Page 154 of The Broken Note

“Did you know I’d be there?”

The dots connect.

Mom lying about having evidence on Jarod Cross.

Jarod telling me to get evidence on Dutch.

Me coincidentally spying on the brothers ‘with drugs’.

I lower my voice urgently, “Mom, are you working with Jarod Cross?”

Her eyes dart back and forth.

Vi brings mom a napkin. “Cadey, why would mom know a celebrity like Jarod Cross. That’s like a homeless guy having Oprah’s phone number.”

“Answer me, mom.”

Mom ignores me and points a strained smile at Vi. “How was your weekend, sweetie?”

“Fine,” Vi mumbles. “We hung out with Dutch and then I had to do a group project.”

I cringe at Vi’s mention of Dutch.

Mom pounces on it right away. Her body stiffens. “Cadence, you were with that boy all weekend?”

“No,” I lie.

“Yes,” Vi says.

We both glance at each other.

Mom stiffens. “You were with himalone?”

I say nothing.

Mom pins her dark eyes on my little sister. She looks sharper than she ever has before.

Viola breaks easily. “Cadey stayed out with Dutch all night an didn’t come back until morning.”

“Viola!” I hiss.

“Sorry. She scares me.”

Mom shoots up so fast, the chair behind her topples. It crashes to the floor, making both me and Vi jump.

“Come with me,” mom barks.

“I’m not going anywhere—”

“Now!” Mom hisses.

My anger rushes to the surface and I stay right where I am.

“No, mom. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to rush in here after disappearingagainand act like my mother when you’ve been anything but a mother to me. I’m not going anywhere with you. Not until you tell me exactly what kind of deal you have with Jarod—”

“Did you use a condom?”

I freeze.

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