Private (Private 1)

told me, her eyes wide.

My insides overturned and for a split second my mind went

blank. For some reason the only Billings girls I could picture were Ariana and Noelle. “Who?” I asked.

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Missy rolled her eyes. “Leanne Shore. Try to keep up, Brennan.”

stone bench behind us, which was already packed with people, and I ignored her dig as relief washed over me. Of course. Leanne.

hauled me up with her. I was appalled at her insatiability, but Why had my brain gone anywhere else? I scanned the crowd for

impressed by her tenacity. Together we balanced there with a per-Ariana and the others, wondering where they were—what they

fect bird’s-eye view of the proceedings.

thought of all this. I saw no sign of them.

Leanne was the first to walk out, followed by two people I assumed

“So, what happened? Did she confess?” Diana asked, standing

to be her parents. Several members of the Easton staff trailed after on her tiptoes in a futile attempt to see over the dozens of kids in them, toting bags and boxes. Leanne was as white as a ghost.

front of us.

“Buh-bye, loser,” someone said. Someone who sounded a lot

“No! They found her crib sheets,” Constance said sagely. “I

like Noelle. Quickly, I spotted her and the others front and center, heard from one of the girls at The Chronicle.”

and sure enough, Noelle was waving her fingers at Leanne.

“Idiot wasn’t even smart enough to burn the evidence,” Missy

A few people in the crowd snickered. Leanne’s gait changed ever said with mock sympathy, staring at the front door. “No wonder she so slightly and I knew she had heard. This was awful. As much as I had to cheat.”

couldn’t stand the girl myself, I would never have wished this on

“Do you think Noelle and the others are okay?” Constance asked

her or anyone. Why did they have to do this now, with everyone

me. “Do you think they’re upset?”

watching? Why wasn’t anyone out here dispersing the crowd,

“Why?” I replied.

sending us off to breakfast?