Free Rushing to Die by Lindsay Emory Page A

percent.”
    Nick was intrigued. “With which part?”
    â€œAll of it,” I said. “You’re wrong about everything.” I felt the ghostly support of Mary Gerald and Leticia behind me, cheering me on as I stood up for their principles.
    â€œExcellent.” Nick reached out and turned off the recorder. “Will you say that on film?”
    Suddenly, I wasn’t sure if Nick had just slapped a plastic cup over a spider—­and the spider was me.
    I took a pen out of my purse and scribbled a number on my paper napkin. “Call my PR person.” I pushed the napkin across the table. “Then we’ll talk.”
    I wasn’t sure whether Casey could make this situation any better, but I was pretty darn sure it wouldn’t get any worse.

 
    Chapter Eleven
    T HE SHED AT the back of the Delta Beta property line was creaky, dusty, and cramped. It housed spare lumber and paint cans for the giant wooden letters that graced the front yard during celebratory times of the year, along with the rakes and clippers and shovel that the yard crew used. It was the perfect place for a secret meeting of my most trusted sisters.
    I had texted Callie, Aubrey, and Zoe to meet me there. First, Callie opened the door, followed by Aubrey and Zoe a few minutes later.
    â€œWe told Ginnifer there were extra twinkle lights out here,” Aubrey explained.
    â€œShe’s furious we don’t have enough,” Zoe said grimly.
    â€œAnd every store in town is sold out,” Aubrey finished.
    â€œIt’s not like every house on Greek Row doesn’t use them,” Callie said. We all nodded. Twinkle lights were a rush-­decor staple.
    â€œShe sent the Leonard twins up to their rooms as a punishment.”
    â€œWhat?” I gasped. I hadn’t heard this. “What did they do?”
    â€œThey used the word ‘rushee’ instead of ‘potential new member.’ ” Aubrey answered. “It threw the Gineral into a tailspin. Now she’s on a rampage about ‘rules’ and ‘terminology.’ ” Aubrey used air quotes around the words, and I could tell that they were all on edge.
    â€œThe lion thing didn’t help.” Even in the dim light of the storage shed, I saw an accusation in Aubrey’s eyes directed at Callie and Zoe. Only three months ago, she and Callie had been near-­mortal enemies; I hoped their new friendship wasn’t in danger because of a stupid prank.
    â€œIt was a baby lion.” Callie sniffed.
    â€œCallie . . .” I said her name in a voice as full of gentle reproach as I could.
    â€œWhat?” She slung her hands up. “It wasn’t me.”
    â€œI hope not. We can’t afford to get caught up in these silly pranks, not when we have real issues to work on.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Zoe said, wringing her hands. “I hope I didn’t make it worse with the glasses.”
    This was going to be difficult, but we all had to be on the same page. “You lied to the police, Zoe.”
    â€œI didn’t!”
    â€œWhat did you say, Zoe.” That was Aubrey’s responsible big-­sister tone.
    â€œHe wanted to know how I knew about the spy-­glasses. I told him the truth, that I bought a pair when I suspected that John Schnaefel was cheating on me with the entire Epsilon Chi pledge class.”
    Callie nodded sagely. “He was such a Man Ho.”
    â€œAnyway,” I prompted. “That’s why Zoe knew so much about the spy-­glasses. She used them to catch her boyfriend doing the dirty with a bunch of trashy Epsilon Chis.” The girls all looked at me with trepidation. “That’s the truth, and that’s what we’re going with.”
    â€œIt is the truth,” Zoe agreed. “But what was the dead girl doing with Witness glasses in her pocket?”
    The four of us had fairly active imaginations.
    â€œShe was a reporter for Nick