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Kana rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Will this plan even work?”

“The better question is: Can we even trust her?” said Hal.

Snowy made a loud, offended gasp. Ken’s nostrils flared.

“What if she’s just lying?” Hal argued, jabbing a hand at Snowy. “That whole story you were just telling us. How do we know you weren’t just making that shit up on the fly?”

The argument bounced around the garage like a pinball while Jun’s thoughts kept snagging on the same thread: Ashley was real. He’d met her. He’d been inside that house.

Before he could second-guess himself, the words came out. “Even if she was making all of that up, it’s not like she asked to be kidnapped.” Every head in the room turned to him. Jun’s pulse spiked, but he held his ground. “It’s not like we both made up Ashley.”

He turned to Alex, hoping he would understand the wordless exchange: Any kind of information related to Ruki’s drug was one step closer to learning the truth.

Alex didn’t move, only responding with a small smile.

“Also,” Jun continued, “while I was driving Covey around, I met someone asking him about the next batch. If Covey distributes through his parties, that’s where the next batch would show up.”

Robin hummed in agreement through the phone.

Snowy cleared her throat and made a half smile. “Thanks,” she mouthed at Jun in Mandarin. She perked up and looked around the room. “Whether you believe me or not, there is a problem.”

“Which is?” asked Robin.

Snowy licked her lips. “Well, before I was kidnapped”—she hit the word hard—“I left my phone at the studio. And I don’t have his number memorized.” She blinked up at them, all innocence. “I’m not making excuses. I really don’t.”

“I have his number,” said Jun, reaching into his pockets.

“It shouldn’t come from you,” Ken interjected. “If he sees it’s coming from you, and she speaks, it will look suspicious.” He gave his phone to Jun. “Put the number in my phone, and I’ll give it to her.”

Jun was about to punch in the number when the lock screen stopped him—a grainy photo of two smiling teenagers, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. One of them looked like a younger, thinner Ken. Before Jun could process it, Ken snatched the phone back, punched in his passcode, and shoved it back with the dial screen open. Jun filed the image away and entered the number.

Ken retrieved the phone hesitantly from Jun and brought the receiver close to Snowy’s ear.

Alex waved towards them. “Put that shit on speaker.”

Ken pressed the speaker button. The ringing buzzed through the speaker and hung in the garage’s dead air. After the fifth ring, there was a brief silence.

Covey’s voice came through, casual and warm. “Hello?”

“Hey, Covey.” Snowy cleared her throat and sat up straighter. “It’s Snowy,” she said in her fake celebrity voice.

Covey didn’t answer immediately. “Snowy!” Even behind the phone, it sounded like he wasn’t happy to hear from her. “How you doing? Where did you go?”

Snowy giggled like it was the most ridiculous question she’d ever been asked. “Oh yeah! I’m so sorry about leaving early. I had an emergency I needed to attend to.”

“Hey, listen, I get it. Things happen.” He sighed. “I fucked up as well, being very late. However, you’re supposed to be present for longer than you were. Regardless, what would you like from me, Snowy? Another guest appearance? I promise I won’t be late next time.”

Snowy hummed dramatically. “That. And another thing.” She leaned closer to the phone’s speaker with a coy smile. “Can we use your place to throw another party?”

There was a pause.

Jun held his breath. He’d spent more time with Covey than anyone in this room. The man was unpredictable, generous one minute and cold the next. Jun couldn’t tell which version would answer.

“A party?”

“Yeah!” Snowy lurched in excitement. Ken quickly steadied the chair from behind before she tipped over. She breathed, finding her composure. “Like the one you had in July?”

Covey made a small laugh on the other end. “Really?” His tone didn’t sound convinced. “I’m guessing you liked your free sample?”