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had lived long enough to see him through it.
    “We all are at that age. I was the reigning king of assholes. Just ask my dad.”
    “I’d rather not, but I’ll take your word for it.”
    Apparently, she and his pops felt exactly the same way about each other.
    They went back into the house. He locked the bathroom window. “No climbing out windows at night, okay?”
    “I don’t know if I can make that promise.”
    She said it with such seriousness, he had to grin. “Well, don’t call me if you break a leg.”
    “First person I’m going to call.”
    He laughed. “I have a little work I need to do here, including collecting the bat and letter, see if we can get anything from them. I’ll try to be out of here as quick as possible.”
    “No worries. Being alone tonight isn’t at the top of my list.”
    He’d done all he’d needed to in thirty minutes. As he was saying good-bye, he sensed she wanted to ask him to stay awhile. Have a cup of coffee or cold drink. But she didn’t.
    Luke wondered why.
    “I’ll follow up on the anonymous call, maybe we’ll get lucky and it’ll lead us to him.”
    “You’ll keep me posted?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Good night then,” she said, standing at the door. “Thanks.”
    The expected “Anytime” jumped to his lips. He swallowed it. “You realize there’s a good chance your fan’s from Liberty?”
    “I figured he was.”
    “But you still came back.”
    She paused a moment, then met his eyes. In them he saw steely determination. “Because he challenged me to.”

CHAPTER SIX
Tuesday, June 4
4:07 A.M.

    Kat’s eyes flew open as something was pressed over her mouth. Tape, she realized, horror rising up in her. Figures around her bed. Hands holding her down. She tried to struggle, to scream, but couldn’t.
    The room was dark; she strained to make out her attackers’ faces. Were they wearing hoods? Masks? Why couldn’t she see their features?
    As if a cloud had been obscuring the moon, the room suddenly brightened. Light streamed through the window, starkly silhouetting the person at the end of the bed. He held something in his hands, but she couldn’t make out what.
    “Justice for Sara,” he said.
    The others nodded and repeated the words in unison, “Justice for Sara.”
    “Now,” the leader said. “Finally. After ten long years.”
    “Justice for Sara,” the group said again. “Justice for Sara.”
    Their words rang in her head. The leader raised his arms. A bat, Kat realized. Not any bat, the bat he’d gifted her that very night. Its red bow caught the light, winking at her. No, Luke had taken the bat with him, as evidence. It couldn’t be.
    He turned slightly. The moonlight caught his face. Luke.
    Suddenly all their faces were clear. All were familar. Jeremy and Lilith. Ryan. Mrs. Bell and Bitsy. Dab. Sheriff Tanner.
    All the people of Liberty. Her accusers. They began to chant. “Justice for Kat … Justice for Kat … Justice for Kat…”
    No, she silently pleaded, eyes moving from one to another. No … please don’t. I’m innocent … I promise … I’m—
    Her gaze stopped on Luke. Smiling grimly, he reared back with the bat and swung.
    Kat screamed.
    And sat bolt upright in bed, her screams bouncing off her bedroom walls.
    It took her a moment to realize it had been a dream. That she was safe, the house empty. Trembling, she pulled the bedding to her chin, eyes darting around the room, assessing the dark corners. Looking for her accusers, hidden there. In the shadows.
    It’d been so real.
    Luke. The bat. All the people of Liberty. Everyone.
    Her accusers.
    Kat pressed her face into the bunched-up bedding, struggling to get a grip. She concentrated on controlling her breath, slowing her heart. A dream, she kept telling herself. Only a dream.
    After several moments, the physical manifestation of her terror eased. But the dream remained vivid, her accusers’ chants still resounded in her head.
    Justice for Sara.
    Justice for Kat.
    Wasn’t