“YOU HAVE TO buy that top,” Roman said at Vintage Vogue the next morning.

It was the cutest ruffled chiffon tank, and I was completely in want with it, but then I checked the price tag and shook my head.

“But it loves you, and you’ll look great in it,” Roman insisted.

I put it back on the rack. “Don’t want to spend the money.”

“Since when?”

I cocked my head and gave her a look as if to say, “Think about it.”

“Oh.” Roman pressed her fingers to her lips. “You mean because of what’s happening?”

“It’s not like Dad’s doing any business,” I said as we left the store. Then, even though there was no one around, I lowered my voice. “He only did what he did to make the money we needed to live the way we do. So now I feel like it’s partly my fault.”

“Why didn’t he just tell you not to spend as much?”

“Apparently, that’s not how the male ego works. The great hunter is supposed to kill enough game to feed his family.”

Roman stopped. “Does the great hunter ever say what he thinks happened to those missing girls?”

“He has no idea.”

“What do you think?” she asked.

“I think if something bad happened to them, it almost has to have something to do with Dad’s business. It can’t be just a coincidence. So if Dad doesn’t know anything about them, then someone who works with him must. And that’s a seriously scary and upsetting idea.”

“That would be Gabriel, Janet, and I forget the other one’s name?”

“Mercedes. Only I can’t imagine what she could have to do with it. All she cares about is her little boy.”

“So that leaves Gabriel or Janet.”

“Exactly.”

Roman gave me a sideways look as we started to walk. “What are you thinking?”

“Maybe I can get Gabriel to tell me a few things.”

Roman frowned, then her eyebrows shot skyward as she realized what I was implying. “Don’t tell me. Look out, Nancy Drew, here comes Shelby Sloan, girl detective?”

“I’m serious,” I said.

“Seriously whacked.” Her voice reeked of disapproval. “And just suppose that Gabriel really is behind those girls’ disappearing. Then what?”

“I tell the police.”

“Oh, sure.” She chuckled caustically. “He’s just going to stand by and let you do that.”

“I’m not going to be obvious about it.”

“I would so love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation,” Roman said. “Only seriously, sista? If he’s involved with those missing girls, you could find yourself in some very deep doo-doo.”

I was about to reply that I planned to be extra careful, when I noticed a pack of girls gathered around a perfume kiosk. They were all juniors from Soundview High, and it looked as if a moment ago they’d been trying the fragrances. But now they all stared at Roman and me. Well, at me mostly. And given the recent news, it wasn’t hard to figure out why.

Roman tugged at my sleeve and we turned away. “So much for going someplace where no one would know you,” she muttered.

“I can’t get used to people looking at me that way,” I said, feeling ire rise above the other emotions churning inside me. “I mean, not only is it incredibly rude, but it feels like they’re blaming me. Like it’s my fault.”

“It’s just the way people are,” Roman said. “If I were you, I’d give it right back to them.”

I stopped, surprised. “Why?”

“Because every time you slink away, it looks like you’re admitting guilt.”

She was right. I glanced in the direction of the perfume kiosk. “Should I go back?”

“No. The moment’s passed. But now that this has happened, you might as well go to the party tonight.”

I stared at her. “Now, that’s a logical segue.…Not.”

“All I’m saying is, now that you’ve dealt with this, nothing worse is going to happen.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Sometimes Roman could be so crazy. “That has to be the most illogical thing you’ve ever said.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t also true.”

“You just don’t want to go alone,” I said.

Roman linked arms with me. “Actually, I will go alone. Because you’ll go with Gabriel.”