Stunning. Part 16

TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

"They went all out, huh?" Isaac said as he and Emily walked into the Hollis Gemological Museum.

"Seriously," Emily whispered, looking around. She'd never been to a political fund-raiser ball before, but this one was amazing-way better than prom. Tons of white balloons hugged the arched ceiling. A live band was playing a jazzy song, and a few couples in tuxedos and gowns were slow dancing. Emily had never seen so many diamonds-and she wasn't talking just about the ones under gla.s.s. A jewel thief would have a field day just slipping rings off rich women's fingers at this party.

Ali had brought Emily, Spencer, Hanna, and Aria to this place. They had sometimes spent whole afternoons at the museum, fantasizing about what it must be like to wear enormous diamonds to fancy parties. "When I'm older, I'm going to have an engagement ring as enormous as that one," Ali said, pointing to the ten-carat stone on display. "No one's going to stop me." Emily wondered if she meant Real Ali. She'd probably a.s.sumed she'd keep her twin's charmed life forever.

"This place is gorgeous," Emily murmured.

"But you're the most gorgeous thing here," Isaac said, squeezing Emily's hand.

Emily gave Isaac a wobbly smile, trying to admire his handsome tuxedo, brushed-back hair, and s.h.i.+ny shoes. But she couldn't really enjoy being here. The black maxi dress with beading at the bodice felt binding around her ribs, and her feet wobbled in the high heels she'd found in the back of her closet. She'd practically drawn a messy red line across her face while applying her lipstick, her hands were shaking so hard.

The idea of coming face-to-face with Gayle terrified her. Gayle would tell everyone about her pregnancy . . . and then Isaac would know. He'd ask why they'd hung out three times now and Emily hadn't said anything. He would hate her, and he'd tell his mom, her parents, everyone.

She knew that going to the gala was part of the plan to get Gayle's cell phone and determine whether she was A, but as soon as Isaac had shown up at Emily's door, she'd felt like this was a huge mistake. But if she bolted, Isaac would ask questions she didn't know how to answer.

She scanned the crowd, looking for her friends-it was important that Aria and Hanna were here, too, otherwise the plan wouldn't work. A bunch of kids were laughing at something on their phones. Mason Byers and Lanie Iler were giggling over a plate of pasta. Sean Ackard was talking animatedly to Nanette Ulster from the Quaker school. A tall blonde in an expensive-looking red gown emerged from the bathroom. Emily stiffened, suddenly alert. Gayle?

She grabbed Isaac's tuxedo sleeve and ushered him back into the lobby. They stopped under a giant piece of rose quartz that was suspended from the ceiling, and Emily caught her breath. As much as she'd prepared for this moment, actually being faced with the possibility terrified her.

"What's going on?" Isaac asked, confused.

"Um, I just wanted to . . ." Emily peered at the woman in red again-she accepted a c.o.c.ktail from a pa.s.sing waiter and turned toward them. Her face was lined, and her nose was thin and pointy, not small and round like Gayle's. Oops.

Of course, that might mean Gayle was walking through the front entrance at this very moment-and they would be the first thing she saw. "I changed my mind. Let's go dance." Emily yanked Isaac into the main room again, nearly trampling a bunch of uppity-looking Main Line women wearing VOTE FOR TOM b.u.t.tons.

Isaac laughed nervously as he stumbled behind her. "Are you okay?"

"Of course!" Emily knew she must seem insane. She wrapped her arms around Isaac and began a slow waltz to the Sinatra song the band was playing. The dance floor had a good view of every table, the bar, and the silent auction booth. Tons of people she recognized from the Marins' parties stood around chatting. Several photographers circled the room, snapping pictures.

Isaac spun Emily. "It's fun being a guest instead of a caterer."

"How'd you convince your mom to let you go to this with me, anyway?" Emily asked idly.

"I told her the truth, actually. She's coming around to the idea of us together again, believe it or not."

Emily couldn't believe it, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. Her gaze flicked from the front entrance to the emergency exit to a little nook by the bathrooms. Noel Kahn's mother glided across her field of view, wearing a tiara. Hanna's dad was holding court in the corner, talking to a bunch of wealthy-looking businessmen.

"I've really missed you," Isaac went on.

Emily pulled back, feeling bad. Isaac deserved her full attention. It felt good to be wrapped in his arms, but she was so scared that any minute, the delicate house of cards that was her life would topple over.

She couldn't help but scan the crowd again. Mr. Marin stood up and strode across the room to someone who'd just emerged from a side entrance. Emily craned her neck to see, but her view was blocked.

"So what do you say?" Isaac asked.

Emily blinked stupidly. Isaac had been speaking this whole time and she hadn't heard a word. "What was that?"

Isaac licked his lips. "I wanted to know if we're dating again."

Emily's mouth opened, but no words came out. Despite her distraction, despite the fact that she was keeping something huge from Isaac, the words felt welcome.

