When senior students at Lincoln High receive the same deadly text message, it falls upon Helena Gallagher and an unlikely companion to solve the mystery and catch the killer.
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High school student, Helena Gallagher is a murder fanatic. A devoted...
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"Excuse me?" I ask.
"I'm going to help."
"Why?"
Elliot shrugs. "The same reason you're sat slaving over a word document at midday. I care."
"About Sienna?"
"About our safety. Twenty bucks says the killer isn't done. Not by a long shot."
I quirk a brow, agreeing by a long shot. Elliot seems legit. Genuine. And as I stare into his honest eyes, I think over my options. It's another doomsday situation. If I say no to his help, I'm essentially embarking on this Everest-sized investigation on my own. Say yes, and I'm putting two brains on the job. Surely, we have a better chance at figuring this out by working together?
"Fine. Let's swap notes," I suggest, beckoning him closer.
I don't particularly want anyone listening in.
"What do you know?"
"I know Sienna had her secrets," he replies. "She wasn't as innocent as everyone thought."
"Oh?"
"I don't know specifics but the killer clearly did."
"You think whoever did this knew her?" I question.
He nods. "I guarantee it."
I shift my gaze and momentarily focus on the librarian stamping books like the things themselves have wronged her. Her aggressiveness is uncalled for. Abrupt. The exact opposite of what we're dealing with here.
"It was planned," I state. "Calculated."
"I agree."
"But why send a message to every senior student?"
"And teachers," he adds.
Huh?
"What?"
"Teachers got the messages too."
"I didn't know that." I admit, quickly typing out the additional information.
"What do you know?" he asks, inching even closer.
I take to whispering. "According to Lewis, the messages have been traced to someone in Ohio."
"Ohio?"
I nod.
"Traces can easily be manipulated," he informs, flexing his arms.
Elliot is part jock, part computer nerd, so I believe him when he says that. And whilst I don't pretend to understand how, I do appreciate the logistics behind such a move. Does the killer want us to think they're working with someone from Ohio? Or are they simply toying with us?
"We need to establish a motive. Why would someone want to expose her 'truth'?" I ask, flipping to a fresh page in my planner.
"What's with the notebook?" he enquires, gesturing towards my 'get shit done' organiser.
