Lies We Tell (Thistle Cove 3)

With everything going on, I’m excited to go on this trip. A little rest and relaxation is something we all need—something, after the last four months, we all deserve. Especially Kenley.

After the exam, Ezra takes off, but Ozzy and I walk down the hall with her to her locker.

“Since that’s the last exam, do you want to take off for the rest of the afternoon?” I ask as she spins her lock.

“Ozzy and I have to do this Secret Santa for Valhalla,” she says, “but maybe we can meet after that?”

I nod. “I could try to get Ezra to hang out.”

“That would be nice.”

Her locker door opens, and an envelope falls to the floor. Kenley beats Ozzy, bending over to pick it up. She pauses halfway up.

“Kenley?” Ozzy asks.

She stares down at the envelope—at the writing across the front.

“What does that say?” I ask, peering over her shoulder.

The name Eden is scrawled across the front.

“Give it to me,” I demand, but she holds it tight in her hands. Ozzy glances around. The hallway is packed—and more energetic than usual. Everyone is excited about the holidays. No one is watching us. “Kenley.”

She runs her finger under the flap, slowly taking out the card. It’s basic—a tree with the words Happy Holidays across the bottom. She opens it up and the inside inscription says, “Merry Christmas, Princess.”

Behind the card is another piece of paper—a photo. Hot anger boils under my skin. It’s an image of Kenley sitting on a bed.

“Is that your bed?” Ozzy asks.

She shakes her head. “No.”

It’s a different bedspread—different pillows. It’s too small. Even so, it looks familiar.

“Oh my god.”

“What?” I ask, my mouth dry.

“That’s the bedroom at the apartment—the East Point suites,” she whispers. “There was a camera on me—on us—the whole time.”

29

Kenley

I don’t think I would’ve made it through the Secret Santa exchange without Ozzy. Seeing that picture of myself in the apartment. Sitting on what I assume was Rose’s bed…the cold chill that iced over my veins still hasn’t thawed when we leave the school.

“We need to go to Chief McMichael,” Ozzy says. “We have to report this.”

“I need to go home.”

“Why?” Finn asks from the back seat.

I know what I’m going to do. What I should have done weeks ago. “I’m going home to get the rest of the evidence I have on BD, and yes, we can take it to the police. There’s a lot more than just that photo.”

Ozzy exhales with relief and reaches across the middle of the car to squeeze my leg. Finn also looks relieved.

It’s hard to admit that I waited so long on this. Alice was right, my obsession with Rose needed to stop. She’s gone, either dead or willingly gone to get away from the crazy secret life she was leading. She didn’t want me involved when she was here. She wouldn’t want me involved now.

Yet here I am, deeper than ever before. It’s ruined my relationship with Ezra. It’s put all of us at risk. I park the car in the driveway and head upstairs, Ozzy and Finn at my heels. I go straight to my bedside table. It’s time to turn over Rose’s iPod. I open the drawer and feel around. My fingers catch the charging cable and I pull it out. It’s loose—no device on the other side. I peer inside.