Page 82 of Shadows Within
“Depends on what for.” A chuckle follows his stern tone. He pauses, waiting for me to go on.
“It’s about Elliot.”
He’s quiet for longer than I’d like. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. Has he been given responsibilities? I thought he wasn’t allowed too.”
“He has. He said that he wanted back in. Daddy has the rest of the Highers in his pocket, it was only a matter of time before he was fully back, Callum.”
“He’s scum, Leo. After what he did… I thought interfering with an initiation was an immediate removal?” We’ve been over this before. I’ve heard the answer. I just want to hear it again.
“He’s a Professor at Langford, Callum. He doesn’t need a reason. His parents throw money at everything he ruins. It doesn’t faze him. He’ll never learn.”
I wonder how much money his parents have wasted to clean up his messes.
“Callum, I know why you’re asking.” He pauses. “You need to ask yourself if it’s worth it, ifshe’sworth it.”
“She’s worth everything.” I don’t hesitate.
“How do you need me to help?” I think about what I’m willing to ask. Once I say it, I can’t go back.
“I need his file.”
“I can’t give you that, but I can tell you what you’re looking for.” I’m locked in as I continue to follow Scarlett back to her house.
“The summer before Elliot went into teaching, there were a couple of girls that went missing. They weren’t local, but it happened just outside of Millhaven. He was the last person who was with them, but you’ll never find that information on the police file.”
Nothing is ever on the police file in a town where the highest members of society hold the sheriff’s department by a choke hold. The Society basically funds it, so of course they can get away with anything. I remember hearing about those women. They were twenty—one of them had just transferred to Langford, and the other was helping her friend settle in. I wasn’t a part of The Society at that time, but I remember overhearing a conversation that Dad had with Archer, Harrison’s dad. Their disappearances were chalked up as a boating accident.
“That isn’t it, Callum. I need you to give me your word that you won’t do anything irrational.” I can’t do that. He knows I can’t control what happens when I find things out. I don’t answer him. Words echo through the speakers of my car as my ears ring. I focus on Scarlett, a few cars ahead of me.
“Callum?” His words hum in my ears. It takes me a minute snap back to reality.
“Why are you telling me this?” Leo doesn’t owe me anything. While he’s my friend, his loyalty isn’t mine. It belongs to The Society.
“I had a Scarlett once, but I lost her. Don’t let them take that from you. I can’t change anything, but you can stop it from happening.”
Leo was engaged but never married. It was forbidden to talk about, but that didn’t stop rumours from spreading. Some say that she took off with another man, others say she died. Only the people who were involved know the truth. I can’t imagine losing Scarlett. It would kill me, I’m not sure how Leo is still alive.
I don’t want to say that I’m sorry, it would insult him. We were raised the same, and I know that he doesn’t want my sympathy. He wasn’t telling me this to get a reaction—he was using it as a warning. I know what I must do.
“I’ll be in later today,” I say and hang up.
Scarlett pulls into her driveway. I stay down the road, not letting myself get to close.
She gets out of the car and walks toward her dad’s garage, then up to her room. She stays in there for a while. Her dad is probably working late. She checks her computer. I know that grades and school matter to her.
I don’t go in yet. I can’t. I sit and watch her for an hour before I pull away and drive toward The Society.
Just as I’m driving away, her name flashes on my dash. I pick up her phone call.
“Hey, are you coming soon?”
She has no idea how badly I needed to hear her voice.
“I can.”
“Oh, I forgot something at school, so I was going to head over to campus. I’ll call you when I’m back?”
