Lia glanced out her bedroom window, never more aware that her one-story home was so vulnerable. Anyone could reach her window. But Detective James didn’t seem like he thought we were lying, right?

No. Especially since we have other witnesses

Let’s go over it then, Devon said, and Lia imagined him—glasses slipping down his nose, hair in disarray as he ran his hand through his hair. Tonight felt way too personal to be just about the game.

So, Lia said, why kill Abby Ascher, Ben Barnard, and Cassidy Clarke?

She underlined their names in her journal and skipped Eric Bins.

You said I was next, Devon typed slowly, each word showing up a few seconds after the other. So someone is killing people in alphabetical order with matching initials?

Serial killers do weird things, Gem said.

Eric Bins is between Ben Barnard and Cassidy Clarke, but it would be a huge coincidence for it to go alphabetically after tonight. Lia scratched out Eric’s name. After Devon was Andrew Doyle, Kaitlyn Eames, and Emma Earl. Maybe you four did something to them? And who’s Emma Earl?

Georgia. She goes by her middle name, said Gem. Someone could’ve been jealous of Abby and Cass, but Ben was aggressively nice. No way someone wanted revenge against him.

Abby and Cass had just gotten the Governor’s Scholarship like I did, Devon said, but Ben hadn’t

Lia turned to a fresh page of her journal and wrote down A. Ascher, B. Barnard, C. Clarke, and D. Diaz. The pen spun in her hand, and she added one last name.

E. Earl.

May got the scholarship. Gem sent a screenshot of a conversation. She found out a few weeks ago, but she’s deferring for a year. Her scholarship slot is going to the next in line.

The names were the strongest link, but Eric Bins interrupted it. The scholarship connection was weak, and May had only told Gem after Ben’s death. How would anyone have known who got it early? It was like when Lia had tried to bake pumpkin pie at Christmas but forgot eggs; she was missing something and without it, nothing would set. She shook her head.

I mean, I sort of get killing over a full ride, Gem said finally. Especially for legacy students. It’s bragging rights, room and board, and no worry in the back of your mind about what comes next.

Gem, how is May? Lia typed.

She just wants to talk about Ben. Gem went silent for a moment. Whoever did this is a monster.

A monster who knows a terrifying amount about us, Devon said. Our schedules, our plans…they even know Lia snuck out tonight to meet me.

Lia swallowed and typed the words she had been dreading. If you had fallen over the railing, it would’ve looked like I pushed you. They’re setting me up. And they’re definitely watching me.

Neither of them responded.

They’re probably the one who stole my journal, Lia said, flipping through the pages. That’s how they knew everyone’s schedules and that Ben was allergic to latex.