Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I open my mouth to argue, but Bennett cuts in. “He’s right. You shouldn’t go alone. If Emily has information about Murphy, if she’s connected to this somehow—”
“She’s not dangerous,” I protest, having a gut feeling.
“Maybe not,” Bennett says quietly. “But whoever killed Murphy is. And if Emily knows something, she might be in danger too. Her telling you would also put you in danger.”
“Madeline,” my sister says softly. “You always want to see the best in people.”
Luke reaches over, taking my hand in his, his grip possessive. It always is, and I don’t hate it. “I’m not trying to control you,” he says, and I give him a look. “Okay, maybe a little, but I’m trying to keep you safe.”
I look at him—really look at him—at the fear underneath the anger, at the way his thumb is tracing circles on my palm like he needs the contact to breathe. He’s terrified. For me. Because of me. He didn’t grab my hand because he thought I needed comfort; he needs it. That breaks me open.
“Okay,” I agree. “You can come. But you have to let me lead. She’s trusting me, not you.”
He nods, relief showing on his handsome face. “When?”
“Today,” I say. “After the assembly. I’ll text her.” I want to be at the assembly so I can read people’s faces.
Luke sits back, his arm going around my shoulders again, pulling me close. “We stick together until then. No wandering off.”
“Deal.”
Paislee clears her throat, looking between us. “Just... be careful. Both of you.”
“We will,” I promise her.
Luke’s hand gives mine a tight squeeze under the table.
And I hold on because right now, he’s what’s keeping me grounded.
Chapter Thirty-Four
LUKE
The auditorium is already filling up. Students have packed into rows of blue velvet seats, all of them whispering and texting. A lot of times you have to drag students to these things. Not this time. Everyone is here to find out if people’s suspicions are right.
Everyone knows something is up. You don’t have to be smart to put together that Coach Murphy is missing, and then the cops were digging body parts out of the lake.
I don’t let go of Madeline’s hand once we find our seats. I’m not leaving her side—not today, not after everything. Georgia squeezes in next to her.
“You see her?” Madeline whispers. She doesn’t have to say her name for me to know who she is talking about.
I scan the faces and then spot her. I give a slight nod to show Madeline. Lana is in the front row, wearing black like she’s going to the funeral after this. Performative bullshit. Teachers are lined along the walls, trying to look calm.
Bennett walks on stage, and everyone falls silent without him having to order everyone to do so a few times.
“I’m sorry to call everyone here last second, but this could no longer wait.” His voice is steady. “As many of you have been speculating, you are correct. The body found at the lake belongs to Coach Murphy.”
The crowd erupts. Bennett raises his hand for quiet so he can continue.
“Her death was not an accident. It’s being investigated as a murder.” A few loud sobs fill the space. “We’ve brought in extra counselors for anyone who needs to talk. Classes are suspended until Wednesday. I urge you all to be patient and to let the authorities do their work.”
A uniformed cop walks up the side stairs and onto the stage. He leans in and whispers something in Bennett’s ear.
I see it. The micro-expression my brother tries to hide—his jaw tightening, his eyes flicking to the left, toward the dorms. He nods once, sharply, and the cop walks off.
Something’s happening, and it’s happening right now.
“That’s all for now. I urge you to speak to the counselors,” Bennett says, his voice slightly off. “You’re dismissed.”
The crowd surges toward the exits, everyone talking in hushed tones to one another.
Madeline tightens her grip on my hand. “Something’s up?” I love how she’s already reading me so well. This must be that couple bullshit I hear people talk about, but maybe it’s not bullshit after all. I might have rolled my eyes at that shit before because I didn’t understand how two people could be so close.
“Yeah.” I pull her to me, my arm around her shoulders as we move with the crowd. We round the corner toward the dorms and stop short.
Police cars. Three of them, lights flashing silently against the brick. Officers everywhere, some with gloves on, going in and out of rooms.
“Oh God,” Georgia breathes beside us. We hurry into the building and quickly realize they’re on the male seniors’ floor.
“They can just search rooms?” Madeline whispers when we make it to my room’s floor.
“Yes, it’s not our property.” Then I see what door they are going in and out of. “Shit,” I mutter.