes widened and he nodded again. "Well, I've also been thinking," I continued. "There was a rumor that another girl committed suicide because of what happened. Did you ever confirm that?" I asked.
Marv was quiet for a moment. "There were attempts," he confessed. "Some of the family members that I interviewed wouldn't admit to anything more. The only true suicide we know about is Kayla's."
"What if the goal is to get these girls to commit suicide?" I asked. I had put some thought into this. If I was right, though, then I didn't think the true villain was Mr. Wallace.
"Why would that be?" he seemed shocked, but Marv didn't immediately discard the idea.
"I think Kayla's suicide is the key," I said. "I think it started everything. Whoever is doing this wants Ms. Enders to be ruined, but not just that, they want the whole program to be ruined – the girls included. I think they're all targets, as well as Ms. Enders. To be honest, Mr. Wallace might even be a target."
"Mr. Wallace?" His face scrunched up and he backed up. "Why would he–" There was a sharp shriek and he yelped, reached up and jerked his earpiece out, throwing it to the ground. "Fuck!" he snapped, sticking a finger in his ear. "What the fuck?!"
I blinked at him, confused. "Are you okay?" Marv was bent over, wiggling his finger back and forth in his ear.
He nodded but remained bent over. "Yeah," he coughed, wiggling his fingers some more. "Shit, I can't fucking hear out of this ear now."
"What happened?" I could guess, though.
"Something with the system probably," Marv guessed, slowly standing up again. His eyes were a little unfocused. I could tell that he was off balance as he reached out and put a hand back on the wall. Marv's phone buzzed and he grimaced as he fished it out. "Here," he said, handing it over, "can you answer it."
"Sure," I said, swiping across the screen and putting the phone to my ear. "Yeah?" I answered.
"Harlow?" Texas' voice was confused, but he quickly adjusted. "Where's Marv?"
"He's right here," I said. "But he can't hear very well, something happened to the earpiece."
"Yeah," Texas replied. I heard keys clicking in the background. "I don't know what the hell happened, but Knix's and Bellamy's are out too."
"I thought Bellamy was with you?" I frowned.
"He was," Texas said, "but I sent him in. Something doesn't feel right. He's in there looking for you right now."
"Marv and I are in the back hallway behind the kitchens," I said. "Knix is out on the balcony with Delilah. We're about to head upstairs."
"Okay," Marv said. "Give me the phone." I raised my eyebrows but didn't resist when he took the phone. He quickly put it to his uninjured ear. "Texas," he said. He paused for a moment as Texas spoke on the other side. Marv nodded but didn't respond for a few more moments. "Yeah," he finally said. "Yeah, listen, do me a favor. Look into something for me." Marv relayed the information I had just brought up. "Just double check which girls have been checked into hospitals for any reason. Cross-reference that with the amount they've been blackmailed with and the pictures they were sent."
"You can get that information?" I asked.
Marv grimaced. "Yeah, message me though." He was still talking to Texas. "We might have a situation. I'm gonna put my cell on silent. Okay, thanks, man." Marv ended the call and took my arm, motioning me towards the back stairwell we had come up before.
"Marv?" I prompted.
He shook his head, sighing. "Yeah, we can get that information," he answered.
But he didn't answer my real question and that was an answer within itself. They would get the information, but it probably wouldn't be completely legal. We ascended the stairs.
Chapter 17
The lights remained off as he snuck down the upper hallway. I took off my heels and held them in one hand so that I wouldn't make any more noise than necessary. As it was, Marv and I were very careful not to make any noise at all. As quickly and quietly as possible, we moved down the hall on separate sides. His eyes sharpened – glittering with intensity and seriousness. We listened for any kind of movement behind the closed doors. Down the entire hallway, there was nothing.
"Are you sure Knix saw Mr. Wallace come up here?" I whispered.
"He–" A scream cut him off, shocking the both of us. It almost sounded like it had come from outside, but it was muffled and low. With the noise level downstairs, no one else would have heard it. Marv yanked me off my feet, shoving me behind him, and I dropped my heels. The next thing I knew, he had a gun palmed in his hand and his shirt was untucked. I blinked. Where the hell had that come from?
"Where do you think that came from?" he hissed at me.
I had no clue, but if I strained my ears enough, there was soft sobbing. I pointed at a door and Marv moved towards it slowly. For some reason he didn't want to announce our presence just yet. It was so hard for me to follow behind him at such a sluggish and quiet pace. I wanted to barge into the room, no matter the danger.
Marv reached out and tried the handle. It wasn't even locked! He sighed and slid his phone out of his pocket, handing it to me. "Call the others," he ordered, then his foot was against the door and he kicked it in.
I decided against calling, instead, I shot out a quick text to all Knix, Bellamy, and Texas and hoped like hell they managed to get here in time. Then I moved in right behind Marv, my jaw dropping. Natalia's cheeks were red and blotchy. She sagged on the couch on the far side of the room as a dark figure ducked through an open window. Marv gave chase, ducking out right after the figure.
"Natalia!" I ran across the room and fell to my knees next to her. Her big dark eyes were wide and glassy. She looked at me, but I had a feeling she couldn't really see me.
/>
"No," she whispered. "No, please, no." My heart squeezed.
"Natalia, it's me," I said, choking on my own tears. "It's your friend. I'm not going to hurt you. You're okay." The front part of her dress was pulled down. Something flashed out of the corner of my eye and I looked down, bending to pick up a small, cheap camera. Natalia whimpered, and I tucked the camera into my bra, the bulge noticeable, but not an issue as I went back to her.
"You're okay," I soothed the shivering, terrified girl. Something was wrong, though. Natalia wasn't responding right. She was crying and whimpering, but she couldn't talk coherently.
There were calls from down the hall. "Harlow!" Bellamy yelled. "Where are you?!"
"In here!" I called back. Several footsteps stomped over the floors and as the door was flung open again Natalia cowered against me when Bellamy and Knix arrived with a panting Texas on their heels.
"Hold on," I snapped. "Go slowly." I patted Natalia on the shoulder, letting her clutch me. "She's scared."
"What happened?" Knix demanded. I told him exactly what Marv and I had done and what we had walked into. Knix's eyes glittered angrily. He shot Bellamy a look. "Go find Marv," he ordered. Then he looked to Texas. "Find Ms. Enders and her assistant and bring them up here. No one else." Texas and Bellamy both nodded and then they were gone. Natalia's shivering increased as Knix approached.
"Go slow," I warned. I was surprised by how steady I managed to keep my voice when really, I felt like there were hundreds of emotions rioting inside of me and choking me up. Natalia's face was flushed, and her eyes remained glassy. Knix nodded once at me and then proceeded to get on his knees so that he wouldn't tower over us. I didn't even ask where Delilah was. I trusted Knix enough by this point to know that he had probably left her somewhere safe enough, likely with Isador.
