Page 120 of The Forbidden Note

Sol rolls his eyes.

Grey pauses. The projector’s harsh white light pierces her skin and craters a black circle on her shirt that’s buttoned up to the neck.

I keep my scathing gaze on Finn. “What were you doing with her last night?”

“Why should I tell you?”

I’m ready to jump out of my seat and punch him in the face.

“We were just talking,” Grey snaps, looking annoyed.

Finn quirks an eyebrow, studying my response.

The freaking snot.

“Close your zippers and have your pissing contest later please.” Cadey waves a hand.

“Moving on, something Finn said sparked an idea.” Grey points to the document. “Have you ever heard of ‘The Grateful Project?’”

I glance around the room. Sol is chewing on popcorn like we’re watching a movie. Finn is squinting in concentration. Cadey is perched between Dutch’s legs, her arms looped under his knees and resting on his shins. His legs hang over her like he’s a human rollercoaster restraint.

Grey explains when no one speaks, “The Grateful Project was an initiative by the administration at Redwood. It was a way to encourage the rich and influential to donate to the scholarship fund.”

“It was for scholarship students?” Cadey clarifies.

“Yes. Every year, we were given these awful waitressing outfits and told to serve at the event. Some of us had to go on stage and read from the teleprompter. The speeches were these exaggerated summaries of our home lives. It was humiliating.”

Sol gives the screen a dark look. “I wish they’d try that on me.”

“I don’t think they would. Not with Jinx on the prowl. But back then, we didn’t really have a choice. The Grateful Project was something you agreed to when you accepted the scholarship.”

“What does this have to do with Sloane?” Dutch asks, unshakeably calm.

“Up until last night, nothing.” She pinches her phone screen and the image on the projector zooms in. “But look at that date.”

I peer at the numbers.

Sol leans forward so far he almost drops his popcorn.

“The Grateful Project was a once-a-year event. It usually happens somewhere between Christmas and New Year’s, when everyone is in a party and giving mood.”

“Makes sense,” Finn says.

“But this date says March,” I point out.

“Exactly. Why would there be an invoice for an event that had already taken place?”

“They could have been preparing for it in advance,” Dutch muses.

“True. But that doesn’t explain this.” She scrolls down and points to a series of numbers. “This is Sloane’s student ID.”

I flip my drumsticks, soaking in the information.

“The Grateful Project is the perfect feeding ground for predators. Think about it. If you wanted to match desperate scholarship girls with sick bastards willing to pay for underage sex…” She flinches a little and carefully avoids my gaze, “you do it in a way that won’t draw suspicion.” Her eyes slip to Finn. “You stay in darkness while telling everyone the light is on.”

Finn bobs his head.

“You’re saying The Grateful Project was a front,” Sol mumbles. “Do you know who was running it?”

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