Page 57 of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

“I wish. No, Connor and, well, everybody.”

“Speaking of which, I have to make sure he’s up. When I get back, you’d better be in the shower.”

I check the time. It’s six thirty. “Is this bus really at seven, or did you lie to me to get me up on time?”

“It’s at seven thirty. But we’re meeting it around the corner, so you’ll have enough time if you get a move on.”

“You might want to take a stroll down the hallway and hit everyone’s door. No one but you seems to have gotten much sleep last night.”

“Good idea.” She hesitates. “You’ve got five minutes.”

“Yes, yes.”

Harper leaves, and I listen to her work her way down the hall, starting at the far end. Her raps are sharp, and she repeats that phrase—“up and at ’em”—in a clear, ringing voice. I can’t hear the responses, though she giggles at one of them, probably Allison’s, by the distance, but maybe Oliver’s.

There’s a pause while she skips her room and mine, and then I hear it, the final rap.

“Connor! Let’s go. Time to get up.”

Silence.

“Connor! Please acknowledge! We’re more than happy for you to miss the bus!”

Good for her.

“Connor! I’m opening the door. You’d better not be naked in there!”

I hear Connor’s door push back and then the air’s pierced with a single scream.

And then again.

I jump out of bed and race for the door. I trip over one of my shoes and slam my hands against the floor.

I push myself up and fling open my door.

Harper is crumpled in a ball on the ground in front of Connor’s room with a room key lying next to her.

“What happened?” I crouch down and pull her to me as I look past her.

Connor’s lying on his bed, half naked, on his back, his eyes staring fixedly at the ceiling.

Dead.

Ah, shit.

CHAPTER 11Greatly Exaggerated

Oliver rushes past me and grabs Connor by the shoulders while my heart shudders in my chest.

I should’ve taken Connor seriously.

All those events—the car, the push into traffic, the threats, the purse snatching, maybe even the fish bone—they were all there in front of me.

Someone on this tour has killed Connor. Which means police, questions, suspicions, the past dragged up again.

On the other hand, this does solve a big problem for me—No.

I’m not like that. I’m not.

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