The Body in the Woods (25 page)

Alexis's features bunched up. “What are you talking about, Nick?”

But Ruby knew. “He was collecting the set.”

Nick pointed a fry at her. “Exactly. That's like us. We're different, but we fit together.”

“So we're each like a type?” Alexis asked. “I assume you're talking about more than our hair.”

“We've got the smart girl”—Nick pointed at Ruby—“the pretty girl”—his finger moved on to Alexis—“and the”—he pointed to himself and hesitated—“the brave guy.”

Alexis jabbed her own finger at him. “Hey, I'm a lot more than just the pretty girl.”

“If it weren't for Alexis, both of us would be dead,” Ruby said.

As it was, the doctors had insisted on keeping Ruby in the hospital overnight, which had freaked her out nearly as badly as her confrontation with Becker. She figured the sickest people within a hundred miles were right there in the same building, breathing the same air and generally spreading their germs. She had eventually talked one of the nurses into bringing her a roll of tape, and she had spent a half hour taping Kleenexes over anything she might have to touch, including light switches, door handles, and the flushing mechanism for the toilet.

“But I was sure it was the homeless guy,” Alexis said. “And it turned out that he had nothing to do with it. Just some creepy guy who liked to hit on women.”

“Speaking of homeless, did your parents get mad that you spent the night in a homeless shelter?” Nick asked.

“It's just my mom.” Alexis looked down and pressed her lips together. “And no, she didn't.”

Ruby thought she looked sad. She wanted to console her friend, but had no idea how to. How could she make Alexis feel better? How could she show she cared? She didn't want to play Supportive Best Friend, she wanted to be it. But how? Ruby's shoulders got tight as her confusion grew. She forced herself to take a deep breath, to suspend analysis and critical thinking. No matter what Nick said, sometimes people didn't really want logic.

Instead Ruby pushed over her red and yellow box. “Want the rest of my fries?

And was rewarded with Alexis's smile.

CHAPTER 54

SATURDAY

FOAM HEART

From under her eyelashes, Alexis watched Bran as he waited at Perk Up's counter for Mara to finish making their coffees. She didn't know what it meant that he had wanted to get together again, or if it meant anything at all. He had texted and called several times to see how she was doing.

Probably his interest was professional. Poor Alexis, he must be thinking, what with having a bipolar mom, finding a dead body, and nearly killing a killer. He must think she needed a lot of trauma intervention.

The strange thing was that, even though she had done her best to kill Becker, Alexis didn't hate him. Maybe she even had some twisted sympathy for him after living with her mom and her mom's mental illness all these years.

Now Bran came back to their table carrying two lattes. After looking from one glass to the other, he slid one over to her. “It's my lucky day. The latte art is doing my speaking for me.”

His had a leaf. But hers was decorated with a white foam heart.

A flush climbed her cheeks. He
must
like her. She tried to think of a reply, but couldn't.

“After all, you're a hero.” Bran said. “And everyone loves a hero.”

Suddenly Alexis was very glad she hadn't thought of anything the slightest bit romantic to say. “I didn't feel like a hero,” she said honestly. “I was just scared. The worst thing was that I thought it was all over. That Ruby and Nick were already dead, so it didn't matter. None of it mattered.”

“So you three must be pretty good friends? I didn't pick that up that first night.”

Friends? But Alexis realized it was true. “We've been through a lot together since then. To be honest, I've never had that many friends. We've always moved around a lot. And I didn't want people to know about my mom.” She took a long sip, then set down her glass.

Bran did the same, leaving behind a faint mustache of foam. Then he reached across the table and took her hand. “I hope you have room for one more.”

Alexis was still cautious. “You mean friend?”

His face turned red. “And more. But only if you want.”

For an answer, Alexis leaned forward. And in front of Mara and a dozen other patrons, she kissed the foam right off Bran's lips.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Tk

Praise for
THE GIRL WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE

“Henry's airtight plotting and efficient, stylized writing brings tension into each scene. Shrewd characterizations lend additional substance to this adrenaline-inducing read.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“[A] tumbling, breathless feel as we scrape for clues right along with our protagonist.”

—
Booklist

“Henry has turned up the intensity … with this edge-of-your-seat thriller.”

—
School Library Journal

Praise for
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED

An ALA Top Ten Quick Picks for Young Adults

A TLA Tayshas Selection

A Junior Library Guild Selection

“[A] fast-paced, gripping thriller … Gabie is an intriguing protagonist.”

—
School Library Journal

“The reader must wait with bated breath to see when and if the characters will uncover the truth as the suspense builds to a fever pitch.”

—
VOYA

Praise for
GIRL, STOLEN

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

An ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults

Barnes and Noble Top Teen Pick

South Dakota YARP

Winner of the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

Missouri Truman Readers Award Selection

“Constantly interesting and suspenseful.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“Thoroughly exciting.”

—
Booklist

“Readers will be hard-pressed to put this one down before its heart-pounding conclusion.”

—
School Library Journal