inthelobbyastwoseparatehallwaysweredividedbyasinglesetofelevators.
“Totheleftisthedininghall,”Heatherexplained.“It’sprivatelycatered.You
canrequestyourmealsinadvanceifyouwantsomethingextraspecial.”
Evepeeredpasttheopendoubledoorsatanelegantroomfilledwithsable-
coloredtables,eachoneadornedwithaflowercenterpieceandsparklinggold
china.
“Dininghall?Isn’tthatwhatthecafeteriaisfor?”
“Oh,Eve,”Heathersighed,lightlypattingherontheback.“Don’tyouwant
tofeastonfreshlypreparedcuisineinanimmaculatediningroomwithfellow
Rutherfordians?Youdon’twanttoeatthegarbageatthecafeteriawith
everyoneelse,doyou?”
Witheveryoneelse—thephrasesoundeddirtyanddemeaningleaving
Heather’slips,andevenworsewastheterm Rutherfordian, atitleEvewasn’t sureshewantedtobear.ShegrimacedandcontinuedtofollowHeather.
Thetwogirlsheadedtotherightoftheelevators,squeezingtheirwayintoa
smaller,thoughmuchlivelier,room.Arowoftables—pingpong,pool,air
hockeyandthelike—werelinedagainstthebackwall,allofwhichwere
surroundedbylaughingandcheering“Rutherfordians.”Agiantholovision
screencoveredtheentirefrontwall;thescreenitselfdisplayedawooded
landscape,theimagesocrispandclearthat,forabriefmoment,Evecouldn’t
helpbutfeelasiftheroomhadbeentransportedintoaneerieforest.Creatures
weavedaroundthetrees—zombies,mostlikely—theirgrotesquefigures
scurrying back and forth until, one by one, their arms, legs, and then their entirebodiesprotrudedfromtheHVscreenandwanderedintotheroom.
Suddenly,theholographicformsfelltotheground,lurchingfromsidetoside
before fading into the floor and ultimately disappearing into nothingness. It wasahologame—averypopularoneatthat,asEvehadseenitadvertisedfor
monthsnow—andshewatchedasseveralstudentsaimedsmallplasticgunsat
theholographiczombies,sprayingthemwithvirtualbulletsuntiltheyvanished fromsight.
“Thisistherecroom,”Heatherstated,hervoiceunusuallyflat.“It’stheprime
locationformindlessentertainment,ifyou’reintothat juvenilestuff.”
Shecockedherheadbacktowardtheelevators.“Let’sheadup,shallwe?”
Evefiledintotheelevator,awkwardlypressingherselfagainstthewallasother
Rutherfordianscrammedinsidethesmallmetalbox.Theroombecame
silent,asidefromthemuffledbeepingoftheelevatoraseachfloorwaspassed,
andHeatherquicklyresumedhertour-guideduties.
“Thesecondfloorishometoourstudyhallandtutoringcenter.Wehave
privatetutors,mostlyotherRutherfordiansstudyingfortheirmaster’sand
PhDs,andbelieveitornot,wehaveourveryownvintagelibrary. Books,Eve
—realbooks!Ihadn’tseenoneinpersonuntilIcamehere.Theysmellfunny,
didyouknowthat?”
Evetriedtofeigninterestbutinsteadletoutahardlyconvincinggrunt.
“Thethirdfloorisextraspecial.It’shometooureventcenterand
ballroom.”
“Ballroom? ”
“Everyonceinawhilesomeonethrowsabigparty—birthdays,weddings,
cotillions—andyoujusthavetohopeyou’reinvited.”Hereyessparkledwith
delightasshespoke.“Iwishyoucould’vecometomycotillion.Itwasthebest.
Ever.Don’tletanyonetellyouotherwise,because,well,they’resimplylying.”
Theelevatorfinallyreachedthetwelfthfloor,andEveandHeatherfiledout, stoppinginthecenterofabrickhallway.Alongeithersideofthemweretwo
longrowsofdormrooms,eachonemarkedwithacherryreddooranda
goldenroomnumber,andaheadofthemsattwosetsoflarge,silverdoors.
“Thosearethewashrooms,”Heathersaid.“Theboys’dormsaretotheright,
andwe’reontheleft.We’renotsupposedtogointoanyboys’roomsandvice
versa, but some of the people here can’t control their indecent urges.” She sneeredatafewpassersbybeforeturningthecornertowardtheirprospective
dorms. “Tacky, if you ask me, but they can get away with it, because no one reallychecksuponus.”
