Around her, the rumors circulated—that she and Fletcher had attacked Adam together, that it was their plot all along, that they were the modern-day murderous Bonnie and Clyde. “She snapped,” Avery heard someone say under her breath. “Fletcher is in love with Avery. He’d do anything she said…” “Avery said if he got rid of Adam…” Each new theory was a stab to Avery’s self-worth, but the accusatory stares were even worse. Once upon a time, she had been invisible, a goody-goody—now she was a celebrity criminal, tried and convicted in front of a jury of her peers. There was no reason to defend herself. The decision had already been made: Fletcher killed Adam, and Avery had helped. Maybe Fletcher would have defended her, but he didn’t show up at school nor did he answer any of Avery’s calls or texts. When the final bell rang, she tried again. After the third ring, a woman answered in an uncertain, scared voice. “Hello?” “Mrs. Carroll?” “Who is this, please?”
