Lauren didn’t seem to hear. She disappeared through the door and into the dark hallway. Ronnie glanced at Andrea in alarm. They had only a few seconds to react before the door swung shut again, and later, after it was all over, Ronnie would ask herself why she went in at all. She barely knew Lauren, and yet she was the closest thing Ronnie had to a friend.

Ronnie leaned forward and caught the door but then turned back to Andrea, feeling a tremble in her throat. “I’ve . . . done something. Something really bad. If I get caught . . . it won’t be good.”

Andrea held her gaze, her expression just as terrified. “Same.”

They stared at each other before slipping past the heavy door.

•   •   •

The hallway was dark and cool and smelled like a rose candle. Ronnie and Andrea were at a crossroads—they could go straight, but there was a hallway that ran perpendicular to them as well.

Andrea had pushed in front and was walking straight. “Her office is this way. C’mon.” She took a few more steps. “Lauren?” she called out in a whisper. “Lauren?”

There was no answer. Andrea and Ronnie exchanged an uneasy look.

They passed several rooms. One held books and boxes. The next, a small kitchen. The third was an office with three computer monitors set up like some sort of surveillance station. It was a surveillance station, Ronnie realized—one camera showed a view of the playground, children playing. Another was a shot of the red door that led to the classrooms. A third watched a central indoor space that was used for ride-on vehicle play when the weather was bad.

There were books on the shelves and stacks of printer paper in a corner. A green crossing-guard vest hung from a coat stand, and Ronnie thought of Carson accosting her about Silver Swans being a walking-only zone. This must be his domain.

“Over here,” Andrea whispered.

Andrea was farther down the hall, staring at an open door. Ronnie rushed to her and peeked inside. Piper’s office was decorated with white furniture; a white rug; a giant, bean-shaped desk; and a sleek Apple computer. Lauren was hunched over the desk, furiously typing on the slim white keyboard.

“Lauren,” Ronnie begged. “What on earth . . . ?”

“I used to be in tech,” Lauren mumbled. “I bet I can crack her password.” She gestured around the room. “See if you can find some physical evidence. A list of names. Maybe there are a whole bunch of us she wants gone.”

Andrea didn’t move. “I’m not setting foot in there.”

Lauren hit the enter button several times, then glanced cursorily at Ronnie. “Will you? Please?”

Ronnie glanced down the hall again. Who was to say Piper wasn’t on her way back? Where was Carson?