The Third Message novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Say It Back

Lana's POV

The Ridgemont geology conference room had one long table and a small black recorder with a red light.

"This review is being recorded," the chair said. "Everyone in the room knows it."

Two professors sat at her left. Burke sat at the far end with his hands folded and no jacket.

Bree sat across from him in her pastel cardigan, with her eyes already wet.

I sat against the wall with my cane across my knees.

Miles stood behind me, by the door, with his arms crossed.

Nobody had asked him to be there. Nobody had asked him to leave.

"Ms. Whitham," the chair said. "You have seen the sender record on the denial letter."

"Yes."

"Do you have anything to say?"

"I made a mistake," Bree said softly. "I only wanted to protect Burke from disappointment."

"You told him a grant was denied that had been approved."

"I wanted to spare him."

"By asking Miss Aldridge for her surgery savings."

Bree turned to me with her lip trembling.

"Lana, I am so sorry. I only wanted us all to be friends again."

I said nothing.

Burke stood up.

The chair frowned. "Mr. Tordoff, you may speak when I..."

"I have one question for Bree," he said. "Then I'll sit."

His voice was low and steady, the first time I had ever heard it without the patience in it.

The chair lifted two fingers. Go on.

"Bree," Burke said. "When I was nine, I built a snow fort. You said you read about it in a book."

"I did. A long time ago."

"There's no book. I checked every library my school has."

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