"There's only one thing," Isaac interrupted before Emily had a chance to speak. "Something is bothering you. Something you think you can't talk about. But you can, Emily. Whatever it is, I'm here for you. If it's something with that guy we saw at Hollis the other day, don't be afraid to tell me."

Emily shut her eyes. "It doesn't have anything to do with Derrick."

"But it is something?"

The trumpets blaring on the stage were starting to make Emily's head hurt. "It's nothing."

"You seem so stressed." Isaac's voice was pleading. "I just want to help."

Emily concentrated on the dance steps, delaying her answer. Isaac cared and wanted to make everything better, which made her feel relieved and terrible at the same time. She wanted him to like her. She wanted him to want to get back together with her. But what did she want for herself?

"Breaking up was a huge mistake, Emily," Isaac said, staring deeply into Emily's eyes. "I want to start over. What do you think?"

"I . . ." Emily started, but then she noticed another blond figure at the edge of the dance floor. She was the right height and build, and Mr. Marin was talking to her happily and graciously. Emily ducked, her heart jackhammering again. "Oh my G.o.d," she whispered.

She grabbed Isaac once more, pulled him off the dance floor, and escaped around the corner to a small alcove that held a variety of meteorites behind gla.s.s. Isaac crossed his arms over his chest, looking fed up. "Are you going to let me in on what's going on with you tonight?"

The woman talking to Mr. Marin turned slightly. Only a few more degrees, and she'd see Emily and Isaac. Thinking quickly, she grabbed the sides of Isaac's face and planted her lips squarely on his. Isaac's eyes widened for a moment, but then they fluttered closed, and he pa.s.sionately kissed her back. Emily felt her pulse pounding firmly in her fingertips and her lips. The kiss felt good, but she knew it was only a means to an end. She felt like the worst person in the world.

Isaac pulled back for a moment and smiled crookedly. "So I guess that's a yes?"

Emily swallowed hard, feeling like she'd just done something she couldn't undo. She wasn't acting like herself at all. She glanced again into the ballroom. The woman who'd been talking to Mr. Marin was gone.

Beep.

Her phone was glowing through the flimsy mesh fabric of her silver clutch. Emily stared at it in horror. "It looks like you have a text," Isaac said, sounding relaxed and happy.

A lump formed in Emily's throat. She pulled out the phone and peeked at the screen. Her blood ran cold.

"Isaac, I have to go," she whispered.

"Go?" The content look on Isaac's face vanished. "What are you talking about?"

Emily took a few frantic paces back into the ballroom. Mr. Marin was still talking to the woman, and though Emily was almost positive she was Gayle, her face was still turned away. Emily looked around the rest of the room. It was even more crowded than a few seconds ago. Where the h.e.l.l was Hanna? Why didn't she see Aria? There was no time to waste.

"Emily?" She felt a hand on her sleeve. Isaac was staring at her, his mouth a straight line. "Who just texted you?"

The band finished its song, and everyone on the dance floor clapped. Emily stared into Isaac's open, caring face. She knew what walking away without explaining looked like. But she didn't know what else to do.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and then turned and fled across the dance floor.

"Emily!" Isaac called after her, but Emily kept going, weaving through the crowds until she reached the lobby. She dug inside her clutch, pulled out her cell phone, and read the horrible note once more. Just looking at the words made her stomach lurch. This couldn't be happening.

I've got your baby. If you want her to be safe, come to 56 Mockingbird Drive. Ticktock! -A

29.

FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS GO ALONE Aria pulled into the Gemological Museum lot, fluffed her hair, and checked her makeup in the rearview mirror. She'd done a fair job of cleaning up the tear-streaked mess she'd been after her argument with Noel, but she still looked stressed and tired. Then again, she didn't have anyone to impress at this party.

After she parked, she pulled out her phone and composed a text to Noel. Please let me explain, she wrote. Everything that happened . . . it was kind of out of my control. Someone forced me to break up with you. Someone is threatening me and controlling my life.

Then she hit DELETE fast. The text gave away too much. She couldn't tell Noel about A.

Swallowing a sob, she slammed the door and walked toward the entrance, which was lit on either side by glowing j.a.panese lanterns. A gust of wind kicked up, rolling an empty c.o.ke can down the sidewalk. Aria heard a whisper and whirled around, staring at the line of parked cars.

After a few seconds of peering into nothingness, sensing no movement, she pressed on. A few kids were cl.u.s.tered by the front hedges, staring at something on their cell phones. "So desperate," Riley snickered.

"She is loser, no?" Klaudia s.h.i.+vered in her strapless, barely-there black dress.

Aria peeked at the cell phone screen over Riley's shoulder. There was a picture of Hanna wearing army fatigues and hiding in the plastic bushes at the mall concourse. Aria had no idea what it was all about, but before she could ask any questions, Emily barreled out of the double doors, grabbed her shoulder, and pulled her to the other side of the walkway.

"Thank G.o.d I found you," Emily said, her voice full of fear. "I need your car."

"What happened?" Aria asked. "Did you get Gayle's phone already?"

"No, but this is much more important."

