Yet a Stranger (The First Quarto #2) - Gregory Ashe Page 0,132

wasn’t ideal—Chad and Tanner, down the hall, had resurrected an original Xbox from somewhere and were playing (ironically, Auggie thought) Guitar Hero at full volume. But when Orlando emerged from his room in a black t-shirt, black cargo pants, and black sneakers, with a black backpack over his shoulders, Auggie spotted him right away. Everybody spotted him, Auggie was pretty sure. The only thing Orlando was missing was the Pink Panther music and a knit cap.

he’s doing it, Auggie texted Theo.

They’d agreed to park the Malibu at the Sigma Sigma house. The Civic had been totaled in the wreck, and once Fer had finished screaming, he had told Auggie that he had lost car privileges. It didn’t mean much, since Auggie didn’t have a car anymore, but it still stung.

It was late, and although the days were getting longer, the sun had slid below the horizon by the time Auggie picked up Theo. They raced back across town, and Auggie released his breath slowly when he saw Orlando’s BMW still parked in the lot of Wayne’s apartment building; Wayne’s car was gone. Sodium lights buzzed overhead. Moths swooped and spun, battering themselves against the glass.

“Texting him now,” Auggie said.

He sent a message to Wayne: at your apartment.

Auggie’s phone buzzed again almost immediately, but Auggie pocketed it. The response, whatever it was, was meaningless at this point. He nodded, and he and Theo got out of the car.

A faint hint of exhaust lingered in the air. Auggie’s second step flattened a Whopper wrapper next to the curb. In the apartment building, a window was open—the day had been perfect—and the theme song for a TV show played. Auggie hummed along until he saw Theo staring at him.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” he whispered.

“I don’t care,” Theo whispered back. “Could you be quiet, please?”

And while there had probably been a nicer way to communicate the sentiment, Auggie took his point and stopped humming. They climbed the stairs, and Auggie didn’t protest when Theo caught his arm and took the lead. Theo tested the handle. It turned, and they pushed into Wayne’s apartment.

All the lights were blazing. The smell of a cleaner with an artificial lavender scent hung in the air. Boxes and piles of clothes had covered the floor on Auggie’s last visit, but now the apartment was back to normal—a few dirty socks next to the couch, a can of Budweiser on the coffee table, the remote for the TV wedged between two cushions. In the back of the apartment, a drawer slammed shut.

Auggie shut the door and followed Theo toward the noises.

They found Orlando in the room that had belonged to Cal. The mattress and box spring were turned on their sides, exposing the metal brackets of the frame. Drawers stood open and empty. The closet door was ajar, exposing the bare shelf and hang rod. Orlando slammed a drawer shut and swore.

“Can’t find it?” Theo asked.

Orlando spun around. For a moment, the relief in his face was so comical that Auggie wanted to smile. Then Orlando said, “Shit, Augs. Theo. What the hell? You about gave me a heart attack. Hey, what are you guys doing here?”

“We could ask you the same thing,” Theo said. “Time to fess up, Orlando.”

He tried for a smile, but he only got the corner of his mouth. Sweat glistened on his forehead. “You know, trying to find something I lent Cal.”

“Oh yeah?” Theo said, moving deeper into the room. Orlando took a step back. “What?”

“Some stuff.”

“Bullshit,” Theo said and took another step.

When Orlando stepped back this time, his shoulders hit the wall. “Augs?”

“Don’t talk to him,” Theo said. “I’m talking to you. Talk to me. What are you doing here?”

“I’m—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me, Orlando,” Theo shouted.

Auggie touched his arm, and Theo fell back a step. “Orlando, we know. You and Genesis planned the whole thing pretty well, but we still figured it out.”

Orlando shook his head.

“I should have known the first time you showed up here,” Auggie said. “When you had lighter fluid. When you wouldn’t tell us what you were doing. She sent you to destroy evidence, didn’t she? And that’s why you’re here again. She’s worried she left something behind, something that will link her to the murder, and she sent you to get rid of it. She’s using you.”

“No,” Orlando said. He looked side to side. His eyes were huge. “No, she didn’t—we didn’t—”

“We found the rifle,” Theo said. “We found it. Your prints are all over it, Orlando,