Dead Ringer by Jessie Rosen Read Free Book Online Page B

said. She was taking a
break from following Amanda around and was now standing in front of him holding
a red Solo cup with her name drawn on in bubble letters.
    Before Charlie could answer, he felt his cell buzz in his
pocket. Everyone he knew was here, so who could be contacting him? Then it hit
him. Laura . He’d given her his cellphone number in the newspaper office
earlier. She must have been texting to let him know whether or not she was
coming. It was already eleven o’clock, so Charlie assumed she was going to be a
no-show. Maybe this text was her apology? Charlie pulled the phone out of his
pocket and punched in his password.
    “Something wrong?” Kit asked, but Charlie didn’t hear her. He
was too busy trying to understand what he was seeing.
    The buzz wasn’t a text from Laura. It was another VidBit
message from CO.
    “Mom’s calling,” he blurted out as he quickly slid through an
open door and into the hallway.
     Charlie debated whether he should open the message at
all once he was behind the locked bathroom door. He could see that it was
another video, but this one had a landing image instead of a black screen, and
it was an image he knew very well—the back-corner booth of the Plaza 18
Diner. Everyone else in Englewood went to the Golden Bell, which was closer to
town, but Amanda had been genius enough to suggest they travel two towns over that
night so they wouldn’t be recognized.
    Charlie couldn’t help himself. He touched the screen to play
the video. The image of the booth didn’t change, but once again there was a
voice—this time his.
    “ I feel like I should propose a toast. To forgiveness, friendship,
and the future. ”
    Charlie felt his entire body stiffen. He could see himself
now—his fake smile, his flask raised lowly so none of the waitresses
would see, and his free hand resting on Amanda’s thigh. That was the last thing
that was said before heading out that night. This wasn’t some weird
re-enactment, and it wasn’t a mistake—Miller’s video hadn’t been, either.
Someone had been recording them that night, and now they were trying to terrify
Charlie.
    “Charlie? Are you okay in there?” Kit said from the other
side of the bathroom door. Without thinking, Charlie gave the toilet a fake
flush and rushed out the door.
    “Hey, sorry,” he said. Kit pulled him aside and leaned in
close.
    “You were in there for awhile. Are you okay? I can drive you
home if you need.”
    “No, no. I’m cool. I was talking to Mom, and it was just
easier to hear inside there.”
    Kit saw right through that lie, but before she could push
him on it, both their attention shifted to the exact same thing: Laura Rivers
walking from the back patio directly toward the front door.
    “Hey! You came!” Charlie blurted out. “Wait. Where are you
going?”
    “Yeah. Hi. I didn’t see you. I’ve been here for a bit, but
I’m actually not feeling so well,” she said. The somber look on Laura’s face made
it was clear that was an excuse.
    “Was someone rude to you?” Charlie asked.
    “These guys can be the worst,” Kit chimed in. “Come with me.
We’ll go cozy up by the fire pit and talk about where you get all your amazing outfits.”
    “I was actually just out there,” Laura said. “With Amanda. I’m
going to head out now, though. Thanks for inviting me, Charlie,” she said, and
before he had the chance to say another word, she was gone.
    Something clicked in Charlie’s brain after Laura shut the
front door. He spun around from where he was standing with Kit until he had a
view through the sliding glass doors of the kitchen straight into the back
yard. Then he saw exactly what he thought he would see: Amanda staring back at
him, smiling. Once again Charlie’s entire body went stiff, but this time it was
with anger, not fear. “No…” he suddenly heard himself say out loud.
    “No what?” Kit asked.
    “Nothing,” Charlie said. “I’ll be right back.”
    Within what felt like a