Counterfactual

22 | clairvoyance

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CLAIRVOYANCE

( — the supernatural power of seeing objects or actions removed in space or time from natural viewing. )

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          ISLA STARES AT AN IMAGINARY CAMERA. Rowan finds it frankly entertaining for fleeting moments, as it feels like watching an episode of The Office, but then he remembers why she did it and everything comes crashing down like an avalanche.

          He wants to open his mouth and say something—or maybe even reply to Chase and ask him to talk Natalia into returning Taylor's diary—but he's frozen right where he is, staring at her. There are times when the current circumstances force you to rethink some decisions you had made up until this point and just how wrong they are, not to mention the consequences they will bring.

          It's the second illegality they've committed so far. As if stealing and returning Taylor's phone hadn't been dangerous enough, now they also have her diary in their possession. He understands Natalia wants to find out the truth as quickly as possible, but, if the police haven't figured anything out yet and have access to everything they do, what makes her think they'll be able to outsmart the authorities?

          After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Isla clears her throat.

          "Not to be dramatic," she begins, "but I really hate her sometimes."

          "Natalia?" Rowan questions.

          Isla strongly exhales through her mouth. "Obviously. What the hell was she thinking? Stealing Taylor's diary? What if her parents find out? And why do I think she had this plan in mind before entering that house?"

          "Because we're talking about Natalia, who always has the ideas but never thinks about the consequences. In case you've forgotten, it was also her idea to steal Taylor's phone from the police station simply because she knew she could get away with it." She takes his hand, interlacing her fingers with his. "I doubt she'd ever get in serious trouble if she had been caught. Her father would have covered up for her."

          "He'd also lose his job and would get in trouble for tampering with evidence if word ever got out he . . . he had covered for her."

          Rowan's stomach twists and turns when he figures out what she's talking about. Even if there's some truth in what she's saying, meaning both Natalia and the sheriff can get in serious trouble if her shenanigans are ever found out by the wrong people, the situation can be applied to Isla and Gabriel with a few changes.

          Though Rowan doesn't believe he had anything to do with what happened to Taylor, Isla has always been Gabriel's main priority, even above the other students and the staff. Whatever he might have done . . . it can't have been out of pure malice. That's simply not the type of man Gabriel is or seems to be.

          "Your father is innocent," he states, and she looks down. With a tiny sigh, he cups her cheek with his hand, just like she had done to him moments earlier. "Isla."

          "Rowan," she replies, in the same tone. "Don't do this."

          "You know your father a million times better than I do," he points out, "so you're the best person to try and figure out whether he had anything to do with what happened or not. I'm a ghostwriter, not a detective, and I'm doing the best I can with the resources I have. You told me I'm the one who digs out his dirt, but I can't do that without forcing myself to think he's guilty of anything and that's something I won't put myself through. That's stepping too low, even for me."