A Web of Secrets
Thea sat in her dimly lit bedroom, her laptop screen casting a faint glow on her face as she scrolled through old university records. Sleep had eluded her after the call with Andrew. The thought of Clara being with him, working alongside him, gnawed at her insides. But more than that, her mind kept drifting back to the picture they had recovered from Ariana's phone.
Thea enlarged the image, staring at the shoes. Ariana's were easy to recognize—delicate white heels with a silver buckle she had once gushed about. But the male shoes were plain black leather, polished, expensive-looking. Someone who cared about appearances. Someone important to her. But who?
She typed Harrison's name into the university database, searching for any old images or records. If he had left right after Ariana's disappearance, there had to be something, a farewell message, a news article—anything. But after an hour of digging, she found nothing new.
Frustrated, she closed the laptop and rubbed her temples. She needed another approach.
A message popped up on her phone.
Adrian:*Still up? Or are you planning your next coffee and pasta date?*
She rolled her eyes. He must have seen Silvia's post. *Go to sleep, Adrian.*
His reply came instantly. *Not before you.*
She hesitated before typing back. *Why do you care?*
A long pause. Then: *Because I still do.*
Her breath hitched. She stared at the words for a long moment before locking her phone and setting it aside.
No. She wasn't letting old feelings cloud her judgment.
The next morning, Thea decided she needed answers in person. If Harrison had disappeared, maybe someone who had been close to him could help. And that meant one person: Professor Steven Brown.
She dressed in a fitted navy-blue blouse and a sleek skirt, determined to look composed, unshaken. She needed Steven to talk, and she wasn't going to get any information by showing hesitation.
As she entered the university building, students bustled around her, laughter and hurried footsteps echoing through the halls. She made her way to Steven's office, rehearsing her approach in her head.
Just as she was about to enter the room, her phone buzzed. She hesitated, then pulled it out to see Silvia's name flashing on the screen. Frowning, she answered.
"Silvia?"
"Don't ask Professor Brown about Ariana," Silvia's voice came in a hurried whisper. "If he suspects you're digging into her past, he might shut you out—or worse."
Thea's grip on the phone tightened. "What do you mean 'worse'?"
Silvia hesitated. "Just trust me. He's not as oblivious as he seems. He's careful. If he realizes you're sniffing around Ariana's history, he might make it harder for you to find out the truth."
Thea swallowed hard. She had planned to go in straightforwardly, but Silvia's warning made her reconsider. She needed to be more subtle.
"Got it," she said, ending the call and slipping the phone back into her bag.
Taking a deep breath, she was about to knock when she heard voices inside.
Thea froze, her hand mid-air. Adrian was in there?
She pulled back just as the door opened. Adrian stepped out, nearly colliding with her. His blue eyes locked onto hers in surprise.
"Thea?"
She cleared her throat, keeping her expression neutral. "I was just about to speak with Professor Brown."
Adrian's gaze flickered with something unreadable before he stepped aside, motioning for her to enter. But as she brushed past him, he leaned in slightly, his voice low.
"You're looking in places you shouldn't, Thea."
She met his gaze, unflinching. "So are you."
And with that, she walked inside, ready to unearth the truth—no matter what it cost her.