Page 125 of The Invite
“None of us are friends and this isn’t a thriller movie,” snaps Scarlett from beside Maverick. “We’re just stuck in the same boat. The sooner we fix the hole sinking us, the quicker we move on with our lives.”
“Agreed,” says Capri.
Mortification kills the thrill on Daisy’s face and she cautiously approaches Capri, who tenses. Shorter by a few inches than her, Daisy tilts her head. “I’m sorry for being insensitive. I always thought Amber was sweet. We sat in the library together once during lunch.”
“Whatever. Keep your apologies.”
Daisy’s expression falls. With a nod, she shifts to the side.
“How are we going to catch him, though? We know nothing about him,” says a sweat-slicked Kenny. “The notes aren’t enough.”
I look at him in surprise that he spoke at all considering the state of him. I don’t think he’s moved an inch from his position. He doesn’t look like he could hurt a fly; rather, he’d be scared of it. After Amber’s death, it’s obvious even the innocent ones can hide deadly secrets.
“Our best bet is to keep an eye on where he leaves the envelopes and catch him when he comes to deliver the next one.”
“How do you propose we do that, rich boy?” huffs Capri. “Not all of us can afford to install high-tech cameras nor do we have time to perch on our windows and wait for him. Unlike you and your sister, the rest of us work to keep food in our bellies and don’t have servants doing everything for us.”
“Are you finished with your monologue?”
She glowers.
“I can arrange them for you,” offers Maverick, smiling charmingly while adding, “free of charge.”
“I don’t need your charity,” she sneers, looking at him up and down with disdain.
“So you just like to complain then?” taunts Scarlett.
Capri’s mouth twists and opens to retort. Kaid jumps in, and says, “We’ll find a way to keep an eye out.”
“This is our only lead,” I reiterate. “Anonymous will send another note soon to tell us when to post the secret.”
“What are we supposed to do if we do catch him?” asks Kenny nervously. “Do we confront him? Do we tell the police?”
“No,” Kaid and I say at the same time, making him jump.
I continue. “No confronting him alone. Let him think he’s safe. Once we know his identity, we’ll decide how to handle him together.”
Kaid explains, “We need to know what secrets he knows about us.”
“Handle him how?” asks Daisy very slowly, emphasizing the word how.
“Like I said, we decide together,” I answer.
She swallows and nods.
“Anybody else has any other questions?”
Kenny raises his hand, making both Wolf and Maverick shake their head behind him and reel back their amusement.
“What, Kenny?” I sigh. I’m suddenly more intrigued what nefarious secret could this guy have. I bet Anonymous made a mistake.
“What do we tell the detectives tomorrow?” he asks.
“That you have no idea who could’ve hurt her or that you ever spoke to her.”
“Oh… Okay.”
“Can we leave now?” comes from Daisy.
