Get Even by Gretchen McNeil Page B

inside.
    “I’m here,” she said. “Let’s get this over with so I can finish my lunch.”
    “This isn’t a joke, Bree,” Margot snapped.
    Bree walked to the nearest chair. “If you say so.” She deposited her cell phone on a desk, propped her combat boots up next to it, and tilted the chair back.
    From beside her, Bree’s cell phone rang. She silenced the call and tossed it back on the desk. “It’s just John,” she said without being prompted.
    “Does he know where you are?” Kitty asked.
    Bree arched an eyebrow. “We’re not attached at the hip.”
    The phone rang again. This time Bree sent the call to voice mail.
    Olivia cocked her head. “Are you sure about that?”
    “Are you sure,” Bree said drily, “you like your face that way? Because I could rearrange it for you.”
    “Guys,” Kitty said, stepping between them. She kept her eye on the phone, wondering if the third time was the charm. “No fighting. We’ve got enough problems.”
    “Have you heard the rumors?” Olivia asked, switching gears. “Rex said Ronny had ‘DGM’ carved into his chest.”
    Bree rolled her eyes. “How can you take anything Rex Cavanaugh says seriously? The guy has a set of gonads for a brain.”
    “I thought maybe he’d heard it from Father Uberti?” Olivia pouted.
    “Even if F.U. knows,” Kitty said, trying to keep everyone calm, “which I doubt, there’s no way he’d be allowed to share that information with anyone, especially not a student who might be a suspect.”
    Olivia’s blue eyes grew wide. “Rex is a suspect?”
    “Wake up, Princess,” Bree said. “We’re all suspects.”
    Kitty held up her hands. “We don’t know that yet. Ronny’s death could have been an accident. Or suicide.”
    Margot glanced up but didn’t say a word.
    “Come off it, Kitty.” Bree kicked her feet off the table. “The police wouldn’t show up at school for an accidental death. Ronny was killed, plain and simple. They must suspect someone at school is involved or they wouldn’t be here.”
    “Poor Ronny,” Olivia whimpered.
    Bree snorted. “Poor Ronny? The guy’s a sexual predator. I’d say he got what he deserved.”
    Olivia sucked in a sharp breath. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that.”
    “I think what Bree means,” Kitty said, with a cutting look in her direction, “is that maybe it’s not a surprise Ronny was murdered?”
    “Murdered . . .” Olivia jumped to her feet. “We have to get out of here. Right now. What if they find us? We’ll get sent to juvie. Oh my God, do you know what happens to girls like me in prison?”
    “They become someone’s wife?” Bree suggested.
    Olivia started for the door. “I have to go.”
    Kitty intercepted her. “Olivia, we are not going to juvie, okay?” If Olivia panicked, Margot melted down, or Bree went rogue, they’d all be screwed. “We need to go about our lives like nothing’s happened.”
    “Like nothing’s happened?” Olivia’s eyes were glassy, a clear indication tears were on the way. “I have an audition tonight for the fall play. How am I supposed to focus on Shakespeare when Ronny is . . . is . . .” Her eyes faltered as she wiped stray droplets from her cheeks.
    “It’s just one more role, Olivia,” Kitty said. “Consider it an acting challenge.”
    “I’m glad you’ve got your priorities straight,” Bree said. “Audition over murder. I’ll keep that in mind.”
    Olivia whirled on her, her eyes wet. “What about you? You don’t seem to care at all that Ronny’s dead.”
    Bree stuck out her chin. “I don’t.” Only Kitty could see that her lower lip trembled.
    “Where were you last night?” Margot said from out of nowhere. Her voice was calm. Too calm.
    Olivia caught her breath. “Me?”
    “All of you.”
    Turning on one another wasn’t going to help. “Hold up,” Kitty said. “We can’t go pointing fingers.”
    “One of our targets is dead,” Margot said. Her lips flattened as she