A Murder Of Crows {9}

I wasn't even surprised when I heard the faint sound of my door unlocking. It swung open and Val came in, kicking it shut and sitting down in front of our puzzle.

"Let's go," she said.

I couldn't focus on my homework anyways, so I pushed it off to the side and sat down with her. We picked up the pieces and worked in silence for a bit.

"Val," I said finally, and she looked up at me. "What do you know about Jamison?"

"I know he's president of the Crows. He's your age. He's pretty to look at. What more do you need to know?" she said.

I knew I couldn't ask about Jamison and Kieran. Val would just smile and tell me to ask Kieran myself. But maybe she knew something, anything, that could help me start chipping away at his friendly façade.

"How close is he with that Nia girl? She was at dinner," I said.

"Don't know much about her," Val said, which was the biggest bullshit lie I'd heard all damn day. Val's specialty was knowing everything about everyone.

"I'm not a piece of your game, so tell me what I want to know, or get out," I said.

Val laughed. "What game? You're so touchy, Jpeg. Fine, her name is Nia Dagny, she's a freshman, and as far as I can tell, Jamison is grooming her to be a proper Crow."

"Was Kieran supposed to be a Crow?" I asked, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop myself. Shit.

Val raised an eyebrow, a smile slowly curling her lips. "Was he? I guess you'd have to ask him."

Something made Kieran hate Jamison. Maybe it had to do with the Crows. Maybe it had to do with this darker side of Jamison. Whatever it was, it ran deep, and Cole was involved too.

There was just too much here I didn't know. Too much I couldn't piece together without some answers from the people involved. But how did I bring any of it up without making myself sound too suspicious or nosy?

I placed a puzzle piece down in its proper spot. "We should keep an eye on this Nia girl. Even if she is sloppy about it, she's determined to figure out if Kieran is involved."

"Well, she wants to impress Jamison. You of all people should know how far people will go for each other," Val said, ignoring the look I shot her. "Nia figures if she's the one to catch Kieran, it'll earn her Jamison's pride and respect. She's probably wrong, of course, but she's hopeful."

I fell silent, thinking. Val watched me with knowing eyes, and I hated that. I hated feeling like she could read everything about me.

But then her phone started ringing, catching her attention. She pulled it out of her pocket and checked the contact.

"It's my mom," she said before sliding her finger across the screen. She held it up to her ear and easily switched from English to Spanish.

I didn't know Spanish, so I tuned out her conversation. Digging online was a bad idea, because Val would be on the lookout for me doing that. I couldn't give her anything else to blackmail me with.

Cole didn't seem particularly fond of me, so that also wasn't an option. Jamison was my best bet, but he'd most likely deflect any questions I had about Kieran.

Still, I'd have to try. Too many factors I didn't know or understand could endanger this situation.

I stared down at a puzzle piece. So small, but without it, the picture would be incomplete. Every piece mattered.

Val hung up her phone and tucked it back in her pocket. "Mom was just checking in. She's worried with all these attacks happening around town." Her expression turned amused. "I told her and my dad not to worry. I'll be fine."

I picked up the puzzle piece and set it in its proper spot. "Will you be fine?"

"I'd like to think so." She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, watching me. "What about you, Jpeg?"

"I'll be perfectly fine," I said. I'd be careful in all of this. I'd make it out just fine.

She pulled her phone out again, checking a message. "Aw, how cute. Cole invited me to come get ice cream with him and his friends. You in, Cor? I bet Jamison will be there."

"Exciting," I said dryly.

She stood up, grabbing my arm and pulling me with her. "Come on, ice cream! Who could say no to ice cream?"

"Someone who's lactose intolerant, probably," I said.

"Well, you're not lactose intolerant, so you're not saying no," she said, dragging me towards the door.

I yanked my arm out of her grip. "I can walk on my own."

We left my room and Val waited for me to lock my door before heading off down the hallway. I followed her, wondering if I could get Jamison away from Val and Cole long enough to try to get some information out of him. Assuming he was even there, of course.

"You need to loosen up," Val said as we left the dorm and started down the sidewalk. "You get so moody all the time."

"Because I'm stuck with people like you and Kieran and Mia," I grumbled.

"I think you're fond of us," she teased.

"I'm fond of solitude and computers and the little flop a corgi does when it jumps in water, but I am not fond of you three," I said.

"We're the best friends you've got," Val said, nudging me with her shoulder. "The only friends now, really. Should've been more social."

"Why? If I enjoy being around someone, I'll be their friend. I won't be friends with someone just for the sake of having friends," I said.

"But people re so interesting. I love being around people," Val said. "Even moody ones, like you."

"I don't mind being around people. That doesn't mean I want to spend all my time with them," I said. I liked being around people, but in the background where I could watch them.

"Well, socializing is important," Val said. "Speaking of socializing, let's speed up. I really want that ice cream."

We picked up the pace a bit. It was starting to get dark out, and a nice night breeze had picked up. It ruffled our hair and I tipped my face up towards it.

It was a nice night like this that I knew I'd go to my favorite tree stump and finish my homework in solitude. Silence, a nice breeze, and easy scenery.

We reached the marketplace, where Cole and Jamison sat outside together. Cole sat with one leg stretched out, the other pulled up to his chest with his arm slung over it. Jamison sat cross-legged, his elbows resting on his knees. His position was unremarkable; Cole's was familiar in a way that was starting to make something click for me.

"Oh, Cor, you actually came," Jamison said, brightening up when he saw me.

"Val didn't leave me much choice," I said. "I'm really just in it for ice cream."

"Then let's go get some. I want a milkshake," Cole said, heading into the market.

We had a machine for milkshakes in the market place, though it tended to break more often than not. Luckily, it was working right now, so the four of us got our milkshakes and went outside, sitting at one of the little tables out there.

"Hope we didn't pull you guys away from anything important," Jamison said.

"Nope, just working on a puzzle together," Val said, lightly hitting her milkshake against mine. "Right, Jpeg?"

"Can I ask about the nickname? It's stupid," Cole said.

"It is stupid, and so are the idiots who gave it to me," I said, shooting Val a look.

"Just a little inside joke between us and our friends," Val said. "Cor's not really a fan of it."

"Can you blame me?" I said.

Really, the story behind it was just me being overly annoyed with Kieran when I first got dragged into all of this and explaining to him what a Jpeg even was. Kieran claimed I sounded too stuck-up talking about it, and mockingly called me Jpeg. The name, unfortunately, stuck. It was quite possibly the dumbest story in my life, and that was saying something considering the situation I was in.

"Cole can't talk. He used to have a dumb nickname," Jamison said.

Cole glared at him. "Me? Sure, Jamison. Let's all just forget about your nickname."

"Oh, I sense a nickname reveal," Val said, leaning forward a little. That girl sure did love her information, even the dumbest things.

"I won't tell yours if you don't tell mine," Cole said, sticking his hand out.

Jamison considered for a moment before shaking Cole's hand. "Sorry Val, I have to cling to some dignity."

I was even more curious now, and I needed Val and Cole out of the conversation so I could talk to Jamison alone. But how did I do that?

Duh. Jamison probably wanted me alone to question me too. I just had to give him the opportunity.

I stood up, setting my milkshake down. "I'm going to buy chips."

"A healthy meal," Val said.

"I'll go with you. I want something to snack on too," Jamison said, standing up.

"Get me something," Cole said.

"Maybe," Jamison said, following me back into the market.

It was quiet and this time of night, and Jamison followed me back to where the chips were. I noticed the way he looked around, passing it off as casual browsing but surely checking for anyone in hearing distance of us.

I picked up a bag of chips, Jamison looking over the selection. He grabbed a bag as well, and followed me as I went back to where the drinks were.

"What, milkshake not good enough?" he said.

"I just want water to wash it all down." I picked up a bottle, looking down at it. "Jamison, what's up with you and Kieran? It gets awkward whenever you two are around each other."

Jamison gave a light smile. "We've known each other for a long time. We don't exactly get along."

"He's never mentioned you before," I said. That was a lie, of course. Kieran had never mentioned his past with Jamison, but Jamison had come up plenty of times since he was president of the Crows.

"Like I said, we don't get along. There's not much to mention," Jamison said with a shrug. "He doesn't seem easy to get along with. I'm surprised you and Val hang out with him."

"He's not easy to get along with, but neither are we," I said. "Cole have a problem with him, too? We saw him in the dining hall and they both looked pretty pissed."

"Kieran seems like he has problems with a lot of people," Jamison said, shrugging.

"But I didn't ask about a lot of people. I asked about Cole," I said. "Look, if you guys are going to bother me all the time, I need to know if there's shit between you guys and anyone I'm always with since, you know, I'm always with them. I want to avoid all the tension and drama."

"They've had their fights," Jamison admitted. "It's nothing to do with you, though. Cole won't hold it against you for being around Kieran, just like Kieran shouldn't hold it against you for being around Cole."

"What, did Kieran piss off all the Crows?" I said.

"No, I think he's just...got an aggressive personality," Jamison said, laughing. "Don't worry about it. It's got nothing to do with any of us here now. It's old." He frowned a little, a calculated move that I knew meant the conversation was about to shift on me. "How did you become friends with him? He's not the warmest person."

"Blame Val," I said.

