Get Even by Gretchen McNeil Page A

her brain labored to internalize the words’ meaning, the reality of what was happening overwhelmed her with a new emotion: fear.
    “Crazy, huh?”
    In an instant, Margot was back in the world. Back at Bishop DuMaine. Back in AP Government, gazing at Logan.
    “Yeah,” Margot managed to croak. “Crazy.”
    “Did you know him?”
    Margot shook her head. “I never met him.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie.
    “Tall guy?” Logan continued. “About my height? Sandy blond hair with too much gel and bad acne?”
    That described Ronny to perfection. “I don’t know.”
    “Right. Sorry.” Logan smiled sheepishly. “You just said that.”
    There was something comforting about the affable face, the blue eyes that immediately calmed her down.
    “We have reason to believe,” Father Uberti continued, “that the group known as DGM was involved. Once again, if you have any information as to the identities of those behind DGM, we ask that you come forward as soon as possible.”
    The loudspeaker fell silent.
    Margot stared blankly at her desk. They couldn’t seriously think DGM or anyone at Bishop DuMaine had a hand in Ronny’s death, could they?
    Logan cleared his throat. “You’re vibrating.”
    Margot opened her backpack and rooted around for her cell phone. “Sorry. Getting a text.”
    The very words were foreign to her. No one ever texted her except her parents, and absolutely never during school. Considering the bomb that had just been dropped on Bishop DuMaine, Margot wasn’t the least bit surprised to see that the text was from Kitty.
     
    We need to meet ASAP. Lunch today by the baseball field?
     
    Margot paused. It was a bad idea for the four of them to meet on campus, but Kitty was right. Something horrific had happened, and they needed to get to the bottom of it.
    She texted back.
     
    Computer lab at lunch. I have a key. Regular greeting.
     
    Kitty stood next to the water fountain, trying to look as casual as possible. The hallway in front of the computer lab was deserted, but Kitty was taking no chances. If she was pacing by the door to the lab, that might appear suspicious, but using the water fountain, checking the time on her watch, was innocent enough.
    She was being overly cautious, but after what had happened that morning, she needed to be.
    The door at the far end of the hall creaked and Kitty immediately bent over and pushed the bar on the front of the water fountain, as if she’d been passing through and just happened to need a drink.
    Kitty looked up, relieved to see Margot hustling down the hall.
    Without breaking stride, she yanked a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. Margot ducked inside, and after a quick glance down either side of the corridor to make sure they were alone, Kitty followed.
    The computer lab was dark, lit only by the dull glow of screen savers from a wall of monitors. The whole effect was surreal, and Kitty felt the skin on the back of her neck prickle.
    “Are you sure no one will find us in here?” Kitty asked, desperate to fill the uncomfortable silence.
    Margot pulled out a chair. “Only the yearbook class uses this lab anymore. The rest of the time the door’s locked.”
    “You didn’t answer my question.”
    Margot looked up at her coldly. “No one’s ever bothered me in here.”
    Knock. Pause. Knock. Knock. Knock.
    “Am I late?” Olivia asked breathlessly as she dashed into the lab. “I had to give Amber the slip and then I couldn’t find the room.” She ran a hand through her short hair. Before Kitty could stop herself, she pictured that hand caressing Donté’s face, his bare chest. . . .
    “Bree’s not here yet,” Margot said. She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Thirty seconds or we start without her.”
    As if on cue, the doorknob shook, then the DGM knock sounded on the lab door. Forceful and strong, the kind of announcement that said Bree didn’t care who heard her.
    Kitty whipped open the door and Bree stepped unhurriedly