Page 28 (2/2)

Spencer ran over to her and engulfed her in a hug Aria and Hanna did the same They all started to cry "Oh my God," Spencer said over and over

"How could you have done that?" Hanna wailed

"We could have lost you," Aria added

E so hard, she couldn’t speak "I justcouldn’t"

Spencer squeezed her tight Hanna wrapped her sweatshirt over her shoulders One of the EMTs brought out another blanket and laid that over Eer needed backup--the girl was safe Then he sat down next to the girls and checked E into shock He irls were or what they were facing--maybe he didn’t even know

E to her tightly, as if they were afraid theyEht Spencer took a s would have been like if they hadn’t caught Es It terrified her to even consider it If one of them died, a part of Spencer would die, too It was one s to Jaether They wouldn’t be facing this alone

Her thoughts turned to Ali again Of course she’d planted suicide into all their minds And look what it had almost done Look at who it had alo down for all of this Now iving the girls a few ht of the anize the woman behind the wheel, but there was a faded ROSEWOOD DAY LACROSSE buasped

"What?" Aria asked, looking at her quizzically

"I thought of another e could hunt for Ali," Spencer said "But you’re not going to like it"

Aria frowned "What do you mean?"

A chilly breeze swept down Spencer’s back "I mean Noel"

Aria’s face hardened "What about Noel?"

"Maybe he knows so"

Aria looked shocked "You want me to talk to him?" Spencer nodded Aria shook her head "No way"

"I think Spencer’s right," Hanna said "Maybe Noel doesn’t even realize what he knows What if this leads us to her?"

"I’ll do it, if you don’t want to," Spencer volunteered "I wouldn’tthat jerk a piece of my mind"

Aria lowered her eyes "He’s not a jerk," she said quietly, alhed "I can handle it But only if Ee again Losing you guys is orse than going to prison"

"I won’t," Emily said softly

"I won’t, either," Hanna said, and Spencer nodded Aria was right They couldn’t abandon one another now, not when things were so critical and dangerous

Not when they had so much to lose

28

THE SECRET CODE

"Oh my God," Mrs Kahn bleated, when she opened the door to the Kahn estate later that afternoon Her blond hair was expertly blown out, herivory cash skinny jeans, and scuff-free Tod’s driving loafers But her face was pale, and cords stood out in her neck She stared at Aria in fear, and Aria knew instantly that Mrs Kahn believed everything the neas saying This was a wo Aria and Noel had attended, pulled Aria into a hug and said, You know, I think of you ashow a couple of news stories could sway an opinion

For the reed to this But she was here now The dae was done She took a deep breath "Can I speak to Noel for a few minutes?"

Mrs Kahn backed away "I don’t think so"

Unbelievable Aria grabbed the door before Noel’s estured toward the curb, where Ella aiting in the Subaru Aria was surprised Ella had said yes about bringing her to Noel’s, given that Aria had disappeared froured that there wasn’t really anything worse the cops could do to Aria that they weren’t already doing Herover the last month, but now she just seemed kind of spent and exhausted

"We’ll talk out here, and she’ll watch us the whole time," Aria added to Noel’s mom

Mrs Kahn squinted at the Subaru but didn’t wave--she probably thought Ella was a crihtly "Then we have to get to a graduation party"

She shut the door halfway When it opened again, Noel stepped out "Aria," he said His voice cracked He was holding his graduation cap in his hands

"Hey," Aria said softly, her heart pounding fast

It felt like ages since she’d talked to hi within inches of each other on his porch Part of her wanted to give hi Another part worried he’d push her away--she hadn’t heard frory part, yearned to run