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Chapter Forty-One

Logan’s textmessage to Skye had us running over here. He didn’t give any explanations. Just said we had to come over ASAP. After making sure they both looked unhurt and had all visible parts attached, I can breathe a little easier. This better not be some kind of joke or those previously unseen parts will be forcibly removed. They scared the crap out of me and Skye.

“What’s going on?” I ask Logan since he’s the one who sent the text.

He points back at his brother. “It’s his idea.”

“What?” My voice is a few decibels louder.

Skye reaches for me and tugs my arm in the direction of the big chocolate brown sofa parked in front of the even bigger flat screen TV.

“Let’s just sit down and I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough what the reason of this is . . .” Skye trails off.

She sits down and I drop next to her. “What is this exactly?” She’s always so calm. Her calmness makes me even more agitated. I hate not knowing. It doesn’t matter what it is. That feeling of not knowing something makes me crazy.

Logan and Liam sit opposite to us. The dark wood coffee table in between. That might be a good thing. If someone doesn’t start explaining what’s happening right now, my jumping over that table will give them an extra second to try to escape.

Liam takes the lead. His excitement mutes when he looks at me and his voice softens.

“Logan’s been investigating sexual assault reports in the area.”

He’s paying close attention to me, gauging my reaction. I stay cool, trying to not show anything. He goes on. “They have several reports that have a lot in common with—”

He doesn’t finish, but we all know what the next word would be. Asserting I’m still okay, Liam speaks again.

“Unfortunately, none of the girls who came forward had any kind of information that could help us. But they were all attacked at a party, either on campus or nearby. None of them remember anything and in each attack, a condom was used.”

“How does this help me?”

“It doesn’t and the cops can’t do anything about it.” Liam glances at his brother. “Sorry, Logan.”

“It’s true. We don’t have enough evidence to go on. Even if you were to report what we overheard, it would be our word against his and then he’d get spooked and that would be the end of it. But Liam has this crazy idea and it just might work.”

“Okay, go on.” I’m nervous. My heart is racing and my hands are shaky now. I sit on them and lean forward.

“We’re going to throw a party on Saturday. A last chance to get together before graduation next week and we are going to invite Jon. We will provide the place”—he gestures around the room—“and the beer.”

“How do we know we can get Jon here?”

“That’s where you two come in. We don’t know the asshole, but you two do. What would get him here? And what would tempt him enough him to try to get one last girl?” Logan asks.

“Me.” Skye speaks for the first time.

We all look at her.

Logan is on his feet. “No! Absolutely not. I’m not letting that asshole anywhere near you.”

Skye just looks at him, calm as ever. “There is only one thing that will get him here for sure and that’s me. He knows this will be his last chance to get me. Like Liam said, graduation is in one week. If he thinks he can get to me, he’ll come. I’m the one who got away, and in his sick mind, no one says no to him.”

I look at my sister. “Skye? I don’t know about this . . .”

She interrupts me. “River, I have to do this. I can’t forgive myself for what happened to you. I feel it’s my fault. If I had never gotten involved with him in the first place, this would’ve never happened.”

I’m shaking my head the whole time she’s talking to me. “No, there’s no way you could have anticipated this. No way. It’s not your fault. It’s not my fault. There’s only one person at fault and it’s Jon.”

Skye pulls my left hand from under me and squeezes it. She looks at Logan.

“I have to do this. Him knowing I will be here? That’s too much temptation for him. He knows I don’t go to parties. I went to one with him. Probably the only reason he didn’t do the same to me is because he never had the opportunity, but if he thinks he can get to me and get away with it, he will. I’m the perfect bait.”