Emily held her phone in Aria's face. I've got your baby, said the screen. Aria clapped a hand over her mouth. "Do you think it's true?"

"I'm not waiting around to find out." Emily started toward the parking lot, then noticed Hanna trudging out the door with an ashamed look on her face. She waved her over. "You have to see this."

Hanna looked pained, like she didn't feel like dealing with anything right now, but she walked over and inspected the text. Color drained from her face. "s.h.i.+t. How could this happen?"

"I don't know. But I have to save her." Emily's eyes darted back and forth. "If Ali has her, who knows what she'll do?"

"Em, it's not Ali who has Violet," Aria whispered. "Don't you see? It's Gayle. I saw her going into Babies "R" Us last night with a huge, weird smile on her face. She was getting ready for when she found your baby."

Emily frowned, then peered at the hulking museum behind them. "But isn't Gayle here? I thought I saw her talking to your dad, Hanna."

Hanna bit her lip. "Actually, I haven't seen her all night."

"Of course she's not here," Aria said. "She's at this house on Mockingbird Drive!" She looked at Hanna. "You're with me, right? You think this is Gayle?"

A conflicted look crossed Hanna's face. "I think so. But why would Gayle tell us she has Violet if she wants to keep her for herself? It sounds like a setup."

"I don't care!" Emily grabbed Aria's car keys from her hands. "This is my daughter's life we're talking about! I'm sorry, Aria, but I'm going to that house, even if I have to go alone!"

Aria set her jaw. "We're not letting you go alone."

"We're not?" Hanna squeaked.

Aria gave Hanna a look. "Of course we're not." She s.n.a.t.c.hed the car keys back from Emily, marched across the parking lot, and slid into the driver's seat. "C'mon, Em. Let's go. You too, Hanna."

The girls got into the car and slammed the doors. Aria kicked off her high heels, gunned the engine, and cranked the heat up high. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she looked behind her and saw a perfectly round, eerily yellow moon reflected in the museum windows. And there, next to the moon's reflection, was a person in silhouette. Watching. Maybe even laughing at what fools they were.

Aria breathed in sharply, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. But when she looked at the window again, only the moon was there, bright and full, filling up the expanse of the gla.s.s.

30.

THE GIRL IN THE PHOTO.

Twenty-five minutes and three wrong turns later, the girls pulled onto Mockingbird Drive, a twisting street on the other side of Mount Kale. "Whoa," Hanna mumbled, staring through the fog, which had rolled in heavily. Every estate was on a ma.s.sive plot of land. Winding driveways led to faux castles, French estates, Tudor manors, and buildings that looked like a cross between the Capitol and a Frank Gehry masterpiece. Ferraris sat in driveways. Tennis court lights twinkled in backyards. Hanna was used to luxurious houses like Noel's, Spencer's, and even her dad's new place, but people who lived in this neighborhood had more money than they knew what to do with, and they didn't mind flaunting it.

The next mailbox bore the number 56 in Gothic script, and Aria rolled slowly up the long drive. Tall, imposing trees made a canopy over the road, creating a spooky tunnel. They pa.s.sed a huge, six-car garage and a horse stable, and then came upon the house, an imposing mansion with columns and huge arched windows. It was positioned a bit c.o.c.keyed on the lot, probably angled so that it got the best morning sun. Not a single light was on in the windows.

"Um, now what?" Hanna whispered as Aria cut the engine.

"Come on." Emily opened her car door and jogged up the front walk. Hanna and Aria scrambled after her. When Hanna heard a whispering sound, her heart began to thud. What if A had led them straight into a trap?

"Where do you think Spencer is?" Emily said over her shoulder. "She hasn't responded to my texts." They'd sent Spencer messages about what was going on and demanded that she meet them here.

"Maybe it took a while for her to get released from the hospital," Hanna whispered.

"Or maybe she got as lost as we did." Aria stepped up on the porch and stared at the doorbell. "What are we supposed to do, ring? 'Hey, A, we're here!'" She looked at Hanna. "You do it."

Hanna's eyes bulged. "No way!"

"I'll do it." Emily touched the door, and it opened with a creak that sounded exactly like a haunted house entrance. Hanna s.h.i.+vered. What kind of person left their front door open in the middle of the night?

Emily pushed past them and walked into the foyer. "h.e.l.lo?" she called out.

Hanna followed her. The foyer smelled oddly of nail polish remover. A single lamp on a console table was lit, showing a double staircase, an impressive crystal chandelier, and a wall full of black-and-white paintings of undulating sand dunes, animal skulls, and possessed-looking vultures. Heavy curtains hung on the windows in the room to the right; thick wool rugs decorated the floors. The coat closet door was ajar, and several jackets swung from hangers. The place had a museumlike stillness, as though it were a movie set, not someone's actual house.

"h.e.l.lo?" Emily said again.

There was no answer. Emily peered up the stairs. Aria wandered toward the kitchen. Hanna picked up a stone rabbit on the table next to the front door and set it down again. It was so quiet, she began to hear noises that might not have been there. A nervous swallow. A slight rustle. A joint crack.