Ivy was a victim too. That might have been the hardest fact of all to swallow. From murderous
stalker to hunted victim in less than two minutes. At least this exonerated Rose. If Ivy was
innocent, so was she.
"That's why we've stationed officers at each door and inside your building," Detective Hauer
explained gently. "Until we catch this
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person and ensure that both you and Ivy are safe, the only people allowed through to the
elevators and stairs will be the registered residents of Pemberly."
"I don't believe this," I said, sweating inside my wool coat. "I really don't believe this."
"I'm sorry," Detective Hauer said, pushing his hands into his coat pockets. "But don't worry. We're
not going to let anything happen to you or to Ivy. We're going to figure out who's doing all this. I
swear."
"Thanks," I said wanly.
"Reed? Are you coming?" Diana asked, hovering in the lobby with the others. She held up my ID,
which I'd left with the check-in officer.
"Yeah. I guess," I replied. I pushed myself away from the couch, feeling weak, and looked up at
Detective Hauer. "Thanks."
"Good night, Reed," he replied, trying for a bolstering smile.
I turned to my dorm mates, my shoulders rounded, and we all crowded into an elevator. They
grilled me, of course, on what was going on, and I explained to them briefly, shocking the crap out
of all of them. But I guess it couldn't be a secret anymore. Someone was after me. And apparently
they were after Ivy, too. These girls deserved to know why Pemberly had been put on red alert.
"Sorry, guys," I said, as the elevator stopped on my floor and I stepped out. "This whole police
presence thing is all my fault."
"Don't worry about it. Gives me something new to blog about," Shane said, waving a hand.
"Let me know if you need anything," Diana added.
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Then the doors slid closed and they were gone.
I turned and trudged down the hallway to my room. All along the way, dorm room doors were
open and the girls inside were whispering in hushed tones, trying to figure out what was going on.