“Someonecomplainedaboutthem,sotheywerefired.”
“Whatasweetstory,”Evemumbled.
“Wedon’tneedincessantsupervision.We’renotabunchof animals.We’re
here because—well, we’re special.” Heather finally stopped in front of a red doorwithagolden 1226nailedtoitsfront:Eve’sroom.SheturnedtoEveand grinned.“Enjoytheprivilegesandamenities.We deservethem.”
Eve’snostrilsflaredasifshesmelledsomethingrotten.
HeathercarelesslyploppedEve’sbagontothefloor.“Lookslikewe’ve
reachedyourroom!Mineisonlytwodoorsdown,soifyoueverneed
anything, feel free to pop your head in and say hello.” She leaned in toward Eveandloweredhervoice.“Ifyouaskme,wereallygottheluckofthedraw.
Our rooms have a perfect view of the entire campus; it’s great for people-watching.Youwouldn’t believetheexcitementI’vewitnessed,whatwithallthe
commotionaroundcampusthesedays.”
“Commotion?”Everepeated,wrinklingherbrow.“Whatkindof
commotion?”
Heatherchuckled.“Oh,tobeafreshmanagain—souninformedandnaïve.”
Sheskippedtowardherroomandstoppedforamoment,turningtofaceEve
onelasttime.“Youshouldkeepyourdoorlockedifyoucan.”
Withthat,Heatherdisappearedintoherownroomandslammedthedoor
behindher.
Evemutteredtoherself,jugglinghercumbersomebagsasshestumbledinto
herdorm.Apartofherfearedwhatshemightfindinside,buttheroomproved
tobeboringatbest.Twotwinbedssatonoppositesidesofthespace,bothwith
plain white sheets to match the bland, cream walls. The balcony opened up at thebackoftheroom,itsglassdoorscoveredinsoft,sheerlinensthatgently
grazedthehardwoodfloors.Nexttothefrontdoorwereacompactendtable
andalarge,woodenwardrobe,completelyuntouchedandvacantasidefrom
severalplastichangersandtwosetsofroomkeys.Evewassofocusedon
examininghernewhomethatshealmostfailedtonoticethegirlsittingonthe
bedtoherleft.
“Hi,”thegirlsqueaked.Shehadanunusuallysmallframe,thin,pin-straight
blondhair,andfragilelegsthatdelicatelyhungovertheedgeofthebed,her
toesbarelytouchingthefloor.
“Hey,I’mEve.”Sheextendedherarmforahandshake,butthegirlremained
motionless.Eveawkwardlyputherhandbacktoherside.“I’myour roommate.”
Thegirl’slargegreyeyesstaredblanklybackatEve.“Noyou’renot.”
Evelookedaroundtheroom,perplexed,andfishedheritineraryoutofher
pocket once more. “Um, I have a piece of paper here that says this is my room.”
“I know that. That’s not what I meant. This is your room, but I’m not your roommate.MadisonPalmeris.”
“Oh.”Evehesitated,evenmoreconfusedthanbefore.“So…whyareyou
h
ere?”
Thegirlwiggledhernoseandtwirledalimpstrandofhairbetweenher
fingers.“Madisonismybestfriend.Sheaskedmetocomebyherroom,siton
both beds, and save the softest one for her.” She looked down at her hair, examiningthesplitends,thenbackatEve.“Thisbedistaken.”
“Lovely…”Evemuttered,tossingherbelongingsontothefree—and
apparentlylesscomfortable—bed.Thegirl’seyesslowlymovedfromEveto
herfadedbags.
“Areyoupoor?”
Thedoorwassuddenlyflungopen,andinstormedanotherblondewith
three pink tote bags in hand. Behind her were several servants carrying an endlesssupplyofpinkleathersuitcases—theverysamesuitcasesthatEvehad
seenearlieroutsideofRutherfordHall.
You’vegottobekiddingme, Evethoughttoherself.
“Maddie,you’rehere!”Thegirl’svoicesharpenedintoahightrill,buther vacantfacialexpressionremained.“Isavedyouabed.”
