I looked at Julie. She shrugged. “Please. I wouldn’t hide out even if I was guilty.”

We all laughed.

“Look, Char,” Julie said. “This is part of the plan. We put out the article, we go to the town’s biggest function and run our mouths, and surely Juniper Shores Socialite will follow suit. We aren’t guilty. We aren’t criminals. We aren’t going to hide.”

She said it with so much passion that pride swelled in my chest. It was like when a talented singer hit the perfect high notes in “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a baseball game and you had peanuts and beer and fresh air and just felt so damn lucky to be an American. “God, you give a good pep talk,” I said.

“Is that a yes?” Alice asked.

“That’s a hell yes,” I said.

Alice slumped down in the other customer chair.

“What’s the matter with you?” I asked, incredulous. “I thought this is what you wanted!”

“It is,” she said wearily. “But now if you’re going to go face the public, I have to too.”

“Oh!” I said. “Bring Elliott!”

“That will really help,” she said sarcastically.

“Why cause a teeny fire when you can burn down the whole damn town?” Julie asked. “Tomorrow night, the mommune comes out in full force.”

“We ride at dusk!” Grace said.

I noticed Agnes standing at the door. “I hate to break up the sorority mixer,” she said, “but some of us are ready to go home.”

“Yes!” I said. “Sorry, Agnes. We’re going.” She rolled her eyes and walked away, her entire person an expression of her pure exasperation with me.

“She really dazzles, doesn’t she?” Grace asked.

I laughed and held out my hand to Alice. “If I’m doing this, you’d better give me that dress.”

“Your armor!” Alice said.

“Nope,” I said, reaching my arms out to them. “That’s all of you.”

And as we linked arms and made our way down the hall, I couldn’t help but feel like they were. For the first time since Bill’s arrest, I didn’t feel so alone. And there it was, that proud tightness in my chest again. We were survivors. And tomorrow, there was no question about it: we’d have the whole town talking.

Iris Crime Scene