“Wisewood is nothing without Teacher,” Gordon rails.
“What do you suggest we do? Send everyone home? Wait around and cross our fingers that she turns up?”
“I say we redirect our manpower toward finding her. And don’t stop until we do.” He glares at Kit. “You’re awfully composed for having lost your mentor.”
“One of us has to be. Seven years pursuing fearlessness, yet you’re sniveling over the first setback.”
“Sounds just like her,” Jeremiah says under his breath.
Gordon wheels around and puffs out his chest. “And you. I know all about you.”
Jeremiah raises his eyebrows, unimpressed.
“Teacher knew something was off. You were always asking about her past, dodging quests, nosing around the office. She insisted I dig into you. I should’ve done a more thorough job before she disappeared, but once she’d fled, that got my attention. Do you know what I discovered, Jeremiah?” He emphasizes the name.
No one speaks.
“That you enrolled here under a stolen identity.” I blink, but the others don’t appear surprised. “Your name is David Cooper.” Gordon pauses. “And Cooper happens to be the last name of Teacher’s former assistant.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jeremiah says.
“Gabriel was your older brother. He had an accident while working for Teacher. Fourteen years later you show up on her doorstep, and now she’s gone.” Gordon takes a threatening step toward Jeremiah. My head spins, trying to keep up. “What did you do to her? Where is she?”
“I have no clue,” Jeremiah says, “but I’d like to kill her myself when I find out.”
Gordon glances back and forth between Jeremiah and Kit. “Have you been working together all along? Plotting her demise from day one?”
Jeremiah snorts. “You’re off your rocker,” he grumbles at the same time Kit says, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Gordon takes another step forward, and is now nose to chest with Jeremiah. In spite of their height difference, I fear for Jeremiah more than for Gordon. “You will leave this island immediately,” Gordon says, “but know that for the rest of your days, I’ll be watching. If you switch jobs, if you remarry, if you have children, I will know. You won’t be able to buy a coffee or push your kids on the swings without feeling my eyes on the back of your head. I will follow every single move you make, and when I find out what you did, you will pay.”
Jeremiah crosses his shaking arms. “Unless Kit comes with me, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, you are,” Kit says. “You’re leaving now. If you won’t go willingly, we’ll find another way to get rid of you.”
She glares at Jeremiah, her lips a flat line. After a minute he sighs, opens the cabin door, and bangs it closed behind him. The door rattles on its hinges.
Gordon turns to Kit. “Don’t think for a second that you’re scot-free in all of this. I don’t know what you’ve done, Ms. Collins, but you can bet I’ll be back once I figure it out.”
Kit puts her hands on her hips. “So that’s it? You’re going to ditch Wisewood?”
He gazes out the window. “I’ll return when I have Teacher with me.”
The corners of Kit’s lips turn up. Gordon doesn’t catch it, but I do.
“Then take my sister with you,” she says. “She’s been dying to leave Wisewood since the minute she arrived.”
Finally I speak up. “I want to talk to you first, Kit. Alone.”
“I have nothing left to say.”
I grind my teeth. “Then you can listen.”
“I need to pack a bag,” Gordon says. “I’ll meet you at the pier in forty minutes.”
Kit puts her hand out. “I’ll take back that scarf.”
“Not a chance. It belongs to Teacher.” He heads for the door.
I block his exit. “You said it doesn’t smell like her anymore.”
“I’ll keep it safe,” Kit says.
Reluctantly Gordon gives it to her. “You Collins girls are nothing but trouble.”
“So you’ve mentioned.” I move aside to let him pass. He storms through the doorway. “Don’t forget my phone.”
We watch him go.
“Walk me to the pier?”
Kit shrugs, then pulls on her boots and coat. We walk side by side down the path as the sun slinks free from the clouds.