Free The Third Lie's the Charm by Lisa Roecker Page A

young—couldn’t have been more than twenty-five—and scrolling through something on his phone.
    â€œWhere’s the headmaster?” I blurted out, hearing my mistake as the kid’s forehead furrowed. “I mean, Mr. Sinclair. Where’s Mr. Sinclair?”
    â€œSabbatical. Can I help you with something?”
    Now it was my turn to furrow my brow. Sinclair had taken a sabbatical right at the same time another student died under circumstances eerily similar to his half brother? This was more than just a coincidence. It had to be.
    â€œThere you are,” Bradley called from a table near the door of the library. His cheekbones were sunken, eyes puffy. Blank eyes met my questioning ones.
    I glanced nervously out the glass doors to make sure I hadn’t been followed and double-checked the security desk. The young kid smirked down at his phone.
    â€œPlease tell me you know what all this means. How the hell did no one know that Sinclair’s brother was killed in a Factum Virtus?” Bradley asked.
    I smoothed my hair, self-conscious all of the sudden about the shocking new color. Bradley didn’t appear to notice either way. “I don’t know, but it’s related, right?” I kept my voice low. I wondered if I should mention Grace’s journal page tucked away in my pocket. I could shift in my seat and pull it out, unfold the page and smooth it against my leg. Let Bradley read the words. I could. But I looked down at my fingers instead. I wasn’t ready yet.
    â€œWhat does this even mean?” Bradley asked again even though no one had the answers.
    â€œI have no idea. That new security guard said Sinclair’s on sabbatical, but Seth got his address. We can go after school. Maybe ask him some questions?”
    Bradley leaned back in his seat and rubbed his fingers roughly over his eyes. He didn’t want to do this. I could tell he didn’t want to go there. He wanted last week. He’d give anything to go back to a time where Alistair was still alive. If he could stop his friend from taking the challenge, he would give everything he had. And I knew exactly how he felt. I’d still give anything to go back to last year. Back to Grace.
    â€œMeet me at the arches after ninth.” Bradley’s eyes flicked up to the clock above us. 1:48. Open was almost over.
    The arches. Station 5. Pemberly Brown had twelve stations that were really just random plaques on school landmarks etched with ominous Latin proverbs. The stations also marked the entrances to the underground tunnels. The tunnels that the societies had been fighting over for the past forty years. Whoever owned the tunnels owned the school. The Sisterhood had originally built them as a way to move about the school freely after the boys had invaded the private girls’ academy. And now that they’ve vanquished the Brotherhood, the Sisters had the tunnels back.
    â€œThe arches?” My voice cracked a little. According to legend, if you kissed under the arches, Station 5, you’d get married. Nerves spread like a virus in my belly. It felt wrong to imagine anything as selfish as a kiss right now, but I couldn’t help it.
    â€œYeah, but first follow me. We’ve got a few minutes left and I have an idea.”
    I followed Bradley back toward the front desk.
    â€œHey, man,” he said to the security guard, who barely looked up. “I’m an office aide for Mr. Sinclair and I accidentally left my Econ binder in his office Friday. Mind if I slip in and get it?”
    â€œBe my guest,” the kid said, nodding toward Sinclair’s open door. I followed Bradley in, amazed at his natural ability to lie. I thought I was good. We actually made a good team, and all I had to do was follow. Not a bad gig.
    As soon as we were through the door, we sifted through piles of papers, moved books, opened drawers. Sinclair’s desk looked like a hoarder’s paradise, so we really