“Duh. It’s clean. No blood. No mess. All you need is a solid alibi and you’re good.”

Taylor says something else, but it doesn’t register. My mind isn’t processing any of this quickly enough.

I can’t listen anymore.

I knew I was walking into a different world coming here tonight. I knew this might be awkward, a little out of my depth. I didn’t expect...this. The hell did I just hear? They can’t be seriously plotting to murder Simon. Maybe they’re all lightweights, and just drunk and running off at the mouth.

I just want to find Nate and leave. I got my interview. I have what I came for.

I turn for the stairs and my heel gets caught in my train. I press against the door for balance as I try to free it.

The stupid door creaks.

“What the fuck was that?” Taylor.

Heat rushes up my spine. I hold my breath.

No one comes to the door right away. The room is probably huge. Crossing it will take a good minute. Which means I have time to run.

I fly down the stairs, the skirt of my gown balled in the crook of my arm. Once I’m on the main floor, I check back over at the bar, but Nate’s not there. When I turn around, Taylor’s hustling down the staircase, her dress flying behind her like silk wings. There’s something different about her, something off, but I can’t put my finger on it. Something about her eyes—something glassy, detached.

I glance back at her before pushing through the crowd, eyes switching left to right, sweeping the room like a hawk. I’m moving as fast as she is, trying to find Nate, but also trying not to be seen. Just as I pull out my phone to text him, Taylor bulldozes past me, stumbling slightly. I follow her gaze.

Shit. Nate.

I head over to him.

Taylor gets his attention a second before I do. Her hand catches his arm. “Nate.” It’s a snap, a burst of desperation.

I almost fling her bony-ass arm away.

He angles toward her, his demeanor more polite than interested. “Hey. What’s up?”

Her head tilts, eyes squint. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Uh...not sure.” He glances around, and I duck behind someone before he catches me. “Last I saw her she was just looking for the bathroom.”

Taylor’s face hardens, those perfectly full brows crashing together. I see it click on her face. She knows it was me. I thought maybe she and her friends were just talking shit up there, but the serious, almost panicky look on her face makes me think this girl is really planning to murder her father.

Nate frowns. “Why? What’s wrong?”