Project GoldCrest ✓

Chapter 32

Charlotte

Are you coming with me or not?

What was I supposed to do? I was incredibly curious. And it was allegedly the last time. Of course I agreed to go.

"What's the real reason you're wondering about that?"

He briefly looked over at me from the steering wheel for a second. "I found a note that made me think."

"Where's this note?"

"In that magic book. In the backseat." He nodded his head towards that direction.

I reached over with my arm, clasped the emerald book and brought it to my lap. It felt weird to have the book in my hands again. And as I opened it, I was tempted to run my eyes through it again. But I reminded myself that I was done with whatever the book contained.

I only had to focus on this one little mission and the note Mickey was talking about.

I flipped through and found it in the middle of the thick book.

Kids by day, adults by night. You're one step closer, my pet. Cracking will be your reward.

"What does this even mean?"

He chuckled drily. "I always understand about half of what is written there."

"Is this the first time you've gotten a note from her?"

"Not really. The notes started around the time she first influenced me. I don't know what game she's playing, but if it'll help me understand what my parents get up to at night, then I'll play along."

I closed my gaping mouth and licked my lips. "Your parents?"

"Yes. Look, I'm about to tell you something really secret. I've never told anyone, but I trust you. Maybe this will help you realize that keeping our distance has nothing to do with Marilee."

I swallowed. "Okay."

"Do you know the real reason why I asked you not to tell your mother anything? Why I don't trust her?"

"Because you think she's involved somehow in this thing."

"I suspect she is. My parents sneak out every Thursday to the warehouse. At first, I thought it was date night or something like that, but then Chloe arrived here earlier this year and when she influenced me, she unknowingly forced me to confront certain things about my life. Like the fact that my parents left and came back very late at night, if not in the mornings."

I thought about the day I saw his mother coming out of her car in the morning, and how she seemed as if she was hiding something. She kept looking around and her movements were a bit stiff. She'd probably just came back from the warehouse.

"I once saw your mom arriving in the morning."

"Exactly, she's the one who attends the meetings the most. After some digging, I found out that it wasn't only her. Lucy's mom also attends the meetings. I know that they have powers like Chloe and Luke. So when you told me that you told your mother everything and she wanted you to forget it all, I got wary. Even more so when you completely forgot what happened that night. So I suspect that she's also involved."

"Is that why you're able to sneak out with your car at night? Because your parents aren't around to hear the engine?"

"Yes."