Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
That thought hits me hard. Why would he be doing all this? It can’t be about winning a bet, right? Would he really get himself wrapped into all of this for that reason alone? He could have simply dipped out.
We walk up the drive like we have nothing to hide, like we didn’t just find a dismemberment scene. We’re just two teenagers sneaking back in after curfew.
When we enter the side door of the house, Bennett is standing in the kitchen talking to a police officer. He’s wearing a sweater and jeans, casual for him. He glances over as we approach, and I see it: a quick flash of recognition in his eyes when they land on me, the split second of shock before he masks it.
“Luke,” Bennett says, his voice perfectly even. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
“Sorry, Benny.” Luke squeezes my hand, but his tone is light and teasing. “We were out, lost track of time.”
The officer turns, looking us over. “Luke.” The officer nods, clearly knowing him, and then his attention slides over to me. “And you must be new around here.”
“Madeline Pearson,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t shake. Why can’t I be all cool like Luke, not sweating it? “I’m a student.”
“She’s with me,” Luke adds, pulling me closer. “We were just grabbing food in town.”
Bennett’s eyes flick between us, reading something I can’t decipher. “Well, come in. Officer Brinks and I were talking about Coach Murphy. Seems she’s gone missing.”
“Missing?” Luke’s surprise sounds genuine. “She was at the game yesterday, wasn’t she?” He glances down at me, and I nod my head.
“She was,” Officer Brinks confirms, “but she didn’t go home last night, and no one has seen her.”
Bennett steps aside, gesturing us in. His hand brushes Luke’s shoulder as we pass, a casual, brotherly touch that somehow feels loaded. “Make yourselves comfortable. This shouldn’t take long.” Luke leads me out of the kitchen, keeping my hand in his. He stops walking when we know we’re out of sight, gesturing for me to be quiet. I nod.
Bennett’s voice carries smoothly and reassuringly. “Coach Murphy was in good spirits when she left. I can ask around, but I don’t want to spook anyone.”
“It’s been twenty-four hours since she was last seen, and it’s not her norm. It’s time for people to start getting spooked.”
I meet Luke’s eyes. We both know why she never made it home.
“It’s okay,” Luke murmurs, his lips brushing my ear.
I nod, my heart hammering against my ribs. We’re trapped in this house with cops asking questions and a brother who knows more than he’s saying. And somewhere out there, a killer is still walking around. One that knows we were at the boathouse last night.
Luke’s hand tightens on mine. His anchor. His problem now.
Whatever happens, we’re in this together.
That helps my pounding heart start to slow.
“All right, I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out,” Bennett says, and we can tell the conversation might be wrapping up, so we head toward the stairs going up to Luke’s room.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Madeline.” Luke says this as the door closes behind him.
“You’re being really sweet to me about all of this.” Sweet isn’t the Luke I’ve heard about. It’s the exact opposite of the reputation that precedes him.
“Well, you’re my girlfriend; shouldn’t I be sweet to you?” He gives me a lazy smile, and I roll my eyes.
“Are you sweet to all of your girlfriends? Because I’ve seen how you speak to Lana.”
“Lana isn’t my girlfriend and never was.” The smile slips away.
“Fuck buddy or whatever.” I may be acting as though I’m saying it nonchalantly, but even I can hear the slight trace of jealousy in my words.
“What are you talking about? I’ve never touched Lana.” I stare at him, trying to see if he’s lying; he must know what I’m thinking. “Why would I lie about that?”
“I don’t know. The Ice Crew girls talk, and I overheard it.” And Lana made it abundantly clear that she slept with him. I might listen extra hard when I hear his name, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“Did it bother you when you heard that?”
“What!” I respond too quickly, giving myself away. “Why would I care?”
“Sounds like you care.”
I roll my eyes. “If that’s what you want to believe, then fine, but let’s get back to what’s important.”
“The bet?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” I say, pretending I don’t care about that because it doesn’t matter to me.
“But it’s important to you.” Luke is starting to read me far too well. I need to be more careful to mask my emotions when I’m around him.
“I mean, isn’t it annoying people are betting on fucking me?”
“I know I’m an asshole, but do you think I’m one to play along with the stupid-ass games Caleb comes up with?” Actually, I don’t. Luke is too cool for school, and I don’t mean that as an insult. He simply just is. He possesses a natural coolness that seems effortless. In fact, it probably annoys him because this quality attracts more attention from others. People naturally gravitate to him, which now that I think about it is probably why he’s a dick to people.