Page 143 of You + Me – Against the World

“I’m serious, Clem.” Vadim looks her right in the eye, but there’s no hostility in his gaze. “I know you’re in love with him, and I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this… but he’s involved in some shady stuff. He isn’t who you think he is. And I need you to help me get the proof. You have to search his place. I’m sure you’ll find what we’re looking for there. Hasn’t he been more secretive lately? More distant?”

She groans, burying her face in her hands.

I guess he’s right.

“Wait, Vadim, are we seriously talking about your caseworker… your mentor?” I murmur. “Why would he suddenly become public enemy number one?”

“We’ve always had a complicated relationship. Yes, he’s bailed me out more than once, but it’s always come at a price. And he’s the first to remind me that I owe him.”

“What do you mean? Is he blackmailing you?!”

Vadim stares at the surface of the water, looking exhausted.

“This is crazy!” Clem cries out.

“I know I’m not telling you enough, but I’m ready to swear it on my parents’ grave. And as for the proof you’re waiting for, only Clem can help me with that.”

“Why would I do that for you, Arcadi?”

“Clem, you have to do it… for yourself.” I look at her sadly. “You’d tell me the same thing if the situation were reversed, right? You’d be worried about me, wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe,” she mumbles.

“If it’s true, this guy is a psycho and you shouldn’t see him anymore, Clem.”

“But if he’s really such a bastard, can you imagine what he’ll do to me if he catches me snooping?!”

“Felix and I will come with you,” Vadim says.

“Oh, right, sure, it’s super reassuring to know that that loser Alonso will be there.” She laughs way too loudly, acting tough to keep herself from crying.

I slip my hand into hers, to show her that I’m here.

“You just do what you can, D’Aragon,” Vadim whispers to her. “Snoop around a little in his paperwork, his drawers… He must keep incriminating documents somewhere. And if something goes wrong, you scream. We’ll be right downstairs.”

“Vadim, if anything happens to her…”

“It will be fine. Clem, if he catches you, just pretend to be a curious girlfriend who wants to get to know him better. Or tell him you’re looking for something you lost. When are you seeing him next?”

“The day after tomorrow. But I haven’t said yes to all this!”

She grabs another slice of Hawaiian pizza.

“Fine, I’ll do what I can,” she grumbles.

***

Vadim spends the next two nights at my place. Little by little, he gets used to the space, the endless rooms whose purpose he can’t figure out, the multi-jet showers whose controls he can’t seem to master—and I don’t need much convincing to jump in with him and show him how they work. We rarely cross paths with Basile and Isaac, who spend most of their time holed up in my brother’s room. Georgia turns a blind eye to almost everything she sees, and especially to what she doesn’t.

The Lancaster house is dangerously starting to feel like heaven on earth. I may have prayed once or twice that my parents would never come back, but they’ve announced they’ll be returning in three days. Just enough time to get through my last exam, organize Vadim’s surprise birthday party, and wait for Clémentine to report back after spending the evening at Keith’s.

My job is to call my best friend in tears around 10 p.m., make up something about a horrible fight with Vadim, and beg her to come meet me. Clem will watch Keith’s reaction closely when she tells him about the phone call, and use it as an opportunity to try to get him to open up.

Let’s hope she has time to snoop around before that.

***

“If he touches a single hair on her head, I’ll kill him.”