Page 35 (1/2)

Spencer sluht want to search my house next Or Hanna’s"

"Or Aria’s," Emily whispered

"Where is Aria?" Spencer asked worriedly

Everyone scanned the rooirl near the buffet She wore a black tiered flapper gown and a 1920s hat, and she was holding Hanna’s prom queen scepter in her hand A pin that read ROSEWOOD DAY ALUM was on her breast She smiled when Hanna approached

"Hey there, queen!" she trilled, offering the scepter back to Hanna "I love how you rabbed the scepter, then frowned "I did?"

"So innovative--I love it!" Ryan held up her hand for Hanna to high-five "It’s too bad the decor chairwoh"

Spencer and Eed a look Aria was the decor chairwoman "Do you knohere she is?" Spencer deht she ith Hanna Didn’t you see her in the graveyard for your picture? She and the king left for there about fifteen o"

Hanna’s eyes widened "I wasn’t at the graveyard"

"Oh" Ryan looked confused "I saw you leave, so that’s what I assuraveyard with Noelalone?"

Hanna sed hard "Oh, God"

Ryan’s eyes searched them "What?"

Spencer wheeled around and ran for the lobby The others followed All sorts of terrible things swirled in Spencer’s ht now, the very person who’d helped burn and ruin and kill Ian’s lifeless body swam into her h they kept hearing high above the trees

They spilled into the front drive of the hotel and stared out at the busy city street Spencer turned to Hanna "Do you knohere this cemetery is?"

Hanna nodded shakily "I-I think so It’s about a ten-o," Spencer said, heading for the sidewalk "I just hope we aren’t too late"

30

Digging His Own Grave

Even though the Rittenhouse cemetery was off a busy section of the Ben Franklin Parkway, there was sos hemmed it in that made it seem like Aria and Noel were in the middle of the countryside Twisted vines surrounded the sround like crooked teeth Mist swirled around a large stone statue of an angel An old, rusted fence surrounded the whole place A loud squeak sounded froht-iron gate

Aria gazed at the nae stone cross Her bracelet glittered in the diain, and they tinkled together

Noel cah the crooks in her elbows, lacing them around her front "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Well" Aria touched the top of an angel’s wing A bit of her confidence had flagged since sitting at the bar Was this place really private? It certainly wasn’t a panic roo?

But then she turned around and tried to focus This would bring theht A as one "You know I love you, right?" she began

Noel’s eyes softened "I hope you do You’ve been acting so strangely"

"Of course I do," Aria breathed "I’ve been acting strangely because I’ve been keeping things froh" She spoke into her chest, too afraid to look Noel in the eye "Big things For your own good I didn’t want anything bad to happen to you"

Noel nudged Aria’s chin back up so she would look at hi No er" Then he stepped away "Are you in danger?"

"I" At that very moment, her new cell phone beeped Aria peeked into her clutch at the e that had popped up on the screen Get away from Noel! Spencer wrote in all caps He was Ali’s secret boyfriend! We have definite proof!

Another text popped up from Emily: Noel visited Ali in the hospital Iris knows it for a fact

And then from Hanna: Graha you on the boat!

Aria clapped her hand over her mouth No It couldn’t be There had to be an explanation

"Aria?"

When she looked up, Noel was staring at her His gaze drifted down to her open clutch, too Aria snapped it shut, the breath leaving her lungs Had he seen the texts?

She backed away, running into a grave marker Noel stood where he was, his hands crossed over his chest, a weird sht? She closed her eyes tightly, trying to recenter herself As e the texts fro innocent--a ain