“Oh please,” I said angrily, shifting to the edge of the bed. The theatrics were getting on my nerves. Also the fact that she was right—that they were all right for being angry with me. I hated being wrong. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to say anything about it.”

“I think it’s our business to know if some creep is taking pictures of us,” Bettina said. She tightened her scarf and glanced out the window.

“I’m with Bettina. Somethin’ is brewing here, y’all, and I don’t like it.” Alice picked up a picture frame, put it down again. She looked like she might start crying. “What did it say, Kendra?”

I took my phone out and showed them the message.

Oh, dearest Queen Bee. Just 28 days until Halloween! Enjoy the spotlight while you still can—soon you will be nothing. Are you going to tell everyone what you did? Or should I do it for you?

I’m watching you! Don’t screw this up.

“Twenty-eight days? You didn’t show me this,” Pia said. “What’s with the tick-tock countdown?”

“And ‘What you did?’” Alice quoted, snatching the phone from my hand. She sat down on the bed next to me, deflated. “Sweet Jesus.”

But it was Bettina who got the reference. I knew she would. Bettina, who I knew would get the reference. “‘Dearest Queen Bee...’” she murmured. “Shit.”

“What?” Alice asked.

“That’s what Jackie used to call me. Remember?” I said.

Alice’s hand flew to her mouth. “So it is her.” She looked at Bettina. “We were right.”

“I just can’t decide why now,” I said. “With everything we have to hold over her?”

“It’s got to be her,” Alice snapped. “No one else knows what happened. Did you tell anyone?” she asked Pia. “Did you?” she asked Bettina. “Did you?” She settled on me. “Because I sure didn’t. And if none of us did, then she is the one—”

Pia held up a finger. “Alice—”

“No. Do not interrupt me.” Alice handed me back the phone and stood. “I know we never speak of her. I know it’s all hush-hush quiet, pretend she doesn’t exist. But she’s still out there.”

Pia tried again. “Well—”

“And all this business has already brought fire and brimstone to my door. I cannot handle any more of it.”

“The drama is just too much, Alice.”

“Hello?” Pia called, waving her hands. “I have news about Jackie. If you’ll all just shut up for one second.”

That stopped us.

“Jesus.” She adjusted her bangles. “So, Jimmy-O did a check on her—”

“You guys checked up on her?” Alice blinked tears away.

“And?” This was the first time I was hearing the outcome of Jimmy-O’s investigation.

“—and she’s been living in New York. She was working as a receptionist for this talent agency.”