Page 16 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

When she turns back to me, she wets her lips nervously and swallows. “What?”

“In your group.” I watch the other students walking down the hallway. Penny’s dressed in pajamas today, but that makes sense. She wants to be popular. Her connection to Luke elevates her to a certain level, but that doesn’t make her popular. It makes her a target.

“My group?” Confusion laces her tone.

I sigh and give her my full attention. “Natalie, Isabelle, or Victoria. It makes sense that your father would be paying one of them to report back to him. And by them reporting on you, they’ll be reporting on us now too. You need to figure out which one it is.”

Her lips press tight as she thinks about it. She shakes her head, making her low ponytails dance. “No. We’ve been friends forever. They wouldn’t be disloyal like that.”

“Maybe at first they didn’t think they were being disloyal.” I blow out my breath. I hate having to explain what’s obvious. “Maybe, at first, they thought they were helping you by letting your dad know what a good person you are. But then he demands more. Or maybe you dated someone they wanted to date. Maybe she’s never really been a friend but was always your father’s way in to check up on you. Or he’s blackmailing one of them or offering them something they can’t refuse.”

Her eyebrows furrow, and she looks down and to the side. She knows I’m right.

“You said it yourself. Your father seems to know things. William Foster isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t risk some kid on the outside giving him information. He’d want someone already on the inside. Someone you already trust. Or someone he knew you’d trust.”

“But—” She cuts herself off. The wheels are turning and she’s going to figure it out, but it’s going to take time. Time I don’t have. We need people we can trust.

“When you figure out who it is, don’t do anything about it.”

She glances up at me, confused. “Why?”

“Because we’re going to use them the way they’ve used you for years.” I’d rub my hands together, but I’m sure she sees the excitement in my eyes. It’s a game, and I love to win games. “She’ll send false information to help us.”

Penny looks like she wants to protest still. It’s hard to believe someone you’ve shared everything with is a traitor, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.

I lower my tone. “She probably is your friend now. It would be hard to hold herself apart when trying to get that close. She would have told you secrets to gain your trust. I don’t think any of your friends are sociopaths or psychopaths, but someone is being used to get information on you and potentially us. Maybe she doesn’t want to, but he’s making her.”

Penny exhales and looks down the hallway. “What else do you need me to do?”

“Did Sidney ask you to drug Luke?”

“No!” Her wide eyes turn back to me. “Would she do that? Does that work? I mean, I get how you could drug a woman, but would it work on a man?”

“Maybe not the same way, but she could take compromising photos if Luke was passed out.” I study her because her reaction will tell me what I need to know.

“That’s not right.” Her gaze bounces up to mine. “I wouldn’t. That’s a violation. I didn’t even like the idea of having her over.”

I nod. “Then when you do, watch her. If she tries to drug Luke, spill his drink or ruin his meal in some way so she can’t do what she wants.”

She nods, still clearly disturbed by the idea of Sidney drugging Luke. Or maybe still contemplating which of her friends is a traitor. I hate to tell her, but it could be the whole group. She’ll figure it out. She’s got William Foster’s DNA to help her out.

“Find your mole and make sure Luke stays safe.” I’ve said what I needed to. But before I can walk away, Penny touches my arm. I narrow my eyes on her hand and she drops it.

“If you need help this week, let me know.” Penny straightens. “Whatever those guys have planned won’t be good. I hope Harper counts me as a friend now, but I know I have to work on building up her and your trusts. I want to be useful, but I’m not looking for handouts.”

“What are you looking for?” I cock an eyebrow and wait.

She swallows. “Family. Something real.”

I nod. Her logic is sound. Let’s just hope she only harbors a traitor and isn’t one herself. “Let me know what you find out.”

CHAPTER 6

The Project

Harper

Mrs. Lee: