Page 20 of Ethan & Grace

“No, thanks.”

I shrugged. “Anyway, he invited me to go out with him and the lads tonight. There’s a new club opening. I wanted to ask if you fancy joining.”

“Sorry, I can’t. I already have plans with Logan.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of Logan. Part of me would have liked to go with Henry so I could get to know Logan better—he was practically a stranger to me. Another part was relieved that I already had plans, so Henry couldn’t ask if I wanted to come along. Whenever I thought about Logan, I mostly felt nervous. I hadn’t seen him for so long. Did he even want anything to do with me?

“Shame,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment. Not just because of Logan, but because I would really have liked Henry to come along tonight. “I’ll let you get back to your work.” I stood, placing the solved Rubik’s cube back on his desk.

Henry widened his eyes as he snatched it up, turning it over in his hands to look at it from all angles. “How the hell did you do that? I’ve been trying to solve this thing for months.”

“You twist it until every side is the same colour.”

He snorted. “Smart-arse.”

I grinned, and was already halfway out of the door when I paused, my hand on the doorknob. I turned back to Henry, who was still examining the Rubik’s cube. “Can I ask you something? Who’s Aliza Malik?” Her name had been on Grace’s list, the only one I’d been able to read before she’d snatched it away.

Henry looked up. “A food blogger. She also works for Irresistible Future, an organisation that helps people with migrant backgrounds build a future for themselves.”

“Does she have anything to do with The Darlington?”

“No, but she was at the Pearl Gala. Why?”

“No reason,” I shrugged. “Someone asked me about her, that’s all.” I made my exit before Henry could ask more questions. Perhaps I should have told him that Grace had been snooping around Rakesh’s office without permission, but something held me back.

Why did she have the guest list for the Pearl Gala?

And what was she planning to do with it?

I had no idea—but I intended to find out.

8

Have fun! Drink one for me!

Message from Kate in the group chat “Hive Mind”

Grace

“Rose Kennedy and Grace Claymore,” Rose bellowed at the bouncer.

We had been standing in line for almost an hour already, waiting to be let in—it seemed like the whole city wanted to party here tonight. The queue behind us stretched on endlessly. Although I wasn’t in the mood for clubbing, I was glad we were about to be let in, because I was freezing. I clutched Amy’s favourite coat around me tightly, grateful for every last bit of warmth it gave me.

The bouncer glanced from Rose to me, his eyes lingering on the coat with distaste—it didn’t exactly match the club’s fancy vibe. Then he turned his attention back to the black guest book, skimming the list before ticking off our names. If we hadn’t been on the guest list, he probably would have turned me away, but as it was, he didn’t have a choice.

He unhooked the cord barring our way and let us through. A crimson carpet led to the entrance, which had been decorated for the opening with black balloons and dark roses. The music spilling out from inside was so loud that even in the entrance, the bass felt intense enough to rearrange my organs.

We went to the cloakroom to hand in our coats. I stashed the tickets safely into my clutch, so Rose would have to let me know if she left early with some guy, which she usually did. Hopefully it would be sooner rather than later. Because once Rose had left with her conquest of the night, I could go home and continue with my investigations into Amy’s death.

“Are you ready to dive in?” Rose asked. She looked ravishing in her strapless dress and high heels, which emphasised her sensual figure and added a few extra inches to her height. Her thick brown hair cascaded over her shoulders in lush waves, and her eyes—so vibrantly green that they almost seemed unreal—were heavily lined with dark makeup.

There was a time when I would have dressed up like Rose to go clubbing, but back then, those nights had still been fun. Right now, I just wanted to be back at home, because the idea of enjoying myself seemed impossible. And it showed. I wore flat black shoes that screamed business meeting rather than sexy night out and a figure-hugging but plain dress. I had no desire to draw any attention to myself.

“Ready,” I replied, although the only thing I was really ready for was to leave.

I didn’t want to be like this. I wanted to have fun and live my life, as Amy would have wanted. I just didn’t know how. After her death, it felt as though a grey veil had settled over the world, making everything bleak and joyless. Everything that had once brought me happiness now seemed flat and meaningless.

Rose grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the entrance into the club itself, which was housed in a former industrial hall. It was already packed, despite how huge the space was. Hundreds of people swayed in time to the music, lit up by flashing lights. A female DJ stood on a round podium in the middle of the club, firing up the crowd. Professional dancers undulated on raised platforms, some moving freely, others around poles—but all of them were wearing barely any clothes. A spiral staircase led up to a gallery offering a view of the dancing masses below. There seemed to be seating up there too, though I doubted Rose and I would find space. We’d arrived far too late for that.