In six days, when she walked into that exclusive school as a student, she’d be ready to tackle the challenge—no matter how many pep talks she had to give herself or how many psychological games she had to play between now and then.

Because two missing teens deserved her best effort—and she was not going to let them down.

Selling his soul to the devil had been the biggest mistake of his life.

And that was saying a lot, considering his track record.

“Will? Did you hear me? I need another favor.”

Will knocked back another gin and tonic, set the empty glass on the counter, and pressed the cell tighter against his ear. “I thought you said after our last arrangement we’d be done.”

“The location is working out well.” The voice had a strange timbre to it, as it had during previous calls. The person on the other end must be using a voice-changing device to disguise his—or her—identity.

“Is it? What about the student who went missing in October on one of the nights you used the facility? I’m guessing there’s a connection.”

“She ran away.”

“How do you know?”

“That’s what the police concluded.”

“Is it true?”

“Does it matter?”

Will began to sweat. “Yeah. It does.”

“It’s not your problem.”

“I don’t like being in the dark—or being used.”

“Being in the dark is safer . . . and you were happy to use my money when you were desperate for cash. Call this payback.”

More like extortion.

He balled the fingers of his free hand. “I should have come clean instead.”

“And lost your job? Perhaps gone to prison?”

“In hindsight, that may have been preferable.”

“A moot point at this stage. Are our January 2 and 3 target dates still workable?”

“Yes.”

“Some personal reconnaissance in advance to ensure the area is clear would be advisable.”

So there was a connection between Stephanie Laurent’s disappearance and whatever illegal activity was taking place on Ivy Hill property.

His heart stuttered, and fear congealed in his belly. “I don’t make a habit of tramping around the grounds. It would look suspicious.”

“You have a perfect excuse. In light of the disappearance in October, you think it makes sense to have physical eyes on all parts of the property rather than rely on a few security cameras. Add a day and evening circuit of the grounds to the routine—and schedule yourself for the night shift on certain dates.”

Stomach churning, Will slid onto a stool at the counter and dropped his head into his hand.

Leaving a duplicate key under a rock for the lock on the gate to the remote dirt access road and dealing with the security camera for that entrance were one thing.

A physical patrol in that area, however, put him too close to the scene of whatever was taking place.