Jude, brooding.
The air between them draws dangerously tight, and just when I think it might snap like a bowstring, Officer Jake steps into the tension.
“What’s going on here?” he asks with a hand on his baton. “I thought the rules were pretty clear, Harper. Everyone is supposed to stick to the public areas.”
“Selah got sick,” Harper says.
I shake out my arm. “I’d like to go home.”
“That’s probably a good idea.” Jake looks at his watch. “In fact, I think it’s time for all of you to go home.”
Under normal circumstances, Harper might protest. She finds it completely irritating when Jake starts throwing his authority around, like he is her dad instead of her brother. But these aren’t normal circumstances. I went unconscious inside the funhouse and now I’m claiming one of our dead classmates isn’t actually dead.
I drain the rest of the cider while Rafe takes his leave and Jake radios his patrol partner, letting him know he’s going to drive his sister and her friend, Naomi Kapoor, home. Mr. Calloway gave me a ride to the fairgrounds, along with Twig and Kate. He had every intention of returning to pick us up when we were ready to go, but I don’t want to wait for him. Jude offers. I accept and Twig calls his sister to let her know it’s time to leave.
His call goes straight to voicemail.
He gives Harrison a ring.
That goes to voicemail, too.
When we reach the front gate, we run into Brynn Alcott, who looks ready to exit the fairgrounds by herself. Officer Jake frowns reprovingly, but before he can launch into a lectureabout the importance of staying in a group, Twig asks her if she’s seen his sister.
“She’s with Lainey,” Brynn says.
“What?” Twig yelps.
I grab Brynn by the elbow. “She’s with Lainey?”
“By herself?” Twig adds.
“Griffin and Harrison are with them.” Brynn pulls her arm free. “I think they were going to ride the Ferris Wheel or something.”
Twig tries calling Kate again.
Brynn looks confused, like why are we so panicked? But also, too numb to really care. For one illogical second, I want to tell her to hold onto hope. Caleb isn’t dead. Caleb is alive. So is Ivy Winslow.
“What’s going on?” Jake asks.
Harper fidgets.
Naomi’s gone pale.
Jude scans the crowd.
I crane my neck, trying to get a better look at the Ferris Wheel while Twig calls Kate for a third time.
He needs two more.
The thought reverberates inside my head. I turn in a circle, desperate to find her. Surely, she wouldn’t have gone anywhere with Lainey. Kate knows to stay clear of her and Griffin.
“She’s right there,” Brynn says in a flat voice.
I spin around and exhale sharply.
Kate is winding through the crowd, making her way toward us.
48
