Page 62 of The Lake of Lost Girls

I wanted to get indignant. The implication was obvious. Instead, I remained quiet. Stewing on my bitter thoughts.

Ryan’s expression was shuttered. “I can’t believe her.” He shook his head. “Why would she get involved with him? What the hell?” He ran his hands through his short hair, he was a muddied mixture of aggrieved and furious. “I need to talk to her.”

My chest felt like ice. “Fine.” I couldn’t help but sound devastated.

His eyes softened, his anger abating slightly. “Jess,” he murmured my name and reached for me again. “Please don’t read more into this—”

I forced myself to smile. To relax. “I said it’s fine. You obviously need to talk to her, so go.”

He seemed momentarily conflicted. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure.” My mouth ached with the effort it took to look unaffected. The smile stayed in place. Inside I was howling.

Then he kissed me. A brief touch of lips that felt distracted rather than passionate. His thoughts were elsewhere. Then he was gone. Off to check on a girl that wasn’t me. I stared after Ryan, wishing that he’d come back, and furious at Meghan for putting me in this position.

Five Days Later

“Oh my god!” Daisy gasped, pointing to the TV. I was lying on my bed, legs stretched out in front of me, pretending to readGreat Expectationsfor my Victorian Literature class. I knew, deep down, it was another assignment I’d never complete.

I looked up and froze. A young woman’s face filled the screen. A face I recognized immediately.

Daisy turned the volume up.“Nineteen-year-old Meghan Lambert, a freshman at Southern State University, has been reported missing by her family.”

Daisy turned to me. “She lives in our dorm. I think she’s on the second floor.”

I couldn’t look at the TV. “We don’t know what this means—”

“Listen,” Daisy interrupted, glued to the news report.

“Meghan is the third girl to go missing since November. Tammy Estep, who has only recently been named a missing person, was last seen on November 12. Phoebe Baker, also a freshman at Southern State University, was reported missing on December 8 by her parents. While authorities have yet to make a statement regarding Meghan Lambert, speculation is rife over the potential connections between the three women, and police are keen to know Meghan’s last whereabouts. Links to the morbidly named North Carolina Boogie Man have been mentioned in connection to the three women, though authorities refuse to comment.”

“Daisy, turn that off,” I pleaded, closing my book and putting it on my desk. My heart was pounding in my chest, a sick feeling clawing at me.

My roommate muted the TV, the images of the college and missing Meghan still bright on the screen.

She came over and sat on my bed. “Seriously, this is getting really scary. You can’t dismiss my idea that it’s a serial killer, now. That’s three girls, Jess. Something horrible is going on.” Daisy’s distress was obvious. She bunched my new comforter in her hands, her pupils dilated in fear.

I wanted to make her feel better. I wanted to calm her. But the truth was, I was worried too. This wasn’t somethingthat could be mistaken anymore. These were clear and obvious crimes.

The overwhelming desire to call my dad left me shaky. I needed his reassurance. He was the only one who could make this better.

Or he’d make things a whole lot worse.

“No, I don’t think there’s a serial killer,” I began, “there’s no indication anything even happened to them.” I felt a heaviness in my limbs. A sinking feeling as if I was being dragged down.

Daisy cuddled against me. “I don’t know, Jess. What if we’re next? I’m starting to think maybe I should go home.”

I put my arms around my friend, hoping to comfort her despite the anxiety I was also feeling. “You have nothing to worry about, Daisy. I promise,” I assured her.

Daisy looked up at me. “But you can’t possibly know that. You can’t say we’re safe when it’s becoming more and more obvious that we’re not.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I defaulted to my tried-and-true response. Silence.

When I did nothing to assuage her fear, Daisy moved to her own bed as if she needed the space between us. “Seriously, Jess, we should stick together from now on, okay? I’m going to suggest a buddy system with the other pledges.”

“The police think Tammy and Phoebe took off. Maybe Meghan did, too.” My theory fell flat. “But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll escort you to every class.” I tried to sound airy and unconcerned. I was pretty sure I wasn’t succeeding.

Daisy gave me an opaque look that bothered me. “Thanks, Jess. I hope you’re right.” She stood up and reached for her shower caddy. “I’m gonna go get a shower before dinner.”

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