Chapter 16 Saturday, 13 June 2026 #2
He nodded. ‘Precisely. George Sinclair was Winslow’s classmate at Regis, so it’s not exactly a surprise they’d toss Theo out like last week’s maki rolls.
Madison swore on socials that the decision was strictly business, but it was obvious that Theo took it to heart.
“Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimised by Regina George,” amIright?
Anyway, he posted that Madison’s decision was selfish and short-sighted, then immediately deleted the post. But not before a zillion people screenshot it.
They haven’t been on speaking terms since. ’
Hannah forced down another sip of water. She’d spent the better part of the last two hours with Theodore Fitzgerald, and he hadn’t breathed a word to her about his feud with Madison. Had she just slept with a killer?
She pushed her glass to the side, feeling ill. ‘Thanks, that’s useful context to have.’
Hannah spun around on her stool, eyes sweeping the club.
Theo wasn’t back yet. Elle sat stiffly with Beatrice in the dining room, both looking like they wished they were scrolling on their phones.
A small group of Prescott teachers and school officials were clustered together in the library: Ms Caldwell, Mr Harris, Ms Briar, and two women in their mid-twenties she didn’t recognise.
Probably new teachers. They weren’t exactly smiling and laughing, but they seemed to be making the most out of the strange, unsettling evening – chatting, sharing an open bottle of rosé.
Probably wishing they were far away from their former students and the old drama that had culminated in an alarmingly violent crime.
At the far end of the library was Ami, feet curled up on an armchair, book open in her lap. It struck her that she’d barely seen her little sister since Hannah had been pulled upstairs to speak with the detectives, which was probably mostly her own fault. She’d been more than a little preoccupied.
‘Excuse me,’ she murmured to Oliver. ‘I need to take some notes while everything’s still fresh, and I should probably catch up with Ami.’
‘Of course.’ He grinned. ‘Let me know when I can be of more help.’ Then he turned and busied himself with the bowl of nuts, sorting the pecans onto his napkin.
Moments later, Hannah placed her hand on Ami’s shoulder. ‘I need to show you something.’
She guided her little sister over to the reading nook, then tugged on the spine of the bronze book to open the door.
‘Pretty cool, right?’ she said when they’d both stepped inside the small vacant room and settled on the chaise, door closed behind them.
‘Very.’ Ami looked suitably impressed. She ran her fingertip down the stack of rare books on the little table.
‘Still glad you flew back for this?’
Ami laughed. ‘I’m having some regrets. This is… intense.’
‘To say the least.’
Ami frowned. ‘How are you holding up?’
‘Okay. Having some regrets myself. If I’d had any idea my boss was going to send me here, I would have bagged my article last month. I just keep thinking if I’d never written that piece, no one would have given me a second glance tonight.’
‘I mean, you couldn’t have possibly known someone was going to off Madison DuPont at the gala. Right?’
‘Jesus, Ames, of course not.’
She held up her hands. ‘Sorry. I know you didn’t do it. Obviously.’
‘Obviously.’ Hannah rested her head against the back of the chaise and drew her knees into her chest. ‘Haven’t seen you much tonight. Where have you been?’
Ami frowned. ‘I’ve been around. You disappeared.’
Hannah thought back. She didn’t remember seeing Ami when she was talking to Gemma or Theo. The club was crowded, but it wasn’t that big. She had the uncomfortable sense her little sister was holding out on her.
She decided to try a different tack.
‘Anyone else from your class here? Who’ve you been catching up with?’
‘Not really,’ Ami said quickly. ‘I had a drink with Bruno and Ethan, from the class between ours. Remember those two?’
‘Sure.’ Hannah winced, just slightly, and hoped it escaped Ami’s notice. ‘They still tight?’
Bruno Alvarez and Ethan Astor had broken up during the last month of school – Hannah’s senior year, their junior year.
The breakup had been messy – lots of cheating speculation that had given Hannah flashbacks to the Gemma Phipps scandal – and she wondered if either Bruno or Ethan had any idea of the role Hannah had played in their split.
It hadn’t been malicious; she’d been backed into a corner.
Chances were, they would have broken up eventually anyway.
High school love rarely lasts, and the cheating rumours were true, but she still felt a twinge of guilt when she remembered what she’d done…
‘Not really,’ Ami said. ‘But I don’t think there’s any bad blood. They seemed to be having a good time catching up. Speaking of which, did I see you dining à deux with dear Teddie?’ She batted her long, dark lashes.
Hannah kept her expression even. Ami hadn’t been called up to speak to the detectives yet, and while her sister would never say anything to intentionally incriminate Hannah, she knew it was best not to take any chances.
The less she knew, the better. ‘You did. Seems like he’s one of our only former classmates who doesn’t think I had it in me to poison Madison.
’ She dropped her voice low. ‘But I’m not so sure I think the same of him. ’
Ami leaned in. ‘You think Theo did it?’
‘No? Maybe?’ She pressed her lips together, thinking. ‘Oliver told me about some drama between Madison and Theo that played out on Instagram lately. I would give my left pinkie toe for my phone right now.’
Ami laughed. ‘Not much of a sacrifice.’
‘Hey! Pinkies are very important for balance.’ She sighed.
‘I just wish I had some first-hand information I could bring to the detectives, to get them off my case. But I’m not throwing Theo under the bus over something I heard second-hand and can’t verify.
Besides, Gemma and Elle are equally sus. And Bash for that matter.’
Ami reached out and placed her hand on top of Hannah’s. ‘They’re talking to a lot of people tonight. Someone’s going to slip up. Trust me.’
Hannah nodded, feeling only moderately reassured. Something about their conversation nagged at her. She gave her sister’s hand a squeeze, wondering what Ami wasn’t saying.