“Really?” I arrange the messages from Room Service on the bed.

I keep rereading them, but I don’t see any clues. Linnea could be anywhere.

“She trusted you. You said you’d protect her, and now she’s gone. That creep took her.”

“She wanted to do it on her own,” Lucas says defensively. “You know how stubborn she is.”

I think about it. Why didn’t Linnea scream when Claus took her? There are hundreds of people in this hotel. Someone would have helped her.

Was she distracted?

I think about the moment when Linnea came back in from the courtyard. She was different, was acting strangely.

“She wasn’t herself,” I say. “What happened between the two of you outside?”

Lucas’s face clouds over. “Here we go.”

“Just tell me!”

“We kissed. That’s all.”

Kissed? Lucas? And Linnea? I try to picture it, but I can’t.

“You don’t need to look so surprised. I like her.”

I can’t help but burst out laughing. “You?”

Lucas has never liked anyone like that. He always said he wasn’t interested in romantic stuff.

“Yes, me. What’s wrong with that? She’s nice. I know you can’t stand her, but…”

No one hates something for no reason.

Except you hating me, right?

“That’s not true,” I say quickly.

“Yes, it is, and she feels the same way about you.”

“Did she tell you that?”

Lucas nods. “Just this afternoon.”

I’m shocked, but I don’t really know why. It’s not news that Linnea and I don’t like each other, is it?

“She asked about Isolde too.”

I look up in surprise. “What did you say?”

“That you two were the perfect couple, that she was really chaotic and a bit of a worrier. That was about it.”

Spinner’s got this.

“Did you mention her nickname?”

Lucas nods. “Is that not allowed or something?”

“But why did Linnea call herself Spinner?” As soon as I say the words, it hits.

Kate sits up. The last of her mascara has left a light-gray trail on her cheeks.

“Did you call Linnea that?” I ask, feeling bewildered.

Kate shakes her head, but her cheeks say something different.

“That nickname was hers.” I stand up. “Is Linnea a replacement?”

I try to process it, but this is so…sick. I remember Kate’s smile on the very first day of school this year. Was Linnea allowed to join our gang because she and Isolde looked like each other?

Then something occurs to me.

“Did you tell her to wear her hair in a braid too?”

There’s silence. So it wasn’t a coincidence that they both had braids. Linnea doesn’t really look like her. Kate just made her that way.