One of Us Is Back (ONE OF US IS LYING)

Phoebe

Tuesday, July 21

Chelsea exaggerated; this room isn’t entirely soundproof. I hear things. A persistent thudding noise, a distant pop like the last bang in a fireworks finale, and a prolonged scream.

And then silence for what feels like a very long time, until footsteps finally approach. My heart stutters in my chest as I try to prepare myself for whatever’s on the other side of the door. I’m praying for the police, but even Chelsea would be okay. If she wanted you dead, you would be, I remind myself.

But I’m almost positive that it was a girl who screamed. The worst possible scenario is that Jake did something to Chelsea, and now he’s coming for me.

The doorknob turns but doesn’t open. It shakes and rattles. Not Chelsea, I think, my stomach twisting with fear. Then there’s the crashing sound of metal on metal, the door swings open, and Cooper steps through.

There’s nobody in the world I’d rather see right now, and my entire body goes limp with relief. “Hey, Phoebe,” Cooper says, looking equally relieved as he drops a wrench onto the ground. “You okay?”

All I can do is blink as he crosses the room and crouches beside me. “Let’s get you untied,” he says, his voice as gentle as the hands that circle my wrists, feeling for the knot that’s binding them together. “Everything’s gonna be all right.”

“How…how did you find me?” I stammer. “Where’s Chelsea?”

“Phoebe!” a familiar voice calls out before Cooper can respond, and my jaw drops even farther when I see Addy stumble into the room. “Are you okay?” she says.

I can’t think of any answer to give except “What are you doing here?”

“I was with Gavin—that’s Chelsea’s boyfriend from high school; it’s a whole thing,” Addy says breathlessly. “When Nate realized who they were, Gavin attacked him and grabbed me and…” She turns her attention to Cooper, who’s managed to loosen the ropes around my wrists. “Nate must be okay, right? He told you and Luis how to find us?”

“Luis is here?” I ask. Although I shouldn’t be surprised, probably, that this has somehow turned into an impromptu Murder Club meeting.

“Upstairs,” Cooper says briefly. The rope drops from my hands, and I massage my wrists as Cooper adds, “I don’t know what’s going on with Nate, Addy. I’m here because Marshall Whitfield came to my freaking house to tell me that he’d watched Phoebe go into an apartment building, and then he saw two people stuff her into a car and drive away.”

Addy stares in disbelief. “Marshall Whitfield?” she echoes. “Juror X? You’re telling me that guy actually used his creeper tendencies for good?”

“Guess so,” Cooper says, turning his attention to my ankles. “He was afraid to go to the police, on account of us calling him a stalker and all, so he came to me instead. I texted the group chat, and Maeve gave me this address. She said it still belongs to the Alton family, so Luis and I came over to check it out.” His mouth tightens as he adds, “She also said Nate was hurt, but…that’s all she said.”

“Oh God,” Addy says, gazing wildly around us. “I need my phone. Gavin took it, he probably still has it—” She looks at Cooper with imploring eyes. “Can I use yours?”

“Of course,” Cooper says, pausing briefly to pull it from his pocket and unlock it. “Luis might already be checking on that, or he might be…you know.” He clears his throat as he bends over the knot at my ankles once again. “Telling the police what went on upstairs.”

“Upstairs?” I don’t feel relieved anymore; that short burst has already been replaced by fast-growing dread. “What are you talking about? And what happened to Nate?”

Addy swallows hard. “I’m…I’m sure he’s fine. I just need to make a few calls. And I shouldn’t have left Luis by himself with…that.” She steps into the hallway, and I feel suddenly desperate at the thought of her leaving my sight.

“Addy, wait! By himself with what?” I call after her. “Does it have anything to do with Jake? Where is he?”

Addy freezes in place, stopping so abruptly that she has to place one hand on the wall to steady herself. Then, without turning to look at me, she says, “Jake’s gone.”