Page 37 of A Scandal in Homeroom
“He asked to remain anonymous.”
“Anon-a-what now?”
“I’m bored. Looking for a way to spend some time and money. He said you could hook me up.”
Coyle shook his head. “Nah, dude. Don’t know what you’re talking about. Sounds like you got played.”
I smiled and tried to think on his level. Although it was hard because it was apparent his level was very, very low. He was not a good liar.
“Look, I’ve got money to burn and, as you can tell by my prank, I’m not someone who aggressively follows the rules. I’ve been betting on the Freshman Bait List, but it hasn’t really paid off for me. I don’t know the people in this school well enough I suppose.”
Coyle looked around. Checking to see that we were alone possibly? We were. Everyone else had left.
“You want to bet a sure thing. A new name has been added to the List. My guess, she’s going to pop fast.”
“Who?” I prompted.
“Let’s just say she’s a junior who is suddenly gaining a lot of attention. Initials B.B.”
I nodded and smiled. “Love the tip. But like I said, I’m looking for something with a little more…action.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll keep my ears open for you. Let you know if I stumble across something.”
Shit. He wasn’t giving me what I needed, but if I pushed any further, I knew I would lose him altogether as a resource.
“Appreciate it.”
“Later,” he said, and walked away, leaving me feeling frustrated.
Frustration was now a constant state for me. Physical, mental. I wanted to hit something.
“Someone told you about Coyle, huh?”
The voice came out of the shadows of the arched gates. I glanced around to find Heath walking toward me as he stepped into the courtyard. He crushed out a cigarillo he’d been smoking into the grass. He, too, had to be ditching class.
Why? Was this just a smoke break for him? Or had he been there the whole time?
“Yes,” I answered. Was he also trying to learn information to help his boy Fitz?
“I don’t know if you want any part of that. It’s landed a few students into trouble. Financial trouble that is.”
“You know what Coyle is up to?” I asked him. “It’s something beyond the Freshman Bait List then?”
Heath smiled. “Yeah, something way beyond. At least those are the rumors. What’s going on with you and Reen these days anyway? Saw you two together in the audience the night of the fashion show.”
“Nothing,” I answered quickly. Too quickly, it would seem.
“Oh, man, did she break your heart already? Should have warned you. That’s Reen. She can’t help it. She just breaks things in her world. Sometimes just because she can. Been like that since our days together at Thornfield Home. Always seeing shit she shouldn’t see. Breaking shit because of it.”
“Thornfield Home?”
He smiled faintly. “A home for lost and wayward children. Orphans. Because that’s still a word they use today. They shut it down years ago. The place is totally dark. Strange though, I’ve seen lights late at night…probably nothing. Anyway, sorry about Reen.”
I bristled. “There’s really nothing to be sorry about.”
“If that’s what you need to tell yourself. Later, Locke.”
He made his way across the courtyard and into the building. I, however, was still as I replayed both encounters in my mind.
