Page 144 of Mad As Hell

“The ones of the initiation aren’t,” I pointed out.

“They’re copies of originals. With technology being what it is today, it would be easy to say they’re fake, and without the original for comparison, there’s no basis,” Court chimed in, waving a dismissive hand. “They might cause some social blowback, but nothing we couldn’t explain away or get dismissed legally.”

I stared at him, amazed and a little horrified. “Must be nice.”

He flashed me a benign smile. “It’s not the worst thing.”

I turned away and looked at Ryan. “I still need to get back to Pac Cross. I have to show up tonight looking like Madelaine, and that takes work.”

He scowled at me. “You’re ten times more beautiful than she ever was.”

“We’re identical,” I reminded him with a chuckle, even as warmth blossomed in my chest.

He shook his head slowly, his eyes on mine. “Bullshit. Even if she was standing here right now, I would know who you were. No way would I ever mistake you for her.”

“Okay, Romeo,” Ash drawled, “we get it. You love the girl. But Juliet’s right. If she wants to be ready for a car to pick her up in a couple hours, we need to get back.”

Bex wrinkled her nose. “Can we pick a metaphor where the main characters didn’t die in tragic and pointless ways?”

I suppressed a shudder, because she was right. It was terrifying to think that my love story might turn into a tragedy just as fast as theirs had.

* * *

Halfway back to Pacific Cross, Ryan got a text saying he was needed at the frat house. He dropped me off in front of my dorm, and I went inside with Bex to get ready for whatever Gary had planned. Ryan promised to be back before the car came to get me.

After taking a quick shower and blow-drying my hair, Bex helped me pick out a Madelaine-appropriate outfit, and I was glad to have her alone for a minute.

“Where do you think Madelaine would’ve hidden her diaries?” I asked as Bex finished curling my hair.

She frowned at me in the vanity mirror, pausing before picking up the last section of hair. “I thought the guys said it was pointless.”

I shrugged, careful to avoid moving my head too close to the burning hot wand. “I know, but maybe there’s something there that might give us a clue. If Lainey was this obsessed with what Ryan and the guys were doing, I can’t believe she just turned a blind eye to whatever Gary had planned.”

She made a soft sound of agreement. “She hated him, so you’re probably right. She loved spying on people when we were little, and it seems like that never changed.”

I watched my friend carefully as she turned off the curling iron and set it on my vanity. In the mirror, I watched her brow furrow and pressed, “What?”

She met my eyes in the reflection. “When we were kids, Lainey had this secret hiding spot she liked to put stuff in. It’s probably a long shot…”

“I’ll take it,” I said, spinning around on the seat to look at her. “Where is it?”

“There’s an air vent in her closet,” she replied. “It’s near the ceiling. She would unscrew it and hide stuff in there. She kept her diaries there. But it might be pointless, so please don’t risk Gary flipping out to go after something that probably won’t even help.”

Yeah, I wasn’t planning on pinging Gary’s radar, but if I could slip away and find it…

Maybe it was a long shot, but I needed to do something. I needed to find a way to contribute or feel useful. As long as my mom and Bex were at risk, Gary still had me by the throat.

Granted, Court seemed pretty determined to keep Bex safe, but my mom was on her own. I didn’t even have an idea of where Gary had stashed her.

Glancing at the clock, I saw I had a few minutes before Gary’s car would arrive. I’d use them to grill my bestie on her love life.

“So,” I started, pinning her with a curious stare, “Court and Linc, huh?”

Bex blushed. “We’re friends.”

“Right. I mean, I wake up in bed with all my friends, too.”

“Shut it,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

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