Chapter 2

The first-floor lobby was already crowded.

Cameron had placed my suitcase beside a long table.

Preston stood next to him holding an inventory sheet.

"Everyone cooperate."

His voice carried across the lobby.

"We're cataloging property connected to a suspected theft."

Students stopped walking.

Several pulled out their phones to record.

Preston unzipped my suitcase.

"If you're innocent, Caleb, you shouldn't mind everyone seeing what's inside."

I didn't stop him.

He reached to the bottom and pulled out a black garment bag.

When he unzipped it, a men's formal suit appeared.

The deep navy jacket was covered with subtle hand embroidery along the collar and cuffs.

Someone recognized the designer.

"Doesn't that house only do bespoke?"

"One suit can cost more than a car."

Preston lifted it and stared at me.

"Where did you get this?"

"Nathaniel lent it to me."

He laughed.

"He lent it to you? Prove it."

"Wait until he gets back and ask him."

"Until then, this belongs to Nathaniel. I'm holding it for him."

He grabbed the jacket and yanked.

The embroidery snagged against the edge of the table.

A faint ripping sound cut through the lobby.

I stood.

"Stop pulling.

"If you damage it, you can't afford the repair."

Preston paused.

Then his expression twisted.

"Borrow one expensive suit and suddenly you think you're a trust-fund prince?"

He pulled harder.

The jacket came free from the garment bag and dropped partly onto the floor.

Dust streaked the hem.

I looked at Cameron.

"He's damaging property. You're not doing anything?"

Cameron avoided my eyes.

"Finish the inventory first."

Preston handed the suit to one of the student representatives.

"Log it for return to Nathaniel."

Then he searched the suitcase again.

This time, he found my laptop.

Silver-gray, with a tiny cat sticker on the lid.

Preston held it up.

"Top-spec gaming laptop."

He looked at the people around us.

"Someone who survives by freeloading can afford this?"

"It's mine."

Laughter exploded around the lobby.

One student even slapped his friend on the shoulder.

"He says it's his."

Preston handed the laptop to Cameron.

"Log it as suspected stolen property."

I stepped closer.

"My files are on that computer.

"Go ahead and request access if you want to check."

"Why would I believe you?"

He turned the laptop over several times.

"You probably sold Nathaniel's stuff to buy this."

Then he pulled a clear document sleeve from the side compartment.

Inside was an invitation to the university's opening ceremony VIP lounge.

The invitation carried both the university seal and the Whitlock Group logo.

A VIP room number was printed in the corner.

Preston read it.

Then laughed.

"VIP lounge?

"You?"

I reached for it.

"That's my invitation."

"Obviously fake. Were you planning to sneak into the VIP area so you could pretend to have status?"

Before I could take it back, he tore the invitation in half.

Then again, into four pieces.

They fell into the trash.

The lobby went quiet.

I stared at the bin and memorized exactly where the pieces landed.

Preston clapped his hands once.

"Inventory complete.

"Caleb, leave the residence hall immediately."

I stood and faced him.

"The embroidery on that suit can't be folded.

"Don't knock the laptop around.

"And the invitation was issued by the university. You should preserve all of it properly."

Preston lifted his chin.

"Stop trying to scare people.

"Tomorrow at the opening ceremony, I'll personally hand all of this to Nathaniel.

"Then he can see what kind of person he's been supporting."

Cameron lifted my suitcase.

Preston carried the suit and black card.

They headed toward the Student Council office.

Ms. Keller escorted me outside.

So I stood on the front steps with no phone, no identification, and no house key.

Preston said he planned to return everything to Nathaniel tomorrow so he could claim credit.

What he apparently didn't know was that Nathaniel would be sitting in the VIP lounge at tomorrow's opening ceremony.

And so would his parents.