The Sinners of Saint Amos - Logan Fox Page 0,106

off his head. “I’d say forcing me to fake my own suicide, but we both know it goes back further than that.”

We laugh. It’s sad that we both sound genuinely unfazed.

I sent Reuben and Apollo to watch Gabriel’s hallway. They’ll message me as soon as he leaves his room. Then they’ll keep an eye on both stairwells to make sure Trinity isn’t surprised half-way through her scavenger hunt.

“Ready?”

“To die? Yeah, I guess. I mean, I’d hoped for another few years or so, but fuck it.” Cass sends a toothy grin my way and climbs up on the chair. “Tell Mom I love her and Dad that he’s a cunt.”

We chose to stage this shit show in his English class. He hates Sister Sharon anyway, and I don’t agree with her disciplinary methods, so it’s a win for both of us. It’s been difficult doing all of this with nothing more than the glow of a cell phone screen to work with, but we didn’t want anyone to happen to look out a window and see a fluorescent lamp shining in a classroom that should only have souls in it tomorrow morning.

“May I state again, for the record, that there were easier, less lethal ways to create a diversion?”

“Cass—”

“I mean, we could have pulled the fire alarm—”

“Dorm doesn’t have one,” I cut in.

“Or flooded the bathroom—”

“Then I’d have to phone Miriam, not the provost. Keep up, Cass. It’s this or broke. Why the fuck else would I be calling him, and not one of the other staff?”

“I could snap my neck, you know.”

I snort at him. “I doubt it. But just in case—” I hold out my hand, and he glares at me before clasping it. “I can’t say it was a pleasure knowing you, but at least we both know you’ll be happier in hell.”

“Damn straight I will,” he says, showing me his teeth as he holds onto the rope and rocks the chair back on its legs. “Lucifer had me at succubus.”

I check the time on my cell phone. “Thirty seconds.”

“Jesus, just make the call,” he grumbles as he slips the noose around his neck again. “Gonna take the old geezer like a century to get down here, and that’s if he doesn’t break a hip on the way.”

I hop onto a nearby desk and peer out one of the small windows set into the top of the wall. “Fucking storm’s turning the lawn into a swimming pool.”

“Hope fuck face can swim.”

“Making the call,” I say, ignoring Cass’s bored voice behind me.

I time his answer with my feet landing on the floor. “Gabriel! F-Father. Please, hurry!”

“Zachary? What’s—?”

Cass starts making gagging noises. I whirl around, waving at him to stop.

“It’s Santos!” I yell. “He said he’s going to, to—shit, father, he says he’s going to kill himself!”

Cass starts choking again. This time, he mimics sucking a giant dick to accompany the suggestive gagging sounds.

I wave him away and hurry out the door before Gabriel can overhear.

“Did he tell you where he was?”

“English. Sharon’s class. Uh, room 2C.”

“Are you nearby?” Gabriel’s voice rises several octaves. I hear a door slam and his voice grows choppy, as if he’s started running. “Can you see him?”

“No! I’m in the garage. I just got his text. Father, I’m not going to make it!” I tamper down a near-hysterical urge to start laughing. I’ve never pulled a prank before, but I understand why kids do it. The adrenaline rush is insane. My heart’s hammering so hard it feels like it’s denting my ribs.

“Call Brother Timothy! Tell him what’s happened. I’m on my way.” I hear his feet hitting the ground, and it feels like he’s stomping over my chest.

I end the call with a trembling thumb.

It’s now or never, Trinity.

Now or never.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Trinity

I watch open-mouthed as Gabriel disappears around the corner. I called out to him a few times, but I might as well have been mute.

Eight o’clock.

15 minutes.

Good luck.

Shit. What the hell just happened? I could barely make out anything from just hearing Gabriel’s side of the call. But I know it was Zachary who phoned. The thought makes my hair stand on end.

There’s no time for this shit. Start looking, Trinity.

I hurriedly close the door and race back into Gabriel’s apartment. I don’t bother with the kitchen or study area. If this laptop is filled with as much incriminating evidence as the Brotherhood says it is, he’d hide it somewhere a quick search wouldn’t locate.

Damn it.

I throw open his closet and flick through