Page 44 of Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets

Alexandra’s hands tighten around the notebook. “The same reason you’re on this hike. To find out the truth about Piper.”

Shock streams through me, but I cross my arms. Somewhere in the woods, an animal lets out a horrific squeal that ends in unnerving silence.

I press my lips flat. “Okay, Nancy Drew. Why don’t you just go back to bed?”

“You’re the one who came to me, remember? Claiming I’d called Piper the day she fell? That someone threatened her?”

“Yeah, well, I was wrong,” I lie. “I’ve been through a lot lately.”

“I don’t think you’re wrong,” she says as the wind whips a brown coil of hair in front of her eyes.

Any trace of tiredness from the long day vanishes, replaced by adrenaline as I move closer, dropping my voice. “What do you mean?”

“Something was definitely going on with Piper before she fell. And I want you to tell me everything so I can—”

“So you can write a story about it for the school paper?” I snap. “Is that what your little notebook is about?”

I try to snatch it, but she steps back, twisting her body to protect it. “Of course not.”

“Piper wasn’t your friend. So why do you care?”

“Let’s just get to the Point,” she says. “I’ll know more after we find out what Jacey and Noah are up to.”

“You’re not coming with me.”

“It’s not safe to go alone. Not if they’re murderers.”

“I’m not safe withyou! All I know about you is that you stalk people. I’ll bring Grant.”

“And tell him what, Savannah? I’ve noticed he’s not exactly helping with your investigation. Does he even know why you’re really here? How’s he going to react when he finds out you only came because you think someone tried to murder your sister?”

I let out a growl. Grant asked why I was coming on this trip, and I lied to his face. He’s so worried about my mental state that if he knew about my investigation, he’d force me to go back down the mountain without learning the truth. “Fine. But we need to hurry. Before Jacey cleans up whatever evidence she left behind.”

I zip up my jacket and pull my hood over my hair.

Heads down, we scurry toward the trail. “Do you know the way?” Alexandra asks.

I swallow, my throat raw from thirst and the dry mountain air. I think of Piper toppling over that guardrail. Then I think about my own encounter with the Point. I’ll never admit I followed the three amigos to that cliff on one of their adventures because I was bored or curious. Or even jealous. “It’s all the way down to the fork and then back up for a good thirty minutes after that. At least an hour from camp.”

The Point. Shortened from Vanderwild Point by the locals. Shortened from Suicide Point by the faint of heart. Up until a few days ago, I was certain Suicide Point was the most accurate name. A spectacular view tainted by a series of tragedies.

And now, it might be the scene of an attempted murder.

An owl hoots overhead, the cold wind stings my face, and I tug the string on my hood tighter.

Chapter 18

It’s dark when the voices, low and muffled, slice through the wilderness.

Alexandra and I click off our lights, leaving only the moonlight to guide our steps as we tiptoe into the trees for cover.

We watch the hazy shapes until the sun peeks out from behind a distant crag to illuminate Jacey and Noah at the guardrail. Jacey’s arm is stretched over the top bar, like she’s pointing to something beyond the railing. Something down the face of the cliff. But we’re too far away to make out her words.

I motion for Alexandra to follow me through the spindly branches to get closer. A twig snaps beneath my foot, loud as a gunshot, and Alexandra flinches. I shut my eyes, ducking my head.

When I look, Noah and Jacey are still peering down over the side of the cliff. The sun continues to rise, slowly painting greenery onto the dark canvas of the mountainside. I take a few more cautious steps until Jacey’s voice reaches my ears with sudden clarity. “It could be evidence.”

Evidence. Something she wants to cover up so badly, she hiked all the way out here in the middle of the night.

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