Girls with Sharp Sticks (Girls with Sharp Sticks, #1)(48)

“You know who?” Sydney asks.

Ida grins. “Winston Weeks,” she says like we should already know. “He came in before Mr. Wolfe and demanded to speak to Mr. Petrov about an urgent matter.” Ida deepens her voice in a pretty dead-on impression. “He wouldn’t leave until he spoke to him. Annalise had to fetch the Head of School and his wife from their residence.”

My lips part. What is Mr. Weeks doing here? He’s never been on campus before, not unless it was for an open house. For a moment, I wonder if he asked about me, but if he did, Ida would have told me straightaway.

Ida starts filing her nails again. “The girls were kind of smitten with the investor, especially Annalise. They brought him food and drinks while he waited, charming him. He told them they were very nice girls, indeed. And then Mr. Petrov showed up, and they left to talk.”

“And what about Mr. Wolfe?” I ask.

“I assume Mr. Wolfe’s presence has to do with Rebecca. He is her lawyer, right? Although when the police car showed up and dropped him off at the front door, Mr. Wolfe was beside himself,” Ida says, exaggerating her expression to show fury. “He stomped in, brushing right past us, and headed to Dr. Groger’s office. One of the girls heard it’s a problem with Rebecca’s . . . with her certification.” Ida lowers her eyes then, the fun gone from the conversation. In fact, it sucks the air out of the room.

Every girl must be certified to graduate. If there’s a problem, Rebecca might be delayed. Or dismissed.

But it wouldn’t be her fault. Mr. Wolfe has been manipulating her. Anton promised she would just get impulse control therapy. He didn’t mention they might kick her out.

I look toward the stairs to Dr. Groger’s office, worried that Mr. Wolfe is here to call Rebecca a liar. What if they take Mr. Wolfe’s side? I can corroborate Rebecca’s story.

“I have to see Dr. Groger,” I say, and abruptly turn and start that way. Sydney chases after me.

“Wait up,” she says. “Isn’t Rebecca with Anton?”

“Yes,” I say. “But Ida said Mr. Wolfe went to the doctor—I want to know why. He can’t get away with it,” I add under my breath.

“What’s going on, Mena?” Sydney asks, walking with me. “Why would Rebecca get certified so early? And what kind of ‘problem’ could she have?”

“No idea,” I say, not elaborating.

Sydney keeps talking, and we turn down the hallway to Dr. Groger’s office. She doesn’t remember the incident between Rebecca and Mr. Wolfe, and I’m not sure if I should tell her again after the way she reacted to the poem.

Just as Sydney and I approach the doctor’s office, elevated male voices carry into the hallway.

Sydney pulls me to the side of the door so that Dr. Groger won’t see our silhouettes through the glass. She bends down to tie and untie her sneakers, trying to provide cover in case we’re caught eavesdropping.

“She’s a liability, Harold,” Mr. Wolfe says loudly from inside the room. I realize that I never knew Dr. Groger’s first name before, and it’s suddenly intimate to have that personal detail about him. “You’ve known me for years,” the lawyer continues. “I need you to take care of this.”

“And tell her parents what?” the doctor asks coldly. “They’ve invested in her education. You were improper.”

“She’s a liar.”

The doctor laughs, and I hope he can see through Mr. Wolfe’s deception. “I think we both know that’s not the case,” Dr. Groger says. “I’ve examined the girl. What you’ve done amounts to theft.”

The lawyer tries to argue again, but the doctor cuts him off.

“You’re right,” Dr. Groger says. “We have known each other a long time, Carlyle. So I’m going to tell you straight out: Do not come back. There’s no need, since you’re not the girl’s legal guardian. Your services to her family are hereby terminated on my recommendation. The records will be sealed,” he continues, “protecting our investment. But if we find out you’ve contacted her or any of our other girls, we will report you to the family, as well as the overseeing body. Do you understand, Mr. Wolfe? Do you understand the consequences?”

It’s quiet for a long moment before I hear Mr. Wolfe answer, “Yes.”

“Good,” Dr. Groger says. “Now, you are banned from this campus. Leave my sight immediately.”

My heart soars. Mr. Wolfe was improper, and now he’s banned. Rebecca will never have to deal with him again.

We’ve always known there were terrible people in the world, and one of them got close to us. The academy always promised they would protect us. It seems they meant it. Maybe I was wrong to jump to conclusions about them.

A shadow passes on the inside of the door, and Sydney motions me forward. We jog down the hall until we turn a corner, and then Sydney blows out a breath.

“Did I hear that right?” she asks, disgusted. “Tell me I didn’t.”

“You did,” I murmur. “But Dr. Groger is protecting her. It doesn’t matter what Mr. Wolfe says anymore. Rebecca is totally safe,” I add with a small bit of hope. I’m calmer now, reassured by the doctor’s actions.

“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around Rebecca and Mr. Wolfe,” Sydney says. She shakes her head but lets the conversation drop. I don’t mention that she already knew this, not wanting to confuse her. At least, not until I can get her to stop taking the vitamins—otherwise, what’s the point? She’ll just forget tomorrow.