“Even if that house has a missing person?” Keira raised an eyebrow. “Can we at least check the roads? And maybe snowblow the driveway so we could drive out if and when they are cleared?”
“Well.” Roza sighed. “Unfortunately, our snowblower is broken. We’ll have to wait for the snow to melt a little before we can attempt that.”
“You’re in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of winter, and your snowblower is broken?” Keira cried.
“Yes.” Something slipped in Roza’s armor. A flash of irritation crossed her face. “You know, I’m doing the best I can.”
“Are you?” Keira glared, brushing back her loose braids.
“K.” Taylor reached out a hand, beseeching. “Let’s listen to what Roza wants to tell us.”
Keira shook her head, incredulous, but remained quiet.
“Thank you.” Roza folded her hands. “I called you here because I wanted us to have a space to process before we move forward.”
“Move forward?” Wren asked. She coughed, and I winced at the new sound of phlegm in her lungs. Examining her more closely, I saw that her nose was runny, her cheeks too red. This was the first time I’d seen Wren look sicker than she was acting.
“Yes.” Roza nodded once. “With the retreat.”
There was a beat of silence.
“What?” Keira said flatly.
“Tomorrow we will resume the workshop.” Roza sipped her coffee. “Your new pages are due, as usual, by midnight tonight.”
Keira let out a bark of shocked laughter. I met Wren’s eyes across the table and we shared the same incredulous look.
Roza raised a hand. “Keira, you are no longer bound to the timeline, since you’re leaving. But for everyone else, we need to continue.”
“But, Roza…” Wren’s voice was husky, her eyes shining with tears. “Poppy is dead. We can’t just go on like nothing happened. We haven’t even talked to the police yet.”
Lines creased Roza’s forehead. “You think Poppy would’ve wanted us to just stop?”
“So you want us to just keep cranking out books for you as we wait for Poppy’s body to be found?” Keira’s voice was low.
Roza glared at her. “I don’t even know why you’re at this discussion. You weren’t given an invitation.”
“An invitation?” Keira’s voice rose. “What, to this delightful tea party you’re having? What planet do you live on?”
“That’s enough!” Roza stood. “I’ve tried to put up with your attitude, I’ve tried to be understanding, but I’ve had it. Keira, you’re done.” She pointed to the door. “Please leave. You’re no longer privy to this conversation.”
Keira stared at the table. After a moment, she smiled slightly and nodded. She stood, facing Roza.
“If you think you’re going to get away with this,” Keira said, “you’re not.”
“Now.” Roza’s voice echoed in the cavernous space.
With a final glare, Keira left the room.
I wholeheartedly agreed with Keira, and I wished I could jump up and join her. But I had to remain in Roza’s good graces if I had any hope of figuring out what was going on.
“Well.” Roza sat back down. “I’m sorry you had to see that, girls.”
“I mean…” Taylor cleared her throat. “She has a point.”
“I know,” Roza said. “I really do. But what happened to Poppy was an accident. No one could have predicted it. We did our best to find her. Now we need to wait for the authorities. And in the meantime…” She stared at each of us in turn. “You will all have to make a choice: whether to soldier on, even in the midst of such troubling circumstances. Or quit. Of course, you’re free to leave with Keira if you’d like. I’m not going to keep you here. But I beg you to remember that I chose you for a reason. I saw a fire in you that now, more than ever, needs to be stoked. We’re halfway through three groundbreaking novels. Novels that will become instant classics. Don’t lose the momentum. Don’t give up this opportunity.”
Wren blew her nose. Taylor traced the purple flowers on her forearm. I tried to look thoughtful. This rallying pitch was exactly what I would’ve expected if my new theory was correct.
I clenched my hands on my lap. I still couldn’t fully believe it was true. After all, how would it end? Would Chitra wheel in a giant cake on the last day for Zoe to jump out of? Surprise!!!
It was absurd. And yet… in the end, Roza wasn’t doing anything illegal. If anything, it would bolster her reputation. One of us would get rich, all of us would get published, and we’d exclaim over this dark retreat in interviews, chatting about Roza’s extreme tactics.
“I’m in.” Taylor straightened. “If just to have something to do. I can’t stand the waiting. Yesterday was pure hell.”
Wren and I glanced at each other again. She looked exhausted and miserable. I widened my eyes slightly: Follow my lead.
“We can try.” I attempted to sound sincere, though I knew there was no way I’d be able to sit down and write.
“Brilliant.” Roza turned to Wren, one eyebrow raised.
With a last questioning look at me, Wren dipped her head. “Okay.”
“Wonderful.” A slow, easy smile spread over Roza’s face. “Ladies, I knew you were warriors. We’re going to continue our journey together despite the setbacks. And we will prevail. Yes?” She reached out and grabbed a pain au chocolat as she stood.
“And the police?” Wren asked. “You said you’re going to radio them again?”
“Yes.” Roza raised a finger. “I will do that right now.”
I could hear the unspoken ending: Before I forget.
After Roza left, Taylor groaned and rubbed the top of her head, leaving blond tufts sticking up. I regarded her, then made up my mind.
“Guys, I think we should talk.” I stood. “With Keira. Meet upstairs in ten?”
They agreed, watching with curiosity as I hurried to the hall.
Roza was wearing platform boots that day and her heels thudded against the rugs and runners. In socks, I followed like a silent ghost. She strode across the front hall, footsteps squeaking against the marble. She was humming faintly to herself.
The act of following caused fear to wrap around my throat. Not that I was afraid she’d catch me, necessarily: I could just say I had a question for her.
Maybe it was the horror of what I might hear.
She swept into the study, shutting the door behind her. I crept up to it and pressed my ear against the door.
Nothing.
I wondered, standing there, if perhaps the door was just thick and heavy enough to obscure any sounds. But then I heard Roza cough, clear as a bell. The wooden floor creaked as she walked across the room. She resumed humming. Maybe Roza needed a moment, but there was no reason it should take this long to radio the police.
Unless she wasn’t planning to.
“You need help?”
I jumped. Yana, who’d snuck up on me in athletic shoes, stood with her hands on her hips. Today her tracksuit looked even tighter than usual, showing off her small, compact limbs. It struck me that she looked like a coach, maybe of girls’ gymnastics, and one you definitely didn’t want to mess with.