Manning wasn’t in the cafeteria. Neither was Gary. I made myself a plate of food but didn’t touch it. When breakfast was nearly over and it became apparent Manning wouldn’t show, I asked Hannah to take over and went to look for them.
Camp was empty, one-hundred-plus kids crammed into the dining hall. I went directly to cabin nine and felt an ounce of relief to see Manning out front. He was talking to someone in the cabin.
I recognized Gary’s voice. “ . . . last night . . . alcohol. How come . . . what took so long?”
I crunched through a pile of leaves, and Manning turned around. He shook his head. “Give us a minute, Lake.”
“Why are the police here?” I asked.
Gary came onto the front step. “We’re handling it.”
I ignored him. “Manning?”
He sighed, facing Gary again. “I need a second to talk to her.”
“We don’t have a second.”
“She’s Tiffany’s sister, man.”
Gary put his hands up. “Just saying, you probably don’t want to make them wait.”
Manning left him there, nodding for me to follow him.
When we were out of earshot, he stopped. His eyes darted around our immediate area, and when he seemed satisfied we were alone, he spoke under his breath. “Everything’s fine. I just need you to promise me one thing.”
Fine didn’t sound fine. It sounded bad. I wanted to be strong, but my legs felt about to give out. “Why? What’s going on?”
He went to put a hand on my shoulder but stopped himself. “Do you trust me?”
I nodded. No hesitation.
“Then believe me when I say, it’s nothing.” He looked over my head as he spoke. “The reason the cops are here has nothing to do with you.”
“What about you?”
“I just need you to promise me . . .” He returned his eyes to mine. As if he had some kind of power over me, my heartrate calmed. I’d promise him anything, because Manning would protect me. I knew that. But who would protect him? “Don’t mention last night to anyone. No matter what. If someone asks where you were, lie, and make it damn convincing.”
“But—”
“Did Hannah hear you come in? Any of the girls?”
“No. Yes—Hannah. But I told her I was in the bathroom.”
“Last night, after the party, you went straight to your cabin and fell asleep. Then you woke up this morning. If you feel the urge to tell the truth, don’t do it without talking to me first.”
“But why?” I begged. “Why would someone ask me where I was?”
“They won’t. I won’t let them. Your only job is to protect yourself. Mine is to protect us both. Now, go get your sister for me.”
I reeled back as if I’d been slapped, face tingling. “My sister?”
“Send her here alone. Quick. I don’t have a lot of time.”
“No. You can’t just tell me that and send me away. Where are you going?”
“They’re taking me to the station. It’s nothing, Lake, but if you open your mouth, it could become something. Understand?”
He wasn’t in trouble. I had to trust in that. But he was right—no matter that nothing had happened last night, we were the only two who knew that for sure. I couldn’t think of a coherent response so I just nodded.
“Go,” he said. I wanted something. Anything. A kiss. A hug. I would’ve taken a pat on the back. All I got was a hard stare. “This is adult business,” he said, his jaw ticking. “You’re too young.”
His words were as sharp as knives, and they cut deep. Even after last night, I was still a child to him. Immature. Not to be trusted with important things. I swallowed thickly to keep from crying like the baby he already thought I was. And then I went and got Tiffany.
23
Manning
I sat in an interrogation room at Big Bear’s sheriff station in shorts and a t-shirt. I rarely wore shorts, which was why they were the only clean thing I had left up here. My jeans from last night were in a soggy ball at the bottom of my duffel like buried evidence. I looked like a grown man who’d borrowed a camper’s clothes.
My hands in my lap, I absentmindedly fidgeted with the bracelet Lake had made me. I wasn’t used to having things on my hands or wrists. She played with hers when she was uneasy, but I had no reason to be nervous. From what Gary’d told me, whatever the hell the cops wanted had nothing to do with me. I took comfort in that, but it wasn’t as if I were exactly innocent. And that made me sweat. I’d gotten carried away with Lake in the truck. I still tasted watermelon on my lips. Smelled the dampness of the truck’s cab. Heard the drumbeat of the music. What if they sensed that fear on me?