“No, I came to warn you—”

“Is this a threat? Is that what’s happening here?” She slipped her hand into the pocket of her skirt. “You found some other unhinged lunatic and sent her after me?”

“They thought he’d killed her, but she sent me a postcard, like you did.” I spoke sharply now. How had I ever put up with the drama and the game playing? Gossip at work, drunken nights and crowded clubs, hangovers that made thinking harder and emotions more raw.

“I didn’t send you any postcard.” Her voice had a singsongy tone, light, like a child’s playground chant. She was lying, and she didn’t care if I knew it. Why should she? The director was never on-site, and in his absence, she was queen.

“Quit playing games. I’m trying to help—”

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “Only an idiot would come back after what you did.”

“I didn’t do anything. I … you …”

“I … you …” she mimicked, and then the smirk vanished from her lips. “You’re crazy. You’d have to be. After all you’ve done, you have the nerve to show up here?”

Screw this. “Fine. I’m leaving. I just came to warn you. You’re not safe. There’s a killer after you, and you’re not safe. Do you understand?”

Our eyes met, Aimee’s brow furrowed, and for a moment I thought my friend, the one who’d laughed with me on rooftop bars and pulled all-nighters in our office, might still be there under that painted mask. But she widened her eyes and said, “I don’t know what you mean. It took me ages to trust again. After all your lies, the way you hurt me, I’m lucky I didn’t lose my job too.”

My hands were clenched fists, and I burned to smash the smugness out of her. “I hope Lena does kill you.”

Aimee pulled her hand out of her pocket, and I saw her phone was lit up. “Oh, I’ll be fine, Kacy. But thanks for your concern.”

A man spoke behind me. “Everything all right in here?”

Jared. That bitch had called security.

She looked past me. “Took you long enough. Escort Ms. Tremaine out.”

Jared took my arm; then recognition flashed over his face. “Kacy? Is that you? It’s been a while.” He sounded almost pleased. Then he glanced at Aimee and said firmly to me, “How about I walk you to your car?”

“I’m going.” I pulled my arm away and turned to follow him, saying over my shoulder, “She’s a killer, Aimee. And she’s coming after you.”

Jared and I walked in silence through the hallway and back into the atrium. I couldn’t hear Yonas, so maybe he wouldn’t see me getting thrown out of the museum a second time. Finally, Jared asked, “What was that all about?”