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“Yeah!” Melinda followed. “She thought it was hilarious!”
While I absolutely believed Becky’s statement, I didn’t believe Melinda’s. I clearly remembered them laughing, but Harper never did. She may have just been focused, or maybe she didn’t fully agree with what they’d done—I’d probably never know. But Melinda lied.”
“Youare the liar. Harperneverlaughed. Notanyof the times I woke up that I can remember. Yet you two laughed every time.”
“Girls,” Headmistress McArthur warned. She turned back to me. “Did you get the feeling the other girls may have forced Harper to be there?”
Becky and Melinda started to argue, but the headmistress silenced them before they could.
“There’s no way for me to know that. All I know is she acted differently from the others. To me, she seemed uncomfortable and hesitant. I don’t know the others, but I know Harper well enough to know she would do anything for her dad. The thought of disappointing him like this would kill her. So, take that as you will.”
Most of that was honest, but I compromised myself only enough to give the benefit of the doubt. It was up to Harper and the headmistress now.
“Harper,” the headmistress said. “Do you have anything to say for yourself? Do you agree with what Temperance said?”
There was a pause, and I dared to look over at her. Her eyes were zeroed in on me, and her face gave nothing away. I wondered what was going through her mind. At that moment, I assumed it had something to do with whether or not she should throw her friends under the bus.
“Yes,” she said finally, her voice trembling as more tears fell. She looked at her father and then at McArthur. “I didn’t want to be there. They would have done it with or without me. At least with me there, I knew Temperance wouldn’t getreallyhurt.”
Rick inhaled deeply through his nose, his nostrils flaring before blowing it out. I could tell by the way he looked between us both, he didn’t believe a word of that.
A campus officer walked into the office, and McArthur waved him in. He walked over and spoke quietly to her, but I was close enough to hear. “Ma’am, we found contraband.”
“What room?” Headmistress McArthur asked.
“We found Rohypnol in room 303.”
“That’s Becky’s room,” the headmistress said.
“And we found crystal meth, pipes, and other paraphernalia in room 308,” the officer said.
“Meth, Melinda?!” her mother screeched. I looked over and noticed she’d moved several feet closer to eavesdrop. Everyone in the room had been caught up in their own quiet conversations, so they didn’t even pay attention. She burst into loud sobs as she flung herself into her husband’s arms. “What has happened to our little girl?”
I snorted. “Imagine that. The deviants werenotthe goth girl? I’mshocked!” I quipped.
McArthur quirked a brow at me as she gave me the“really?”expression. I shrugged.
“The police have Miss Wilder’s blood and urine samples, yes?” Headmistress McArthur asked the campus officer quietly, and he nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. We’re about finished up. Several of the bottles of protein water, including the one Miss Wilder drank from all tested positive for Rohypnol. City Police said they’ll send everything to the lab to confirm, but it’s pretty obvious. They managed to lift some fingerprints as well.” He looked at me and spoke louder. “We’ll need to get your fingerprints to rule yours out.”
I nodded and made a mental note to let them know to print Luna and Justin as well. I wasn’t about to say that in front of Becky’s bastard of a father, though. That would only allow him to say it was possiblethey’dbeen the ones to drug me.
Rick turned toward the cop. “Officer, is it possible for her to do that tomorrow or the following day? I’m sure the poor girl needs to rest.”
Oh, thank you, you sweet, sweet man.He was right. I might have been awake, but I was far fromwideawake or even okay. My whole body still felt weak, I was dizzy as hell, and I still felt higher than a kite.
He nodded. “Absolutely, Senator. An officer will come here with a mobile kit later this week.”
Rick smiled and reached out to shake the man’s hand. “Thank you, Officer Jenkins.”
“I believe we’re done here. Temperance, I’ll have your friends escort you back to your room.” The headmistress smiled as she headed out of her office.
“Miss, you’ll need to restock your kitchen. We had to take everything for evidence,” Officer Jenkins said, and I nodded.
“Thank you for letting me know. Not that I planned to touch even a single avocado in that fridge after this.”
He smiled and nodded before turning and walking out the door. Luna and Justin soon came in, and Justin shook Rick’s hand.
