Saira woke up to an email sent by Stoll and she read in while brushing her teeth.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Hey, Levine, I heard from Gray that she got into the Silverleaf Gothic Literature Club (obviously, duh). Classes are cancelled by Headmaster Roux so "all Silverleaf students can destress about the past storm and suicides" or whatever. I already told Gray, but I hacked into the security cameras again—everything was wiped clean of Robert Reuters' death.

Professor Green's, Scarlett's, and Robert's murders are always swiped and deleted before someone can check the recordings, it's fishy. I already tried to get them back, but they're gone forever. I'm still waiting to hear back from Madeleine, I have a class with her later today. Email me if you got accepted into the gothic literature club or not.

She spat out her toothpaste, sighing. At least one of us got accepted to the club, she thought. Now the real sleuthing can begin. Saira quickly texted back a message of her rejection and got dressed.

She wore a black maxi dress with golden chains, the school's blazer tied around her waist. Stand against the rest of the crowd in the best possible way, Mama once told her. Saira slipped on platform Mary Jane shoes and wore big golden hoops on her ears.

Saira walked out until she noticed Fareeda. She wore a tank top and a pair of sweatpants, her curly and frizzy hair in a braid. "No class today," Fareeda shrugged. "So, what are you doing for the rest of the day?"

"Not much. You?"

"I'm trying to salvage Silverleaf's garden in the Greenhouse, there was some leaking and it's just a muddy mess." Fareeda had a glint in her eye, smiling. "You want to join me?"

Saira's thoughts flickered to Orchid's suspect list. She vividly remembered how Ivory Kee, a close friend of Ruth, was there. Ivory, Saira would sleuth around. "Sorry, I remembered I have something to do."

Fareeda frowned. "To do with Orchid?"

"Yeah, homework and stuff, it's really Orchid's specialty." Saira saw the abandoned glass of apple juice still on her desk. She grabbed it and downed it, licking her lips. "Thank you for getting me dinner again, I was on the verge of starving last night."

"No problem." She slid her hands into her pockets. "I'm just trying to be friendly." Maybe overly friendly, but Fareeda was kind enough.

"Later, Patel."

"See you later."

Saira tailed out of her dorm, heading down to the Dining Hall. When she arrived, she saw Orchid sitting by the trash cans. "Seriously? By the garbage, Gray?" When Orchid shrugged, Saira rolled her eyes. She sat down and stole an apple from her tray, scanning the hall for Ivory Kee.

Finally, her eyes landed on the pale girl with glossy black hair. Ivory had fallen from the social ranks since the scandal of Stanley Crawford, so she wasn't too far from the trash cans. Lizzy Connors sat beside Ivory, along with Ruth. Saira's breath hitched when she saw Ruth's face, reminded that she was replaced with Fareeda.

Then she saw someone unexpected as Scarlett Mako's replacement—Bailey Preston. She looked shaken, but otherwise okay. "I thought Bailey was your friend," Saira told Orchid.

"She was, I suppose."

"Well, when did that happen?" She gestured towards the four.

"I never knew that Bailey was friends with Ivory." Yet another danger of Ivory Kee, she is wicked and cunning. Would Bailey spill the beans about Robert to Ivory? Saira hoped not, Ivory could be bitchy according to Ruth's past experiences.

"C'mon, let's join their ranks," Saira stood up, tossing her apple's core into the trash can. Orchid gawked, blushing, but nodded slowly. "If we want info, we'll have to get it, Gray."

"We'll rip it from Ivory's blackened heart," she muttered.

Now Saira was the one to gawk. "Uhm, that's kind of gross but okay." They abandoned their spots and walked over. Saira was more strong-headed, looking over her shoulder to see Orchid awkwardly trail behind her. Right, friends aren't always Orchid's strong suit, she kept that in mind.

"Hey, Ruthless," Saira said to Ruth. She slid next to her while Orchid sat next to Bailey. If you want something done, do it yourself. Ruth widened her eyes and turned away, grumbling a hello. Lizzy, bless her heart, waved happily. She's too bubbly to care. "What's up, girls?"

"The ceiling," Bailey replied dryly.

"You're no fun, Bails," Saira smiled, cocking her head. Orchid stayed silent but rolled her eyes. Ivory looked amused, but also slightly irritated. "Oh, yeah, hi, Ivory."

