TWENTY-EIGHT
Tuesday afternoon,after my favorite criminology class, I head into KU’s library. Over the course of my collegiate career, I’ve come here at times to study, but I haven’t been in the building at all this semester. Granted, it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it sure feels like an eternity since there’s been so much going on. Unfortunately, my grades so far definitely reflect that, which totally sucks because usually I start off strong. I couldn’t have predicted a real-life murder investigation would overshadow the ones we study in my classes, but it’s definitely taken up the majority of my brain space. I’ve been fucking distracted by all of it. It’s been bad. Really bad.
And now with Megan no longer being in prison, she’s on my mind when I’d never wanted to spend a single second thinking about her ever fucking again. That woman robbed me of part of my youth that I’ll never get back. I refuse to let her steal anything more from me, so I shove thoughts of our time together into a box in the back of my head and lock it up tight.
With an uncomfortable sigh, I jog up the stairs to the top floor, where the guys said they’d wait for me in one of the study rooms. They’re great little places for stuff like this. Tables, chairs, no Sin Keeper cameras in sight—not that we know where they are in the SIN house—and a door we can close so no one can overhear what we’re discussing with this computer-whiz guy Wilder says might be able to help us.
Yesterday, right after Royal and Wilder returned home from their workout, Royal asked me to come with him upstairs because he needed to show me something. At first, I thought something was code for his cock, which I must admit, I did not mind in the slightest. Then, when he grabbed his laptop and ushered me onto the bed beside him, I figured I was about to be treated to some porn or something, but no. That hadn’t been the case at all.
He pulled up a bunch of files and proceeded to tell me how he transferred them directly from Rich Frank’s computer and had kept their existence to himself for a while because it’s all Sin Keeper bullshit, and he couldn’t figure out what he was looking for anyway. But the night of the murder, he finally found the right folder, which he believes is loaded with Sin Keeper secrets. Echo caught him looking at it that night, so she already knew, but I guess he’d gotten tired of hiding it because he informed Wilder of it while they were at the gym, and then he filled me in, too.
We all share the same opinion. There has to be a reason the Sin Keeper wants Royal to know about these weird-as-fuck files. So, now that we’re on a mission of sorts to find out what they contain, though I can probably guess a lot of it. At least the four with our names on them, anyway, which means things could get highly uncomfortable.
I’m guessing the truth behind why we were all selected to become brothers in the Sigma Iota Nu fraternity is in those damn files. There’s gotta be a spectacularly gruesome mash-up of our pasts in there. Wilder’s dad’s death. Royal’s vehicular manslaughter. My grooming by a pedophile.
Since Royal sprang all this on me yesterday, I’ve been wigging out. Why the fuck would Rich Frank have Sin Keeper files on his computer? What the fuck is that all about? Was it planted there because the Sin Keeper knew Royal would find a way to get access? If that’s the case, why in the ever-loving fuck didn’t he make it easier on him? I don’t fucking get it.
Fuck, I’m so confused but also certain all the bits and pieces of this mess are close to lining up, and I have the distinct feeling we’re going to feel like fucking idiots for bumbling around for so long when everything falls into place. But seriously, how twisted is this going to get? How deep does the deception and lies and plot for revenge go?
“Beck.”
I look up at the sound of Royal’s voice, shaken to find that I’d stopped at the top of the staircase and had been standing here for who knows how long, lost in my own damn nightmare. Clearing my throat, I lift a hand in greeting. “Hey.” Royal and Wilder are sitting at a table in one of the study rooms. The guy, who’s supposedly a genius, is already seated with them. I study him as I approach, immediately suspicious of anyone outside our circle. Gray button-down, black pants, and a spiffy-looking pair of shoes. Not gonna lie… I kinda like his style. It’s unique. And the entire ensemble is capped off, interestingly enough, by a pair of suspenders. What’s really funny is that I feel his assessing silver-gray eyes on me, like he’s sizing me up, too, and I cock my head to the side, wondering if this guy is going to be a pain in the ass… or if he’s going to be my new best friend. I can’t fucking decide, which is odd in itself, because I usually get an immediate read on people. This guy, though, is a straight-up enigma.