He nodded slowly. It was a careful conversation; neither of us wanted to come off as prying, but both of us wanted information.

"Did you know Kieran before or after you were a Crow?" I said.

"Before. We were in the same rotation when we were younger," Jamison said.

My turn to give a calculated frown. "But isn't Cole younger? How did he know Kieran?"

"I think they met at recess, or maybe afterschool," Jamison said.

So he'd play dumb about it. Frustrating, but expected.

I hadn't been in Kieran's rotation as a kid. Really, I hadn't known the guy existed until I got caught up with the Doctor. I'm sure I must've seen him, and the others, around the school or during assemblies or events, but I didn't remember it if I had.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out. Kieran's name flashed on the screen, and I was tempted to just ignore the call.

"What?" I said after a quick mental debate. He'd only be more of a pain in the ass if I didn't answer.

"My room. Now," he said.

"Can't. I'm busy," I said.

"With what?" he demanded.

"Val and I are with Jamison and Cole," I said.

"You have an hour. Don't make me wait a second longer," he said and hung up.

"Everything okay?" Jamison asked as I put my phone away.

"We spoke of the devil and summoned him," I said. "Let's go pay for our shit. They're going to think we ditched them."

We went up to the register and paid. We went back outside, where Val and Cole were talking easily about something. Val could make conversation with anyone. It was almost incredible how social she could be.

"You guys took forever," Val said as we sat down with them.

Jamison opened his bag of chips and turned the bag so Cole could grab some. I opened my bag and kept it facing me, making sure Val couldn't take my chips.

"Hey, what are you two planning to do when you graduate?" Val asked.

"I want to work with veterans. Those injured in service, or who develop things like PTSD," Jamison said.

"Oh, noble," Val said. "What about you, Cole?"

"I want to be a police officer," Cole said.

"Oh, yikes, that's not a career I'd want to be a part of in this kind of political and social climate," Val said with a frown.

Cole looked at the bag of chips, but something in his eyes was steeled, the kind of hard determination that drove dreams to reality. "I want to stop crime. I don't care what anyone thinks of cops. I'll be one, and I'll be a damn good one."

"What about you, Val?" Jamison said.

Val got a thoughtful look on her face. "I'm not sure. There's a lot of options out there. I still have time to decide on one."

Jamison pulled his phone out, checking the screen as it buzzed in his hand. I didn't miss the irritation that flashed across his face before he composed himself and answered.

"Hello?" He waited as the voice on the other end spoke. "Hold on." He stood up and gave us an apologetic look. "Just a moment. I've got to take this."

"Don't let us stop you, Mr. President," Val said, shooing him away.

"If we're taking calls, I better make one. Kieran called me and I should see what he wanted," I said, standing up once Jamison disappeared around the side of the market.

"Good luck with that," Val said. She turned back to Cole. "So, like I was saying, the best part of the movie was-"

Her voice trailed off as I disappeared around the opposite side of the market. I picked up my pace, looping around to the side Jamison had gone to. When I heard his voice, I slowed and pressed myself against a darker part of the building, focusing on the sound of Jamison's voice.

"-told you not to make any more mistakes." His voice was sharp, none of the easy kindness he used around me. There was something unforgiving in his tone. "You're already on thin ice, Nia. One more screw up and I'll clip your wings. It's easy to replace a Crow."

Had Nia made another mistake? Had she tried to go after us on her own again?

Jamison let out an impatient noise. "You're the newbie here. Leave it to me. I give you orders, and you follow them. If you don't, I don't need you."

There was a long pause. Jamison broke it with a sigh.

"Just...listen to me in the future. I know what I'm doing," he said. His tone was lighter now, but there was still that unforgiving sharpness lurking below the surface. "This is a delicate thing. One wrong move and we can screw ourselves over. I need you to trust that I know what I'm doing." A short silence this time. "Good. Then I'll talk to you in the morning. Meet me in the Nest before classes."

I waited to see if he'd say anything else, or call anyone else. But the silence stretched on, so I slowly made my way back around the building. I sat against the wall for a few minutes before getting up and going back to the table.

"There you are. Kieran chewing you out over something stupid?" Val said.

"Just being his usual pissy self," I said, taking my seat.

"Wow, what a surprise," Val said.

I scowled at her. "You were eating my chips, you thieving bitch."

"Friends, Cor. What's yours is mine," she said cheerfully, sticking her hand back in the bag and helping herself.

I sat and listened to them talk, waving away Jamison's efforts to pull me into the conversation. I was too busy thinking about what I'd overheard.

Nia must've done something else to have Jamison so mad. But what? Is that what Kieran wanted to talk to us about?

I checked the time a while later and stood up. "I've got homework to do. I'm heading back."

