Kiss and Tell(16)

She’d planned to use the period to finish an essay, but twenty-two minutes later, all she’d done was Google Jack Hudson’s name. Posting the sapphire ring online had turned out to be a dead end, which left only one lead: Jack himself.

The darer had set Jack up to take the fall for Cait’s kidnapping, then orchestrated his suicide. It didn’t just feel convenient; it felt personal. Which got Tenley wondering: If she could find Jack’s enemies, would it lead her to her own?

She took a bite of a granola bar as she scanned over the list of facts she’d compiled.

JACK HUDSON

1. Grew up in Boston

2. Attended BU, dropped out after sophomore year

3. Started and sold several businesses—including website paying cash for gold

4. Prior conviction for a bar fight, attended anger-management classes as punishment

5. Never married

At the bottom of the list, Tenley had pasted the few photos she’d found of Jack, each one showing him with a woman more gorgeous than the last. Most were at events: him in a tux, a (usually blond) woman at his side in a jaw-dropping gown. Jack Hudson might never have married, but he didn’t seem to have a problem with the ladies. Could the kidnapper have been a scorned ex? A lover desperate for revenge?

The bell rang and Tenley quickly deleted the document before logging out of the computer. She’d already erased any trace of her search. She wasn’t taking chances anymore. She’d just pushed her way into the crowded hallway when she heard her name. “Tenley!”

She tensed, bracing for the insult to follow as they had all week. But none came. She looked over to find Calum leaning against a trophy case in Winslow’s Hall of Fame, waving his bandaged arm at her. She smiled, relieved for the first time in her life to run into Calum Bauer. She quickly crossed over to him. “How’s the arm?”

“Vexatious, more than anything.” Calum’s backpack hung from his good arm. It was so full that it strained at the sides, the zippered pockets bulging. “I’m just sorry you had to witness that malfunction yesterday,” Calum continued. “I promise, Bauer Industries isn’t usually a death trap.”

Only when I’m there, Tenley replied silently. Guilt wormed its way through her. She’d been targeted, and Calum had gotten caught in the cross fire. The beginning of a headache pulsed at her temples. “At least I got a party out of it,” she said, changing the subject.

“As long as Octo-storm doesn’t interfere,” Calum pointed out.

“They’re saying it won’t hit until Tuesday or Wednesday, so your party should be safe. Which reminds me.” Tenley dug into her bag and removed a sheet of paper. “For the party.”

“‘Tenley Reed’s Guide to Planning the Perfect Party,’” Calum read off the sheet. His brow furrowed as he looked over the list of friendly tips Tenley had thrown together the night before. “Wow. This is very, uh… detailed.”

Tenley gave him a reassuring smile. “Just follow that guide and it will be a killer party, I promise.”

“Killer,” Calum repeated. He looked down at the list again. “If you say so.”

“I do.” Out of the corner of her eye, Tenley caught sight of a familiar pair of broad shoulders. “I’ve got to run. Party inviting to do.” She pointed a finger at Calum as she backed away. Her leg was still aching, but she fought the urge to limp. “Follow the guide!”

She caught up with Hunter Bailey at the other end of the hall. “Thanks for sticking up for me at lunch yesterday,” she said sarcastically. She hugged her arms over her chest. “I thought you owed me, Hunter.” Recently, Tenley had discovered what very few people knew: that Hunter Bailey was gay. She’d promised to keep his secret for him—at least until he was out of his house and away from his monster of a father. She’d even campaigned with him for the homecoming court, leading most of the school to believe they were a couple.

“I do.” Hunter peered down at her with icy-blue eyes. “I’m sorry, Ten. Everyone’s really pissed.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

“Jessie’s our friend. Tyler’s girlfriend. What you did—”

“I know,” Tenley cut in. “Believe me, I’ve regretted it every day since. But I really thought it was a caffeine pill!” She’d already repeated the story a dozen times into her friends’ voice mail. “I keep trying to apologize, but no one will call me back!” She grabbed his arm, causing a freckly girl with big eyes and bony arms to gape jealously as she passed. “I need your help, Hunter.”