A moment later, as I reach them, an unassuming grin spreads across his face, and he sticks out his hand in greeting. “Hey. I’m Archer. Sounds like I’ve been summoned by some of the most notorious fraternity brothers on campus for a little of my expertise.”
Wilder looks at the surprise on my face, then shakes his head, chuckling as he waves me into the study room.
Focusing on the newcomer, I murmur, “I’m Beckham,” as I give his hand a quick squeeze. My gaze shifts back to Wilder and Royal. “Did Echo get to class okay?” She’d been slightly peeved to discover Wilder’s friend is only available to meet with us now, while she’s in class, but had also agreed that it needed to be done. She’d made us promise to share whatever information we learned… especially if we’re able to access her file.
Royal is the one to answer. “Yeah. Walked her there myself. Asked her to stay put until we showed up.”
Archer’s brows raise, but he doesn’t remark on our show of caution.
I don’t know if it’s evident to him that we’re talking about a girl that we’re all… dating? In a relationship with? Whatever we want to call it. In any case, he doesn’t seem bothered by it.
Shutting the door behind me, I pull up another chair to the table where Archer is poking around Royal’s laptop.
He studies things for a while, before he nods toward the screen. “You said it was that folder in particular, the files in it, that you want access to, right?”
Royal lets out an irritated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. A thing pops up that says they need some sort of passcode.”
“Correct.” He selects the folder, then pulls open a window with information about it, quickly scanning before he picks a file contained within. “Yeah. So, that means they’re encrypted files.”
I lean forward, trying to see how he knows any of this from what’s on the screen and come up empty. “What’s that mean, exactly?”
“Simply that it’s going to take some doing to gain access to them, but it’s not impossible. For me, anyway.” Archer’s eyes twinkle. “I’ll need to download the right tools to make it happen. And work on it for a while. It’ll take some time. Possibly a long time. Hard to say until I really start working on it.”
I sense the excitement that it can be done permeating the room, followed immediately by the letdown that we won’t have access to it today. And do we want this guy messing with files that have our shit on them, anyway?
As if he read my mind, he offers, “If what’s on here is something you don’t want me to have access to without you being right there, we should probably choose a date when we all have more time to do this.” His lips twitch. “I’m curious as hell to give it a go, but I understand if there’s legal or financial stuff on there or… something confidential, maybe?” His brow hikes up when he catches me flinching. Dammit. His mouth curves into a playful smirk as he holds up his hands. “I don’t need to know.” Then more cautiously, he nods. “We all have our secrets.”
Wilder meets my eyes, and I give him a nearly imperceptible shake of my head, then he swivels to look at Royal. I don’t know what he sees in his eyes, but he turns back to Archer, clearly his throat. “I think we’d prefer it if we were there.”
He nods. “No problem at all. I’ll do a little research in the meantime.” He closes the laptop, then pushes his chair back. Eyeing the three of us, he slides his thumbs behind his suspenders. “I really do want to help you out. I’m happy to. Just let me know. I’ve got a couple of nasty tests coming up and a project due Friday, but I should have more time next week, I think.”
Royal shoots him a smile. “Thanks, Archer. We’ll be in touch.”
“Yep, I’ll send you a text, or maybe we can figure it out after class on Thursday.”
Archer winks, then holds his fist out for a bump, and Wilder obliges him with one. “No problem.” He turns to me. “Beckham. Nice to meet you, too, man.” Waving, he opens the door and departs, leaving us with Royal’s computer and a bunch of files still locked up tight.
As soon as the door swings shut, I bite out, “Well, fuck.”
Wilder blows out a long breath, gripping the back of his neck with both hands. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy.”
“Yeah. But he said he can do it.” Royal runs a hand over his stubble, and it’s clear he’s mulling something over in his head. “I think we should give him a shot when he’s available. You know, if shit hasn’t hit the fan by then.”
Wilder and I both nod our agreement, and all three of us are quiet for a few moments while Royal stuffs his laptop into his bag.
The Sin Keeper is trying to tell us something with that folder of secrets. At first, it felt like a taunt. Now, warning bells are going off in my head. And, unfortunately, the only real conclusion I’ve come to is that whoever is behind SIN and all that they ask of us—I don’t believe they are out to get us. Someone else is. And shit’s going to go sideways if we don’t figure it out. And soon.