"I'll go with you," Val said.

"Lucky me," I grumbled.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Jamison said. He flashed a smile at me. "Maybe I'll even convince you to go to dinner again."

"Probably not, but it's your breath to waste," I said, shoving my hands in my pockets and walking away from them.

"Bye guys!" Val said before hurrying after me. She lowered her voice as we put distance between us and them. "Had to call Kieran, huh? So tell me about Jamison's phone call."

"No idea what you're talking about," I said.

"Ohhh, you're getting ballsy!" She grinned and bumped her shoulder against mine. "I'll humor that for now. But you of all people know things don't stay secret when you're friends with me."

"Good thing we're not friends," I said.

She laughed but let the conversation drop. We went into the dorm building and made our way to Kieran's room. I had to grab Val and knock on the door before she could barge in and piss him off even more.

Kieran opened the door and let us in, checking the time. Mia was already sitting at his desk, looking bored.

"Took you long enough to get here," she said, crossing her arms.

Kieran shut the door and locked it before turning to face us. "We have a situation."

"I should've just gone right to bed," I said, shaking my head. Man, I really didn't want to deal with this.

"I have to go home over the weekend. My mom needs me, and I can't get out of it," he said. He held up his secret phone so we could see it. "Mia's in charge of anything the Doctor needs. If he needs a Collector, Cor and Mia will go."

"I'm sorry, I think I heard that wrong," I said.

"You can't fight to save your life, but you're a man. They'll have their eyes on you, they'll expect the fight from you. Then Mia can catch them off guard and kick their asses until we have the money we need or the send the message the Doctor wants. You're just there for show," Kieran said.

"And if they kick my ass instead?" I said.

"Then they kick your ass and it's not my problem," Kieran said. "If they swing, you duck. It's not hard. Mia will handle the fighting. You just stand there and talk tough. We don't need these assholes thinking the Doctor's muscles are weak."

"It's just for the weekend. Deal with it," Mia said.

I eyed her warily. She was slim, the kind of delicate build you'd expect from a ballerina. I knew she had the muscle required for intense gymnastics, as that used to be her specialty. But I didn't trust my well-being to her.

"You'll do it because I told you to," Kieran said, noticing my hesitation. His voice left no room for argument. "You'll have my mask and clothes. No one will recognize you. You'll tell them why you're there, and Mia will handle the rest when their focus is on you."

I shook my head and moved towards the door. "Risk my life so you can go be a mama's boy, got it."

Kieran grabbed a fistful of my blazer, yanking me to a stop. "Watch it."

"Kieran will make you the next victim if you talk shit about his mom. He's a softie inside," Val said.

"I didn't say shit about your mom," I said, pushing his hand away from me. "I said you're a mama's boy. Good for you. I don't care if you're best friends or worst enemies with your mom. I just don't want to have to do your dirty work."

"You'll do it, and you'll do it well," Kieran said, his voice that cold, threatening grumble he took on when he was doing his work for the Doctor. "Get out. I'll leave you my mask and clothes and before I head off campus."

I happily left his room, going back to mine to gather my work. I left the dorm building and made my way off the path to my favorite tree stump, seating myself on it and dropping my bag at my feet.

I laid back against the stump, hands behind my head as the night breeze chilled the exposed parts of my leg. I tugged on my shorts a little until they covered as much skin as possible, glad for the warmth of my blazer.

The stars hung lazily in the sky, clouds drifting past. I pushed my sunglasses up, my eyes taking a moment to adjust to the shift in color.

So many stars. It was dizzying to think about how many were in the universe. I was seeing a sample, my eyes making patterns that weren't really there.

I had to find out what else Nia had done. She was the wild card now, the one I knew nothing about and had no way to keep an eye on. Jamison would surely keep her away from me and Val. He didn't trust her abilities.

And Jamison.

So many masks. He wasn't a naturally kind person, but he wasn't a naturally cruel person. He could say cold things, no remorse in his voice, then flip a switch and take a lighter approach. He could smile and laugh with me and turn right around to threaten his own friends.

He, Cole, and Kieran had a complicated connection, and the less I understood, the more of a threat it became. I needed to figure them out. If Kieran was hiding something big from us, it could screw us all over in the end. They already suspected he was involved in the beatings; just what else did they know?

A particularly dark cloud moved past, blocking out a section of stars. I stared at that dark spot, at the vast mysteries of the sky.

Kieran was forcing me to put my trust in Mia. Mia and I certainly didn't get along, but she did seem loyal enough to Kieran. Maybe she'd protect me based on that alone.

God, so much could go wrong this weekend. One little mistake could be all it took to convince Jamison that I was involved, and fling me into a dangerous mess of trouble.