“Is it safe to turn around?” Cal calls over his shoulder.
“It is safe,” Mikhail replies.
Without thinking, Adrienne tries to take Mikhail’s hand. “Oh shoot,” she exclaims, turning red. “I forgot about my dare.”
Stifling a chuckle, Mikhail wraps his hand around hers. A trace of a smile lingers. It’s the most I’ve ever seen him smile, except for when we went swing dancing last semester.
“You made it six minutes,” Genevieve says, holding up her phone to show us the timer. “That’s not bad.”
Adrienne ducks her head, biting her lip.
“Okay, okay. It’s my turn,” Gul says, standing up. “I choose dare, so make it good.”
This one, I’ve got. “Since we all know how well you love to gossip…”
Everyone groans in agreement, and Gul shrugs, unapologetic.
People are gathering in the lounge to watch our game of truth or dare. The circle of bodies around us makes me feel like I’m in a fish bowl. Good thing all these people weren’t around for my kiss with Ricardo. That would have been so embarrassing.
“I want you to go over to the window and narrate the weather to us. And make it boring.” I draw out the last word in emphasis.
“That’s easy,” Gul says, but tromps over to the window anyway.
“Do it in a phony English accent,” Cal puts in, plopping down in his armchair and munching on hot popcorn right out of the bag. “To make it harder.”
Gul smiles and looks out the window. “That I can do.” Clearing her throat, she begins “We’re here in downtown District of Columbia, and I’m Gul Abidi with the weather. We’ve got a cold front moving in that will result in lots of snow overnight, but don’t expect it to linger. We’re calling for a warm, sunny day tomorrow that will melt the snow into ice…”
Recognition dawns like a flare in the dark as Gul speaks. She grows more animated as everyone jeers at her butchering of a London accent.
I’ve heard that accent before. In a recording of a 911 call.
Gul was the one who called emergency services after the accident that killed the professor. She must have seen what happened. She knows who killed Professor Rook.
14
Grady is still laughing as Gul sits down beside him. “That was funnier than sending someone on a snipe hunt,” he says, holding up his hand for a high five.
She slaps her palm against his. “Thanks.”
My instincts are humming. I’m right about the anonymous caller being her; I’m 99% sure of it.
“What’s a snipe?” Adrienne asks, twirling a red curl around a finger.
Grady’s smile is sly as he wraps an arm around Gul’s shoulders. “Come on down to Austin sometime and I’ll show you.”
“Is it some kind of lizard or something?” Adrienne presses, disgust written on her features.
“They don’t exist,” Cal says between bites of popcorn. “What they do is send some dummy out into the woods with a sack and tell him snipes are easy to catch. It’s a joke. Saw it on MyStream once.”
“That doesn’t sound very nice,” Adrienne murmurs.
“It’s hilarious,” Grady says. “You never sent someone on a wild goose chase?” His eyes cut to me before he turns to whisper something in Gul’s ear, making her smile.
Adrienne shakes her head vehemently. I’m not surprised. She’s way too sweet to send someone on a fool’s errand simply for a laugh. I wish I could send Kenneth on a snipe hunt.
I must be staring at Gul, because Ricardo nudges my leg with his knee. “Hey,” he whispers. “You okay?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
Leaning closer, he whispers in my ear. “It looked like you’d seen a ghost back there. I’ve never seen you go so white, even when you sprained your ankle last semester.”
“Later,” I whisper back.
Cal munches loudly on his popcorn. “Who’s next?”
Genevieve and Adrienne look around the circle, looking for the next person for the hot seat.
Gul’s phone vibrates, and when she checks it, she sneaks a glance toward Grady, but he’s not paying attention, instead running a hand over the seam of the couch’s arm. Shoving it into the pocket of her designer jeans, Gul stands up, tucking her black hair behind her ears. “I’ll be right back.”
I shoot out of my seat. “I’m coming too.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugs, tossing her hair over her shoulder and traipsing down the staircase.
I follow her until we’re out of earshot of everyone, and then I swivel around in front of her. “We need to talk.”
“About what?” Gul takes another step down, unbothered, but I keep pace with her.