Madisonsatatopthemattressandgroaned.“IfthepeopleherethinkIcansleep
comfortablyon thispieceofcrap,theyarecuh-ray-zee,”shemoaned,looking overatEve.“Imean,youknowwhatImean?”
Evemumbledinapatheticagreement,leaningagainstthewallas,oneby
one,servantsbombardedthenow-crowdeddormroom,stackingcountless
pinkbagsinwhatlittlespacewasleft.
“Thisisyourroommate.Iforgothername…”
“OhmyGod,Hayden,thatissoincrediblyrude!”Madisonshrieked,waving
herhandtowardthedoor.“Canyou,like,leave?Whyareyoustillhere?”
Haydenquicklyscurriedoutoftheroom,alongwiththeservants,finally
leavingEvealonewithMadison—andherluggage.
Madisonletoutalongsigh.“Youknow,thatgirlusedtobesoexcitedtosee
me.Idon’tknowwhat’schanged.”
Evesubtlytookinhernewroommate:shewasatextbookbombshell,her
bodyampleandvoluptuousinalltherightplaces,andclearlysheknewit.Her
breasts were pushed forward, spilling out of the collar of her pink dress like twocreampuffs,andherhipsswayedfromsidetosideassheshimmiedaround
her rows of suitcases. She turned to Eve and smiled. Her sapphire eyes, rosy cheeks,andsnow-whiteskinwereluminous,thoughhardlywarmor
disarming.
Evefinallymusteredapolitesmile.“I’mEve.”
“MyGod,dotheyreallyexpectustosharea closet?Imean,isthiscollege, oristhisprison,amIright?”Shelaughedtoherself,pleasedwithherwit.
“What’syournameagain?”
“Eve.”
“OhmyGod,yournameis sopretty,”Madisonchirped.“I’mMadison
Palmer.”
“Nicetomeetyou,Madison.”
MadisonstaredbackatEveasifwaitingforhertospeak.Instead,Evebegan
unpackingherbelongings,stillveryawareofMadison’sunrelentinggaze.Her
eyesfollowedEvewitheachmovementshemade,piercinglikedaggers,until
finally,thebuxomblondeclearedherthroatandbrokethesilence.
“Justincaseyouwerewondering,yes,Iam theMadisonPalmer,”shegloated, flippinghervoluminoushairacrossherback.
“Oh…”Eveavoidedeyecontact.Baffled,shereplied,“I’msorry,I’mnot
reallysurewhatyoumeanbythat.”
Madison’smouthgapedopen.“You’ve neverheardofMadisonDiamonds?”
Shepointedtoaglitteringdiamondbraceletthathungfromherwrist.“It’s only thelargestdistributorofdiamondjewelryandaccessoriesinthe world.”
“Oh,”Evemuttered.“Yeah,thatsoundsfamiliar.”
“God,Eve,forasecondthereIthoughtyouwereclueless!”Shelovingly
tinkeredwithherbracelet.“Daddynamedthecompanyafterme.Ifthat’snotan
expressionofcompletedevotiontoyourdaughter,Idon’tknowwhatis.”
Evefoughttomuffleherlaughter, settingasidehernowhalf-emptyduffelbag andtakingaseatonherbed.“You’reverylucky.”
“Iknow,right?”MadisonwasquietforamomentasshelookedEveupand
down.“You’repretty.”
“Thankyou.”
“Well,Imean,kindof.Inanawkward,lanky,weirdway.You’reweird-
pretty.”
“…Thanks.”
“You’re really tall.”
Evechuckledandnoddedherhead.
“Youknowwhat?IthinkyouandIaregoingtobegoodfriends.Prettygirls
havetosticktogether,evenifoneofthemiskindoffunny-looking.”Madison
pulled a diamond-encrusted nail file out of a small, pale pink clutch. She pointedthenailfileatEve.“Doyouhaveanyfriendshere?”
“Notreally.IjustmetsomegirlnamedHeather—”
“Heather McLeod?” she gasped. “That girl is a vulture. God, Eve, you are so luckytohavemetme!”ShedashedovertoEve’sbedandsatbesideher.“Wow,
thisbedis wayworse,”shemumbledtoherself.“Listentomecarefully,okay?
I’vegonetoprivateschoolwiththat slopholeeversinceIwasinthefirstgrade andshewasinthesecond.Letmetellyou,sheistheabsolute queenofgossip.
