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AN EMPTY ROOM

Spencer, Hanna, and Emily shot to their feet as soon as Aria returned to the waiting rooht to the drinks station, her shoulders hunched

"What did Noel say?" Spencer asked breathlessly, following her "Did he see who hurt hi a cup from the stack

"Are you sure?" Hanna asked "Hoell did he know Ali, anyway? Were they friends--or more?"

Aria busied herself at the coffeelittle hiccupping sighs like she’d been crying Spencer hated pushing her for answers, but they needed to know

Reluctantly, Aria relayed what Noel had told her, including how he’d visited Ali at The Preserve When she got to the part about Noel notanyone else there except for Tabitha and Iris, Spencer gruuy? Ali never talked about soed "I think Ali wanted Noel to think she liked hiroaned "Thathim on her side"

Aria took a sip of coffee "Noel said he heard a guy’s voice when he was attacked But that’s it"

"I e could take down Ali and her helper once and for all" Spencer plopped into a chair

"Maybe we could go back to The Preserve," Hanna suggested "Ask theuy patients whose names started with N"

Emily looked unsure "It seems so risky"

Hanna furrowed her brow "You want to give up?"

"Maybe we should," Spencer said Just last week, in an atte away their phones, which A had hacked dozens of ti burner cells Then they’d met in a panic room in Spencer’s stepfather’s s They’d created a list of people who h each name as they ruled people out Finally, only Noel reht they were one step ahead of A, until A’s text yesterday included a picture of the suspect list Spencer had no idea how Ali found the thing, as she’d had it hidden under her bed Noel as A? Not it! the note had said

"What about the cops?" Hanna reshaped her auburn ponytail "Should I hand over Ali’s note froht it over If they showed the cops the note, Ali and Helper A ht accuse the justice "What if you handed it over but told thened in Kyla’s name, not Ali’s The cops don’t have to know she’s one and the same To be honest, we don’t even know for sure"

"That could work," Hanna murmured

"What do we do about our burner phones?" Aria asked "A hacked theht as well use our old phones," Eested "No matter e do, she finds us Let’s just not make calls or send texts unless we absolutely have to"

"If we change our passwords on our e-mail daily, that could be okay to use," Spencer said "But we shouldn’t discuss anything about Ali or Helper A over e-et another A note?" Hanna whispered "Can we still talk about it?"

Spencer glanced around the roo "Yeah," she whispered "Maybe we could use a code word if ant to aze clapped on the handsoure on the TV screen "Anderson Cooper"

"Done," Aria said

Hanna leaned in closer "What do you think A’s nextto be?"

Spencer’s stomach flipped over HowA’s still watching us We just need to keep our eyes and ears open"

Everyone nodded, looking evenelse to say, so Spencer grabbed her purse, fished out her keys, and started for the elevators, eager to head ho, hot shower

She passed the cafeteria and staggered out into the brighta bunch of ragtag protesters holding signs on the corner ROSEWOOD, sons read SERIAL KILLER ritten on another in big red letters "Keep our children safe!" the protesters bellowed One of them wore a Rosewood Day sweatshirt

Spencer watched thee to have people care so passionately about soht up in

Then she noticed a news van parked across the street, with a feer seat Spencer ducked her head and strode quickly to her car, afraid that in seconds, the reporter would recognize her

"Spencer?"

She gritted her teeth and whirled around--but it was Chase, a new sort-of friend He was standing under the hospital awning wearing a black nylon coat and a gray baseball cap