“Who?”
“Well, from what you’re saying, whoever owns those accounts.”
For the first time since the conversation had begun, Nicky showed her impatience. “So you don’t know what the rumors were based on? And you had nothing to do with spreading any stories about Sadie? Like this one, the post that started it all from what we can gather . . .” Nicky flipped a page in her notebook and read aloud. “FACT: Sadie Saunders spreads her legs for strangers. Witnessed with my own eyes. #SadieSlut #PoorMason. And this . . .” Nicky pulled out her phone and showed Lara the photo that was on the screen: a picture taken in the dark of someone who may or may not have been Sadie, with her eyes closed and her mouth open, and a blob that might have been the back of somebody’s head obscuring her shoulder. The second figure in particular was so blurred it might have been anyone, but the nature of the act they were supposedly engaged in was clear enough. It was an image that had spawned a dozen memes.
“I might have shared a few posts,” Lara said. “But it’s like I said, it’s not an offense if it’s true.”
“But how can you make that judgment?” Nicky pressed. “If you didn’t start the rumors, and you don’t know what they were based on, how do you know they weren’t lies?”
“Because I saw her face.”
Nicky blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“I saw her face,” Lara repeated. “Sadie’s. When I showed her.”
“When you showed her?”
Lara lifted a shoulder, then let it fall. “I just felt so bad for her, you know? When I saw the posts for the first time. And from the way Sadie was strutting around, acting the way she always did, it was obvious that she didn’t know what was going on. She didn’t seem to realize that everyone else was laughing behind her back. So I did what I figured was the decent thing.”
“You showed her,” said Nicky, and Lara nodded.
“The posts, the memes, the replies. We were in the shopping center, which is where everyone had been hanging out in the holidays. It was pretty busy, so unfortunately quite a few people saw. But I called out to her and suggested she come over, and when she did I showed her on my phone.”
Nicky stole a glance at Fleet. Lara noticed, and switched her attention to him.
“And that’s how I know, you see,” she said. “I could tell from her face. Because it wasn’t anger I saw in her expression, or outrage, or anything like that.” Lara folded her arms, and came close to showing a smile. “What I saw, when I looked at her, was guilt.”
MASON
FIRST OFF, I want to make clear, I had nothing to do with what we found.
You can ask any of them. They’ll tell you. It wasn’t even me who was leading the way, meaning I couldn’t have had anything to do with it.
Seriously. Ask them whether I was out in front. And then come back and tell me what they said.
Whatever, man. Ask them or don’t. It’s your investigation. But me personally? If I need to I can sit here all day.
ABI
I DON’T KNOW. I guess . . . Luke maybe? Because he was the one with Dylan’s compass. Unless that was later, after we got lost. Not lost exactly, but . . . turned around.
Maybe it was Cora who was out in front. It could have been Cora.
Why? What does it matter?
Although I keep wondering what would have happened if we’d just kept walking. Or what wouldn’t have. You know? If I hadn’t seen it. Or if I’d just kept my big mouth shut. Or even if it hadn’t started raining. Which sounds stupid, probably, but that was important, too. Particularly to what happened after.
Because that’s the thing. We almost made it out. All of us, I mean.
Almost.
But in the end, Mason got his way.
CORA
MASON? HE WAS at the back, obviously. Sulking, fuming, whatever. Basically acting like a dick. Luke was next, still swinging that branch he’d picked up the day before. And then, ahead of Luke, it was—
You know what? I’ve just figured out why you’re asking.
Jesus.
You think Mason put it there, don’t you?
That night, while the rest of us were sleeping. That he had it with him all along and he used it to keep us out there in the woods. But you’re wondering how we would have found it if Mason wasn’t leading the way. Except that’s bullshit because I can tell you exactly who was out in front. I remember because they started off behind me and then pushed past me in a hurry, like they were on a mission or something.
Fash. I’m talking about Fash. And if it was Fash leading the way, then that basically proves your theory.
What do you mean, you don’t understand? Fash hasn’t told you yet? About him and Mason?
Seriously? He’s still covering for him? Even after everything that’s happened?
No fucking way. I’m not getting involved in that shit. If you want to know, then you’re going to have to ask him yourself.
FASH
I AM BEING honest! I have been! There’s nothing I’m not telling you, I swear to God, I—
Mason? What about Mason? Did he say something? I thought . . . I mean, he told me that it didn’t . . .
Nothing. Nothing.
Look, I . . . I need to think. OK? Just give me some time to think.
No, I know, but . . .
Where’s my mum? I’d like to talk to my mum.
Please. Please.
I just want my mum.
MASON
WELL? WHAT DID they say?
See? I told you. I was nowhere near when they found it. They all said that, right? Every one of them?
So there you go then. Except . . . why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you still don’t believe me?
Jesus H. Christ.
You don’t, do you? You still think I’m lying.
Fash? I’m not following