She knows everything about everyone, and she’s more than happy to spill the beans. Do not, I repeat, do not tell her anything in confidence.” She grabbed Eve’shandandclutchedittightly.“Gotit?”
“Gotit,”Eveanswered,surprisedbyherroommate’ssuddenintensity.
“Andwhateveryoudo,do nottellheranythingabout me.”
“Mylipsaresealed.”
Madisonsmiled.“Eve,doyouknowwhatIjustdidhere?”
“Um…”Eveglancedbackandforthacrosstheroomasiftheanswerwere
somewheretobefound.“No?”
“I just saved your life.” She beamed with pride. “Well, your social life, at least.”
Madisonbegantoquicklyfilehernails,andEvewatchedasacloudoffilings
lightlyfloatedontoherbed,formingapileofdustonhersheets.
“Itoldyouwe’regoingtobegoodfriends.”
CHAPTER2:
WELCOMETOBILLINGTON
“Holyshit,thatwasintense.”
ThemangrabbedEve’shandandtuggedherforward,shufflingthroughthe
hallwaysoquicklythatherlittlelegsstruggledtokeepup.
“Iknow,”hispartnermuttered.“Iwasexpectinginvoluntarymanslaughter,
maybemanslaughter,butnotthis.”
“Yeah,they’rereallytryingtonailhertothewall.”
Themenhastenedtheirstride,andsoEve’sbriskwalkturnedintoarun.
Theymadetheirwaythroughthecourthouse,pastthewindingcorridors,and
into the marble entryway, and all the while the man yanked Eve from side to
sidewithsomuchforceanddisregardthatattimesherfeetbarelyeven touchedtheground.Inthatmoment,shefeltsosmall—soinsignificant.
“Wedon’thavetofindanattorneyforher,dowe?”
“Of course not,” the second man hissed as he fiddled with his phone. “The court will appoint someone. And for God’s sake, will you get ahold of her aunt?”
“We’vecontactedherseventimesalready,evenshowedupatherhouse
twice.She’sdodgingus.”
“Well,keeptrying.Wehavetogetheroutofthestate’scustody.Noonewill
bewillingtofosterherifitevercomesdowntoit.”
“Nokidding.”ThemangrippingEve�
��shandlookeddownatherasif
noticing her for the first time, though she didn’t bother to meet his gaze and insteadstaredblanklyahead.Hewrinkledhisforeheadandglancedathis
partner.“Sheokay?”
Hispartnershrugged.“Probablyasokayasshecanbe,giventhesituation.”
“God,Ican’tbelieveit.Aneight-year-oldchimerachargedwith second-
degreemurder.”
ThewordsstungEveastheylefthislips.Shedidn’tfullyunderstandthem,
butsheknewtheseveritytheycarried.
Hispartnertossedhisphoneintohisbriefcaseandledthewaydownthe
staircase.“Believeit.Thistrialisgoingtobealloverthenews.”
“The news?Butshe’sa minor. She’sprotectedby law—”
“Nationally,yes.Butlocally?”Helaughed.“There’snowaythisstoryisn’t leaking, and we’ve got front row seats to her public lynching. Speaking of which—”
ThenextthingEvenoticedwasthesoundoffarawayvoicesthat,witheach
step down the staircase, grew louder and louder. Then, she saw the row of glassdoors—theexittothecourthouse—andthecrowdofpeopleforming
behindit.Theyworeblazersandtiesandheldcamerasandmicrophones,and
soonshecouldheartheirshoutingmuchmoreclearly: “Youngchimeralikely
tobechargedasanadult,”“ThehottestcasetohitSanFranciscoinnearlya half-century,” and “Wehavetogetashotofher— wehavetoseeherface!”
Panic suddenly consumed her; she dragged her feet, desperate to stay as far from the horde as possible, but the man pulled her down the steps without relenting.Hispartnerturnedtothembothandsmirked.
“Braceyourself.There’sashitstormoutside.”
Thealarmwentoff,andEveimmediatelysatuprightinherbed.Morning
hadarrived.Withacalmingbreath,shetoreherselffromhersheetsandbegan
preparingforherfirstdayofschool.
Evezippedupherslimblackpencilskirtandslippedonapairofpointedheels.
She had to look her best, whether she cared to or not—the Billington dress coderequiredthatallstudentswearfullbusinessattire,arulethatforced