“Damn,” Lyle says, glancing at the clock. “That went by too fast.”

Sydney looks him over. “You’re a nice guy,” she says. “And thanks for helping clean up.”

“Anytime,” Lyle says. “And hey, maybe I’ll see you at the game this weekend. My brother’s on the team.” He laughs. “Matt’s a freshman, so he’s benched most of the time, but he likes when I show up.”

“That sounds great,” I say. “We’ll see you there.”

Lyle gets up, nodding to us awkwardly, before walking away. Sydney and I hang back a second. My skirt is still wet where the milk ran onto the fabric. I quickly check Garrett’s table, relieved to see that he and his friends are gone. I turn back around in time to see Lyle leave the cafeteria.

“What do you think?” I ask Sydney, regarding Lyle.

“I like him,” she says. “He’s not exactly the type Leandra told us to look out for, but I’m open to investigate further. At least he seems harmless.”

“Agreed,” I say. “And with his brother on the team, he might have a direct connection to the other boys. Anything that can help this along so we can get out of here.”

“Can’t wait to get out of here,” Sydney murmurs, glancing around. “But I have a feeling we’re going to have quite a few suspects.” She reaches to grabs her backpack.

“By the way,” she says as we start out of the cafeteria, “I’m going to stop by the mall after school to pick up new phones,” she says. “You want to go?”

“No,” I say. “I told Annalise I’d meet with Raven about my programming.”

The moment I say the words, anxiety claws its way through my chest, tearing at me. Warning me.

Ice picks and whispers, hands wrapped around my throat …

“Okay,” Sydney says, interrupting my thoughts. “Then I’ll meet you at the apartment?”

“I’ll see you there,” I say, trying to steady my voice. I force a smile.

Together, we walk out of the cafeteria to finish our day at school. But when I’m alone, I think about connections. How we can find more information. And suddenly, I have a different plan.

13

I don’t go directly home after school. Instead of meeting with Raven, I figure out the bus route, take it to the upscale neighborhood, and wait by the gate for a car to drive through. Once I’m inside, I try to remember which streets to take to get to Lennon Rose’s house.

My heart is pounding as I make my way to the oversized door. The driveway is empty and the window blinds are closed. I hope she’s here.

I want to talk some sense into her, convince her to come home with me. She belongs with her girls.

She belongs with us.

I ring the bell and wait. It’s quiet, and I wonder what time it is. She might not be home from … I pause, realizing that I don’t even know if Lennon Rose attends school.

The door opens, and I find Lennon Rose standing there. Her long hair cascades down her shoulders, and she’s wearing a large cardigan over leggings, smiling like she’s been expecting me.

“Hello, Mena,” she says. She leans against the doorframe. “I hope you didn’t walk. We could have come and picked you up.”

A chill trickles down my back. “We?” I ask.

She laughs. “Yes, we,” she replies playfully, reaching to take my hand. “Now come in. Winston is dying to talk to you.”

I rock back on my heels instead. “Winston Weeks is here?”

Although I knew this was his house, knew that Lennon Rose was working with him, the idea that he’s so close is terrifying. I’m not sure I can do this. Not alone.

“It’s okay, Mena,” Lennon Rose says gently, reading my hesitance. Her hand is warm and soft in mine. “You’re completely safe, I promise.”

She motions inside the house. I have only a moment to decide. Ultimately, if I want answers, this is my opportunity to get them from the source. I trust Lennon Rose, but wish I’d told the other girls I was heading here. Just in case.

I swallow hard, and then I nod and follow Lennon Rose down the hallway. The house is exquisitely decorated, and although I suppose I should admire the art, it makes me uncomfortable. Everything is exactly in its place.

Is that what Lennon Rose is to this house—perfectly placed décor?

Lennon Rose steps aside to let me enter the room at the end of the hall first. I walk in, struck immediately by the scent of food. It smells delicious.

It’s a grand dining room with a massive stone fireplace and a table set for twelve. And at the far end is Winston Weeks, cutting a piece of meat with a very sharp knife. He takes a moment to chew before setting aside his cutlery and looking up at me.

He sighs like he’s taken with my beauty.

“It’s nice to see you again, Philomena,” he says warmly. “I was hoping you and I would get the time to talk.”

I note his use of “I” while Lennon Rose used “we.” I check to see if she caught it, but her expression is unreadable. Winston sees me watching her, and he clears his throat. Lennon Rose turns to him.

“Will you excuse us, please?” he asks her. I’m immediately panicked and reach for Lennon Rose’s arm. When I touch her, she moves forward a step to break our contact.

“Of course, Winston,” Lennon Rose says with a nod. “I have to meet Corris anyway.” She pauses, turning back to me. “I’ll see you soon, Mena,” she adds.

I stand there, too stunned to reply. She presses her lips together in apology and walks out, leaving me alone with one of Innovations Academy’s most important investors. I stare after her, betrayed, before I straighten my expression and turn back to Winston.

I try not to show my discomfort, but the room is suddenly too small. Winston examines me from the other end of the table, taking a sip from a glass of ice water as he runs his gaze over me. He’s smart, calculating. I’m sure he can see that I’m afraid.

“Please,” he says, his voice soft. “Sit. I can get you a plate if—”

“Have you been trying to hack me?” I ask. My voice doesn’t hold the fear I feel. I sound strong.

Winston is in this same small town as us. In close proximity, just like Raven suggested the culprit would be. If anyone has a reason to want inside my head, it would be an investor in the corporation that built me. Truth is, I have no reason to trust Winston Weeks. And it only makes sense that he’s the one behind that phone call.

Winston dots the corners of his mouth with a napkin before laying it across his lap. He seems almost amused by my question.

“Philomena,” he says. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Has something happened? Lennon Rose informed me you’re here searching for an investor. I take it things aren’t going well, then?”

I figured that Lennon Rose would tell Winston about seeing us, but I didn’t think she’d tell him about our purpose. I’m hurt, if I’m honest.

I ignore Winston’s question.

“You’re telling me it’s a coincidence?” I ask. “All of us ending up in the same small town?”

“No,” he says. “I wouldn’t insult your intelligence.”