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“What?” I say.

“Doing what she was told? Isn’t that whattheysaid they were doing?”

“What is wrong with you?”

Allison shrugs in that way she has—like nothing serious will ever impact her that deeply. Like she can brush off life like it’s dandruff on her shoulder.

“She’s just a lost kid.”

Harper looks up at me. Now the tears have come, shining on her face that is so like mine, but so different, too. “It was because of you and Connor. That’s why this happened.”

Her words hit me like a slap, but I understand where they’re coming from.

After all, I was just blaming myself for this very thing.

“No, Harper,” Oliver says, as always coming to my rescue. “No.”

I’ve never seen Harper like this. She almost looks dangerous.

She wheels on me. “Andyouprotected him...The two of you together.Youdid this.”

I glance at Connor. For once, he doesn’t look like he has anything to say. And I’m at a loss for words, too. Because she’s right. Shawna wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Connor and me.

None of us would.

“Harper, please...”

Harper’s breathing hitches, and she lets out a wail of grief. It’sa horrible sound, one that sends a chill through the room, freezing everyone to the spot.

We are terrible with grief, with wounds.

No one ever knows the right thing to say.

But I have to say something. I have todosomething.

I inch toward Harper, then bend down and wrap my arms around her, pulling her up and away from the body. The front of her shirt is stained with blood, and the air is filling with that horrible metallic smell.

I turn her so she’s facing me. “I know you’re upset. But this isn’t my fault or Connor’s. Shawnachoseto be here, to be involved in whatever’s going on. That washerdecision.”

Harper won’t look at me.

“Look at me, Harper. Listen to me.” She turns her face. Her eyes are red and puffy, the tears falling in large wet beads. “Someone else did this to her. And we’re going to find out who it was.”

“I should’ve seen through her.”

“No. This isn’t your fault. And you can blame me if you want, if that’s easier, but it isn’t anyone’s fault but hers. Shawna and whoever she was working with. They’re the ones to blame.Them.”

“It hurts.”

“I know.”

Her body’s shaking now, the shock setting in. “Why does this keep happening?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m scared.”

“Me too. But we’re safe here. We’re safe, and we’re going to get Officer Anderson to come, and we’re going to figure out what’s going on before anyone else gets hurt.”