Page 46

“Will you stop distracting me?”

“Have you slept at all? Aren’t your dad and that florist hitting it off? Are you still spending hours on Beedle?”

“I think they are; my dad has spent a couple of nights out, but when I ask he tells me not to be nosy. Just in case, I’ve been talking to a few potential matches.” And spending the rest of my time studying, of course.

My phone lights up on the desk. It’s from Rachel.

Go to Ms. Cortez’s office.

Now.

The sigh that escapes my lips becomes a yawn. “I’ll be right back.”

When I get to Ms. Cortez’s office, she jumps. “Violet, how’d you know I was just about to call for you?”

It makes my stomach fall. Just what did Rachel do?

“Guess we’re connected,” I say, exhaustion weighing my body so much I have to sit. Maybe I should have drank some water at least. “Being your favorite and all.”

She winks at me. “You get me.” Then she blows out a hefty breath. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the best news for your case.”

I sit up straight. “What’s going on?”

“The opposing council has called a new witness, and he’s been accepted.” She reaches over and hands me a paper of his statement, one I’ll be emailed too. “Peter Macintosh says he saw Theo the night of the vandalism.”

“Why was he there that late too?” I ask, automatically picking it apart. A habit in any case I work, but I have to remember I’m working against this one.

“Peter says he stayed late at football practice, gave time stamps and everything.”

I read through the papers, checking the numbers. For solving math problems they shake around in my head until they’re unrecognizable. But I always remember time stamps for cases.

Peter marked down the exact time the cameras were covered with a cloth.

I roll my eyes and have to hold back a laugh. Absolutely ridiculous. This is such amateur work; way too obvious to match the security footage time stamps. I guess Rachel decided I wasn’t trustworthy and got Peter involved. False witness and testimony.

I wonder if this is how she won the rest of her cases.

I open my mouth to ask what the opposing council said to get this accepted, but I can’t poke holes in it. I already accepted Rachel’s money, and as much as I hate it, I’m in the palm of her hand.

And honestly, I’m so tired I probably couldn’t think of too many coherent sentences right now anyway. Last night I didn’t sleep well, so I went on the treadmill to stay up and study and make use of the time. When I say bye to Ms. Cortez, her words sound like a low-volume TV.

I head to the cafeteria, where several vending machines are propped against the wall before the entrance. I gather all the snacks I need and make my way back to the hall.

Lexie is gone but her bag is still here. Either she went on a bathroom break or decided to take a writer’s block walk, during which she tries to find “inspiration” anywhere but on the page she’s writing.

I pull out my thermos from my bag and make my stay-awake soda. It’s this gross mix of instant coffee powder from home, an energy drink, vitamin water, and a Coke. I shake it all up to its frothy texture and down a few gulps before going back to studying.

I’m halfway through the bottle when the door swings open, hitting the wall. The noise jerks me from my daze.

Theo storms in. “Hey, I thought witnesses were all rounded up already. How the hell is Peter one? He says he saw me holding paint that night. He’s lying.”

“I know,” I say quietly, sensitive to all noises, even my own voice.

“How could you let them register him?” His gaze is hot on me, like I’m the one lying here.

“It’s not up to me,” I say. “He was already accepted when I was told. Which means they had a pretty compelling argument.”

“Did you even fight back?” he demands.