TWENTY
T he next day, after I tell Gracie about Jack’s boat, Wanderlust , she agrees to come with me to talk to him. But that proves harder than we expected. The Instagram account he messaged me from about my sweatshirt strangely no longer exists. And neither Gracie nor I have his phone number. We can’t exactly show up at his mom and dad’s house asking for his number because we think he murdered his classmate. Gracie finally asks Aster to call him, but he doesn’t answer his phone or texts from her. Aster even calls Nat, and she doesn’t know where he is. Nat laughs it off and says Jack always turns up eventually.
“Perfect,” I say, curling my legs under me on Jay’s bed. We just finished recording the third episode of the podcast, and I admit, we both kind of half-assed it. We’re a little too preoccupied with the actual mystery to put enough attention on the mystery podcast. “People I want to talk to keep dropping off the face of the earth,” I say. First Salma, and now Jack.
“He’s probably on another bender,” Gracie says, unplugging the microphone from my computer.
“He’s apparently been on a bender since fall.” The more I think about it, the more I’m sure Jack is our culprit. Jay even said he didn’t trust him. I decide to see what else Jay knows about his so-called friend. It’s strange to be able to text Jay with Gracie here, but it certainly makes things easier.
Aleeza: What do you know about Jack’s family?
Jay: Not much. I’ve never met them. They’re rich.
I google the Gormley name and end up finding a lot. Gracie sits next to me on the bed and takes my phone to type out what I find for Jay.
Jack’s father, Victor Gormley, is in real estate. He apparently owns a company that manages several commercial buildings. His mother’s name is Kate, and as far as I can tell, her job is to be a professional wealthy person. She sits on boards and goes to galas, and she looks like she should be on Real Housewives of Toronto . I find an older picture of Victor and Kate together, and it mentions Kate’s maiden name.
“His mother’s last name was Tanner. Why do I know that name?” I ask Gracie.
She shrugs. “I dunno. It’s a common name.”
“It might be relevant.” I take my phone back from her.
Aleeza: What’s significant about the name Tanner?
Jay: No idea. I don’t know any Tanners.
I know the name has been mentioned at some point. I go through my black notebook and can’t find the name Tanner anywhere. Finally, I search through the screenshots of all my conversations with Jay, and I find it.
Aleeza: You DID tell me the name Tanner! It’s the name of the architect who designed three identical mansions.
Jay: Yes! Ernest Tanner designed East House. But how is that relevant to this case?
After a few more moments of googling, I have an answer. Gracie looks over my shoulder as I explain it to Jay.
Aleeza: Ernest Tanner was Jack’s great grandfather. His grandfather and his mother both grew up in a mansion identical to East House. And I assume Jack spent a lot of time in that house. Which means Jack would know all the secret doorways and hidden stairwells. Including the one that leads from the second floor to the back door.
Jay: Brilliant. Yes, Jack would know the layout of this house, even if he’s never been in it.
We had the motive. And now we have the opportunity. We have our guy.
Gracie looks up at me. “But if Jack got Jay out of East House through the secret stairs, why? Why not bring him down the main stairs? Was Jay unconscious?”
I shake my head. “I have no idea. Jack’s not a big guy—he couldn’t have carried Jay down the stairs. Jay must have gone willingly.”
Aleeza: When Jack gave me back my sweatshirt, I asked him when he last spoke to you, he said it started with a text and a picture. Maybe he texts you a picture of his boat?
Jay: Maybe. But now that I know I’m probably going to be thrown overboard, I’ll just ignore whatever picture he sends me to entice me out of the dorm. Should I go to the police?
“Great question,” Gracie says. “Also, should we go to the police?”
I think for a moment, then shake my head. “We should get some proof first. Let’s see if he turns up. And now Jay knows not to get on Jack’s boat.” Jay knows how to stay safe.
Saturday night after Gracie leaves, Jay and I watch Everything Everywhere All at Once . It’s not technically a time-travel movie, but it’s a movie we both love.
Jay: If I could drop into different universes, I’d find the one with you and me sitting alone on a beach staring at the waves with no memory of all this shit.
Aleeza: That sounds like heaven. Let’s manifest it.
We both know it’s not possible. But dreams are all we have. When the movie is over, we keep talking. Tomorrow is disappearance day, and neither of us knows for sure what will happen.
Aleeza: So, what’s your game plan for the morning?
Jay: I’ll go to my mom’s. Did any of those news articles say I was at my mom’s that day?
Aleeza: No, they all say you came back to East House at six, were seen in the lobby at eight, and then were never seen or heard from again. They don’t say where you were before six.
Jay: Okay. I guess I’ll be back here at six. Will you be here?
Aleeza: Yes, I promise. I’ll be here all day. Message me the second you’re in the room. And then stay with me.
I swallow. I wish we had more answers, but what we have has to be enough. I can’t lose Jay tomorrow. I absolutely can’t.
Jay: I’ll message you the moment I’m back.
Aleeza: And then I won’t let you go.
Jay: Okay. What happens if I don’t show up at six?
Aleeza: You will show up. The camera saw you. You’re not going to go with Jack.
He doesn’t answer for a while.
Aleeza: This isn’t a goodbye, Jay. You will be back here at six. Then just stay with me. Don’t go down to the second floor. Don’t take the hidden stairs to the back door. Don’t get on Jack’s boat. Stay here. We got this. We figured it out.
Jay: You’re right.
Aleeza: Of course I am. I’m as smart as an octopus.
Jay: Ha ha. Hey one thing, if
I wait for him to finish his sentence.
Jay: I’m really glad I met you. I hate everything that’s happened or going to maybe happen, but I got you out of it. I hope we can see each other in person one day.
I wipe the tears that are falling. He’s saying goodbye. But this can’t be a goodbye.
Aleeza: We will talk tomorrow! This isn’t a goodbye.
Jay: No, it’s not a goodbye. But if it were, I’d be saying thank you, and I’m going to miss you more than I can say.
Aleeza: Tell me that tomorrow, Jay.
Jay: Okay. And I’ll tell you now too. Thank you. I’m going to miss you. Good night Aleeza.