I took the other envelope. I touched the familiar writing. “How did you get this?”
“Leslie was in our record-keeping group as part of her internship. She took the letter from Quinn and swapped it with the real letter from your grandfather when I was out of town on Alchemist business while you were spreading your grandfather’s ashes.”
I gasped, and Wesley continued, “Leslie has been imprisoned for trying to expose us. I was able to advise the leaders that we intercepted the letters and contained the situation. The council is satisfied nothing else is needed in regards to protecting our organization. As far as everyone knows, you stopped looking with the discovery of Vickie’s body.”
I took my letter from Grandpa and held it to my chest. Wesley put Quinn’s letter in the safe. “I’m glad they don’t suspect anything. How will you explain the other things I found?”
“I’ll figure it out. Retrace your steps.”
“When are you leaving town?”
Wesley shifted. “I’ll announce my new position tomorrow. Margaret has insisted on a going-away party.”
“So, we have this next week? We could do dinner.”
“No, people are coming into town. And I’ll be closely observed. I don’t want any more attention on you than necessary. Leslie was useful for one thing—corroborating the fact that there was nothing going on between us.”
My heart clenched with sadness. I was losing another person I considered family. I sniffled. “I don’t want to lose you. Will people believe your story?”
“I wish things could be different. As far as the town knows, I have a big job in a big city. Another Alchemist will come to take up my post in Salem. There are two or three of us here at any given time.”
More Alchemists were in our town. A shiver went down my spine. “Why?”
“To ensure no more missing pieces from our past show up. And your name is on their radar. You must not do anything else.”
“Will they know you brought me here tonight? Was someone following me in Boston?”
“I don’t know. But I will get to the bottom of it. If anyone asks, you were away for the weekend with Mike. The good thing is, they also know that we’re friends, so it would be appropriate for me to tell you I had another job. It will be a fine line. Just give details, just stick to you and Mike. This also is why you have your computer. We’ll wipe it here. Is there information anywhere else besides your phone?”
I thought for a second. “That’s it for me. Mike used his computer, but he was also involved with the investigation of Vickie’s death.”
“That would make sense. I advised the council that I was inviting you over for dinner in order to let you know I was leaving town. You should be fine as long as nothing else is said.”
It was going to take me a bit to process everything. And once the evening was over, I wouldn’t get any more answers. “Can I tell Mike? If I don’t, he’ll know something is up and just look harder.”
“Yes, you can tell him, but he needs to understand the seriousness of it.”
“I’ll make sure.”
“Then it’s done.”
The situation felt so final. If we saw each other later in the week, it would feel fake. “Will I ever get to see you again?”
“In due time… maybe. I have a huge responsibility ahead of me.”
>
In some way, the fate of the world might rest on his shoulders. “Promise me, Wesley, that someday we will get to see each other.”