I take an involuntary step back from the fence. Next to me, I hear Sean take a sharp breath in. He didn’t know where Jack was bringing us either, then.

“What the fuck, Jack?” Bella almost shouts. “Why the hell would you bring us here?”

“Relax, we’re not about to be jumped by a serial killer. They’ve arrested someone, didn’t you hear? They tracked down Annie Weston’s ex, some twenty-year-old druggie. Bet they’ll find a connection to Nic.” He sounds fierce as he says it. “They still haven’t found that other girl, either. I tell you, if I could get hold of that bastard…”

I haven’t heard. Wouldn’t it be all over the local news if they’ve caught the killer? How come Jack found out first? Maybe the police told him. He was Nicole’s boyfriend, after all. Bella says his indifference was pretend, a defense mechanism. For the first time, I can see it. The fierce anger in his voice…and something else. There’s relief in his voice as well. If they’ve arrested someone, he’s off the hook.

I look at Bella. She’s white-faced and shaking, biting her lip. “You are such a shit, Jack Lewis,” she says.

“Oh, come on,” he says, frowning. “We should be celebrating. They caught the bastard. They caught the shit who killed your best friend and my girlfriend.”

“Yeah, her fucking best friend is dead, you stupid shit,” I yell. “Your girlfriend is dead. Celebrating? Are you bloody mad or just a total dick?”

“Whoa,” he says, throwing his hands up. “The mouse has teeth. Who knew?”

“Shut up. Just shut up for once,” I shout, shoving him with both hands. “Why do you always have to ruin things? Why do you always have to upset everyone? Is your own life so miserable you have to make everyone else miserable too? Julia leaving probably had nothing to do with Ellie—she probably left because of something you did, because you are such a shit.”

My voice rings out, loud enough to be heard in the next county, I swear. I want to swallow the words instantly. It’s Jack’s turn to go white, no sign of his cocky grin.

I’m sorry, I want to say. I shouldn’t have said it. I lost my temper, I shouldn’t…But, oh no, those words won’t come out, will they? Not in light of their shocked faces.

“I’m going,” I mutter. “Are you coming, Bella?”

Bella glances at Jack, who’s standing now with his head bowed. She shakes her head at me and touches his arm. “No—you go.”

I spin and march away, hurt weighing me down. Yes, I was wrong to say what I did, but I did it for Bella. And she’s staying with him? To check that he’s okay?