“Guys!” I shouted.
They both clammed up and turned to me.
“What?” they snapped in unison, clearly annoyed at having their latest battle interrupted. But when they saw the look on my face their whole demeanor changed. Ivy’s eyes flicked to my phone, still clutched in my hand.
“Reed? What’s wrong?” Noelle asked, her brow creased.
Ivy took a step toward me. “Is it—?”
I nodded. “I need you both to come with me,” I told them firmly. “Now.”
SLANDER
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this!” Noelle said between gasps as the three of us rushed across campus. The sky above was dark as low clouds crowded out the moon and stars. A chilly wind whipped my hair back from my face.
I glared at her. “First of all, the last time I was getting mystery texts, you and your crazy grandmother were behind them, so—”
“Hey! That’s our crazy grandmother,” she replied, earning a wry laugh from Ivy, who was bringing up the rear. “And this is definitely not her.”
“Well, whatever. You’ve had enough to deal with in the past few months and I didn’t want to worry you,” I said as the shadowy construction site loomed into view. “Besides, nothing dangerous has happened.”
“Except for the whole cement truck thing,” Ivy reminded me.
“Yeah, but MT had nothing to do with that,” I retorted.
I slowed as the stage I’d stood on just two days ago to cut the ceremonial ribbon came into clearer focus. The chairs had been removed, but the podium was still there, and it looked as if someone had hung something across the front of the wide stage.
“So you think,” Noelle said.
Ivy stopped next to us and our ragged breath mingled in the night as we tried to make out exactly what we were seeing. Finally we were close enough to read the angry red message that had been hastily scrawled across the long, white banner.
“Oh my God,” I said breathlessly, my hands fluttering up to cover my mouth.
The banner read: BILLINGS GIRLS ARE MURDERERS! The words were painted in blood red, the drips and random swipes of the brush making them appear as if they’d been constructed by a madman. Printed on the banner next to the message were three larger-than-life color photos. The first was of Ariana Osgood. The next, Sabine DuLac, who’d killed Cheyenne Martin. And finally, Calista Ryan, Paige and Daniel’s mother.
Okay, so maybe Paige wasn’t behind all this.
“Those bastards,” Noelle said under her breath.
“Who?” Ivy asked. “Do you know who did this?”
“No! I just . . . I just meant whoever did this . . . they’re bastards,” Noelle explained hastily.
“Yeah, and they missed someone,” I added angrily. “Where’s Mrs. Kane?” I was surprised by the vehemence behind my words, the force of the fury rising up in my veins. My eyes blurred with hot tears as the images from the night of my birthday came flooding back in stark relief. Mrs. Kane practically spitting as she threatened me and my friends. The hateful look in her eyes as the cops dragged her away. The knife flying through the air, straight for my heart. And Mr. Lange. Noelle’s father. My father . . . flinging himself in front of me, saving my life, sacrificing his own for mine. The images were so crisp and clear, it was as if the whole thing were happening all over again. I had tried so hard not to think about it for so long, but every last detail had just been percolating in the back of my mind, waiting to burst forth and torture me. “She was a Billings girl, wasn’t she? God! If you’re going to slander us, at least get all your facts straight!” I shouted, as if anyone near the quad could hear me, as if every one of them was responsible. Something inside of me had broken, and everything I’d been holding inside came gushing out uncontrollably.
“Reed? What’re you doing?” Ivy asked shakily as I stomped up the dozen steps to the stage.
“I’m taking it down!” I shouted back angrily. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
The floorboards creaked and bowed beneath my feet as I reached over and yanked at the twine that held the corner of the banner in place. It took a few good jerks, but it came free. Then I stomped over to the center of the banner, which had been secured to the podium. A loud crack sent my heart hurtling into my
throat. The raised stage had been hastily constructed and apparently it couldn’t withstand my angry tromping. But I was almost done. I got the center of the banner down and moved on to the far side.
“Reed! Wait!” Noelle shouted.
“Get down from there!” Ivy cried.
“Just let me finish!” I yelled back.