Page 638 of Lessons in Cruelty

“Your boyfriend did this?” Abigail whisper-shouts, eyes wide.

“No.” I’m shaking my head, backing away. “No, that’s—that’s not possible. Kai wouldn’t⁠—“

Officer Martin stands and turns to me, taking off his sunglasses. “Do you know this Kai?”

“It’s not him,” I hear myself say. “He didn’t do this. It’s not possible.” Finally, a sliver of clarity breaks through the panicked fog filling my head. “He was with me! He’s been with me the whole time!”

But, fuck, as I say it⁠—

“Oh, he has?” Abigail snaps. “Because he’s sure as hell not with you now!”

My mouth opens but nothing comes out because⁠—

Fuck.

We have been together this week, but not a hundred percent of the time. He had classes. I had classes. Then there was the fight, and he disappeared right after…

“This is insane,” I manage, clearing my throat when I hear how thick my voice is. “Melissa, I don’t know what you think happened, but Kai would never have done this. It couldn’t have been⁠—“

“You think I don’t know who had me tied up?” She shoves to her feet, grabbing onto Officer Martin’s arm when her legs wobble.

Tied up?

“I’m not saying that. I just⁠—“

My phone vibrates in my tote bag.

I ignore it.

Officer Martin turns to me, glancing at my tote bag before focusing on me. “What’s your name, Miss?”

“Haven Lee,” Abigail says, at Melissa’s side in a second. “Her boyfriend’s Kai Jordan.”

Martin glances at Abigail. “Do you know where Kai is, Miss Lee?”

“N-No,” I admit reluctantly. My phone buzzes again. That’s when I realize it’s a phone call, not just a notification. “We had a fight and⁠—”

“You’re covering for him!” Melissa yells. “You’re fucking covering for him!”

Martin stares at my tote. “You gonna get that?”

I wasn’t going to, but I pull it out anyway and check the screen.

It’s Kai. He’s trying to call me.

“I…uh…I have to take this,” I say weakly.

Martin looks like he wants to object, but then his radio crackles and he frowns as he shifts his attention away from me. In the distance, a siren warbles, growing louder every second.

I pivot, about to answer Kai’s call when the ringing stops.

A truncated message notification pops up as I’m still trying to figure out what the hell to do.

@jordan.kai

Where are you? Checked the library…

The rest is cut off.