"Kisses, Saira, kisses." Ivory blew her an air kiss.

Charming. "What's the latest gossip?" Saira asked no one in particular.

"Professor Green's and Scarlett's deaths?" Orchid shrugged. Lizzy gasped at the mention of Scarlett's name and so did Ruth. Ivory flinched but regained her composure. "It's such a tragic way to end things," Orchid continued.

"Who are you again?" Ivory snapped.

"Orchid Gray. You better remember that name because she's the next big journalist," Saira replied for her. Ivory was getting on her nerves. Orchid became flustered but cleared her throat to signal Saira to stay on topic. "And she's looking for an inside scoop on their suicides."

Ivory's upper lip twitched. "Inside scoop?"

"Because you're the Ivory Kee." Flattery was one way to pry information out of someone. Saira looked at Ruth, who tensed, and Lizzy looked uncomfortable. "I mean, you know everything, right?"

"Right." She gritted her teeth. "It's like what everyone else is saying—two tragedies at a tragically boring academy. It's so whatever now. Ugh, my lipstick got smudged, come on, Bailey, let's go to the girls' washroom." They got up, leaving the table, and Ruth stared at her empty tray.

"Hey, Ruthless," Saira whispered. "It's been a while."

"Don't flatter me, it's barely been two weeks since I left. That flattery crap doesn't work on me." Ruth crossed her arms as Orchid quietly chuckled. Saira scowled. "What do you want, Sar?"

God, Saira hated it when Ruth called her Sar. "I want to know where Ivory Kee was during Professor Green and Scarlett's suicide." She already knew that Ivory was during her classes when Robert was killed, but that didn't mean she couldn't have murdered the other two.

Lizzy went blank. "Why would it even matter?" Jesus Christ, she was gullible and innocent, wasn't she? Almost babylike.

"Spill the tea, guys," Saira insisted. "Or I'll take you both down with me too. With the whole Stanley Crawford drama—faking sexual assault isn't cool by the way, it's bitchy—I bet things don't look too good for you both right now." She saw the fear pierce through Ruth's eyes. At least she was good for something.

Ruth went pale. "Ivory was at Robert's dorm during Green's suicide and she was with us when Scarlett went missing. We couldn't find her and Lizzy just assumed Scarlett would show up, so we went back to Lizzy's dorm to gossip and stuff." It came out in a rush.

"Ruth," Lizzy hissed, mortified. "You weren't supposed to say that—"

Orchid spoke up. "Wait...Why was Ivory with Robert? He dated—is dating—Bailey." It still took Orchid a while to remember Robert died. She blanched, shaking her head furiously. "No way, no way that Rob was cheating on Bailey with freakin' Ivory Kee—were they sleeping together?"

Ruth looked terrified, realizing what she just said. "Please don't tell Ivory or Bailey, they'll murder me!" Bad choice of words, Saira winced. At least they could check Ivory's name off the suspect list since she had an alibi, but it also meant Ivory was playing with Bailey.

"That bastard!" Orchid blurted, shocked and angry. She looked betrayed with a mixture of confusion. "B-Bailey loved Rob! He's supposed to have loved her back! That no-good-cheating-lying bastard—"

"Who's the bastard?" Bailey asked, walking back to the table. Ivory came back as well, sliding into her seat. Don't lose your cool, Saira mouthed to Orchid who avoided Bailey's gaze. Then Saira looked at Ruth, narrowing her eyes. Keep quiet or else, she mouthed threateningly.

"No one," Orchid grumbled, crossing her arms across her chest. She fidgeted with her fingers as Saira cleared her throat.

"Well, we better get going, huh, Gray?" They both hurriedly stood up. "Thanks for having us."

Before Ivory could get another word in, Saira and Orchid scurried out of the Dining Hall. Orchid panted rapidly, red in the face, as soon as they reached the hallway. "The nerve of Ivory is unmatched, befriending Bailey when Ivory basically slept with Rob—"

"Whoa, Gray, let's not get carried away."

"Carried away? Rob is as good as dead!" Orchid huffed, groaning. She took a loud sigh. She started to pace around until she calmed down. "No, you're right, I'm just angry right now. I have a gothic literature club meeting today, wish me luck."

"You'll need all the luck in the world," Saira told her.