“I have no proof, so it would be my word against theirs,” I said. “The girls would probably all claim their society is just a school club where they discuss women’s issues, and they’d paint me as some crazy bitch who’s trying to smear them because they rejected me, or something likethat.”
Hunter’s shoulders slumped. “You don’t have anything you could take to the cops atall?”
“No. And even if we go in and try to get them to look into it without any evidence, it won’t go anywhere. Camila told me that some of the most powerful men in the state are in the Network. They’d step in and shut down any investigations into them right away, because they probably have the power to do that, and without any real evidence, the police wouldn’t have much choice but to go along withit.”
Hunter frowned and scratched at the back of his neck. “That might be true,” he said. “But I’m not gonna stand around and let them keep going with this shit. Especially when they hurt you sobadly.”
“They didn’t do anything physical to me, apart from the drink spiking,” I replied. “I’m more worried about the girls. They put on a brave front, but deep down, they must feel totallypowerless.”
“The society might not have physically hurt you, but they still released that fucking video of you,” he said, jaw clenching. “And now that you’ve seen what they get up to and rejected them, I bet they’re gonna keep coming after you. They’ll want to make sure you keep your mouth shut aboutthem.”
I swallowed thickly. “Well, what can I really do to stop them? I’m a nobody compared to them. I don’t have money andresources.”
“But you haveme. We can try to scrape together some real evidence,” he said, taking my hands and squeezing them in his. “If we get enough, it won’t matter if these pricks try to get the police investigations shut down. We can just post it all online, make it go viral, and let everyone decide for themselves. If there’s enough uproar, the cops won’t be able to ignore it. Not without revealing their obvious corruption and getting themselvesfired.”
My brows dipped in a frown. “Where would we evenstart?”
“I think we need to try to figure out who the Network guys are. I’m just not sure howyet.”
“Well, they obviously have their tentacles all over RFA, so they’re probably alumni, right?” I said, twisting my lips. “Or they at least havesomesort of link to thecampus.”
“Probably. So I guess we could start by looking at the school. But we can’t just go and ask Sanders. He probably knows all about it and lets it happen. That would explain why he’s always made sure the Medusa girls areprotected.”
“Yeah, the whole administration is probably corrupt,” I muttered. My breath suddenly hitched, and I sat bolt upright. “Oh! I have anidea.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “I knowexactlywho we need to talkto.”
8
Laney
Iknockedon the door in front of me. It was already open a crack, but I didn’t want to be rude and waltz right in. “Ms.Flores?”
She looked up from her desk. “Yes?”
I pushed the door open and smiled. “Do you have aminute?”
“Sure,” she said, motioning toward the chair across from her desk. “Comein.”
I put my bag down and took a seat, pulse pounding with excitement. I’d been waiting almost three days for this. Ms. Flores wasn’t at RFA on the weekends—apparently she commuted home to Concord on Friday evenings—so I hadn’t been able to chat to her and try to glean any information from her about the school and its history untilnow.
She leaned forward. “Everythingokay?”
“Yes. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about theschool.”
“Oh. Sure.” Her head tipped to one side. “Hang on, aren’t all the seniors meant to be in study hall during last period onMondays?”
My cheeks flushed with warmth. “I’m supposed to be there, yes, but I think this counts as study. I’m working on a sort of…project.”
“And it’s about the school?” she replied, lifting herbrows.
“Yes. I only wanted to talk to you about it, because I want to keep it on the down-low, and I’m pretty sure you’re the only trustworthy teacher or staff member at thisschool.”
“I would say I’m flattered, but being the most trustworthy person in a den of snakes isn’t exactly the greatest compliment,” she said with a wry smile. “But don’t worry, I’m catching your drift. I won’t tell any of the other staff members about yourproject.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”