Hunter gave her a wary look. “What am I supposed to do?”

“I need you to get everyone to go to a party I’m throwing Saturday night. It’s going to be at Calum’s mansion on Neddles Island.” She bounced nervously on her toes as she spoke. The night before, when nightmares about the darer had kept her awake once again, writing Calum’s party-planning guide had been the only thing to soothe her. Parties and popularity: Those were what she knew. The darer could strip everything else away, but she refused to lose that, too.

She gave Hunter a pleading look. “It’s going to be amazing. A private party, just for our grade, on the island that everyone’s been dying to visit. This party is my big gesture, Hunter. My way of showing everyone how sorry I am.”

Hunter went to his locker, and Tenley followed. “I’ll go, Tenley, but, honestly, I don’t know that anyone else will.”

“Then convince them!” She threw her arms up in frustration. “Do whatever you need to.”

Hunter pressed his lips together, looking frustrated. “All right,” he relented. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you,” she said gratefully. “You won’t regret it.”

“And my thing…?” Worry showed in his eyes.

“My lips are still sealed,” she assured him. “Party or no party.” She knew what it was like to have to protect yourself. Sometimes the armor got so heavy it felt as if it were crushing you.

She kept her head down as she ducked into her next class. She was early, but Emerson was already there, staring out the window in the back. Tenley’s shoulders loosened up at the sight of her. At least there was still someone who didn’t despise her.

“Hey.” She joined Emerson at the window. “Your day been as lovely as mine?”

“Better, I bet.” Emerson’s dark skin was almost always perfect, but today it looked pale and blotchy. Her hair frizzed at the crown, where she’d pulled it into a messy ponytail.

“Any luck with the purple door?” Tenley asked hopefully.

Emerson pressed her fingers into her temples. “None.” She lowered her voice. “I’ve spent hours researching, but I can’t find anything about a purple door anywhere on the North Shore. I’ll keep at it, but I think this key might be another dead end.”

Tenley groaned. Before she could say anything else, the warning bell rang. She was halfway to her seat when she saw it: a small, gift-wrapped box sitting atop her desk. Every nerve in her body went on high alert.

“What…?” Emerson murmured.

“I have no idea.” She thought of the last gift she’d received. It had been a trap from the darer: another attempt at killing her. Tenley crept closer to her desk. People were streaming into the classroom now, chatter and laughter swirling around her. Next to her, Emerson said something. But Tenley heard none of it.

Slowly, she lifted the box. It was small and featherlight. Its silver ribbon glittered under the classroom’s bright lights.

She spun around, her eyes flitting from person to person. But no one was watching her. No one looked suspicious.

“Ten—” Emerson began.

Blood pounded in Tenley’s ears. Who had delivered this?

“Be right back.” She sprinted out of the classroom, the box clutched tightly in her grip. The hallway was emptying out, only a few stragglers left behind. She jogged to one end, then the other. Who left me this? she wanted to scream. But there was no one to listen.

She was breathing hard as she leaned against a locker, turning her attention back to the box. There were no attachments, no flashing lights, nothing that might trigger a falling beam or splinter a window. Still… she really didn’t want to be the one to open it.

She took another quick scan of the hallway. A boy was on his way to the bathroom. A teacher Tenley didn’t recognize disappeared around the corner. “You!” Her eyes landed on the freckly girl she’d seen gaping at Hunter earlier. She was headed toward the band room, clutching a flute in her left hand. “Hold up!”

The girl stopped so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet. “Yes?” she squeaked.

“Open this,” Tenley commanded, shoving the box at the girl.

The girl clumsily took the box in her free hand, looking shell-shocked. “I… uh… why?” she stammered.

“Just do it,” Tenley snapped. “And I’ll get you a date with Hunter Bailey.”

The girl brightened. “Will you get him to talk to me at lunch, too? In front of my friends?”

“Sure, whatever.” Tenley waved her hand dismissively. “Just open the box. And no questions.”