Page 134 of I Dare You
I found Dandy.I’ll text soon.Let me save you this time.
I quickly leave and am in an Uber a couple of minutes later.
I hope my hunch is right.
I’m on eggshells the entire drive, but when I arrive at the Riverses’ house, calm overcomes me.We looked here earlier, but Dandy didn’t want to be found.Kit mentioned his mom is on a cruise, so the house was empty.
I don’t bother knocking on the front door and make my way into the backyard.Instantly, nostalgia hits home.So many memories were made here in this tree house.And that’s where I know Dandy is.
I climb the familiar steps, and when I poke my head through the trapdoor, I see Dandy.He’s leaning against the wall, legs crossed, reading an astronomy book.
I sigh in relief as I climb into the tree house.
I sit beside him and nudge his shoulder with mine.“You owe me a dance.”
He half smiles, his mood low.
“What’s going on?”
He sighs, leaning into me.“I’m a bad person.”
“Dandy, you are so far from being a bad person,” I correct.“Trust me, I know bad people, and you’re not one of them.”
“You have to say that as my best friend.”
“Well, this is true, but I do actually think it.But tell me why you think you’re a bad person.”
I brace for any confession with no judgment.Whatever he’s done, we’re in this together.
“Rebecca’s death brought me happiness.The first time I’ve been happy in a very long time.It felt as though I regained a piece of myself.That makes me a bad person.”
Maybe I was wrong then.
I thought he was going to confess to killing Rebecca.But he merely has guilt about feeling happy over her death.Now I’m the one feeling guilty for ever suspecting it was him.
“Then that makes me and at least a dozen others bad people, Dandy.We’re all glad that bitch is dead.Don’t beat yourself up for being human.Rebecca was horrible to you for a very long time.No one expects you to grieve.I definitely won’t.”
Dandy sighs, but in relief this time.“So what happens now that your plan?—”
“Has gone to shit?”I fill in the blank.“I honestly don’t know.But I’ll figure something out.At least one Bloom got what they deserved.”
“You should see the crime scene,” Dandy says in part horror, part humor.“It was online before the police even got there.Wanna see?”
It feels so sacrilegious, but I nod.
Dandy flicks through his phone, and when he shows me the screen, I stare, completely entranced.
Rebecca’s corpse lies in what feels like a pose with her hands folded across her chest and her hair spread around her.Her decapitated head sits a few feet away.Her eyes are open, and her mouth is cut into a macabre, forever-smiling grin.
“This was very personal.”It’s apparent the murderer wanted to embarrass her in death, perhaps the way she embarrassed them in life.
“Who do you think it is?”
I examine the photos for any clues, but the killer cleaned up after themselves.It’s a clean crime scene.
“Honestly, I think it’s either Jack or Jupiter.”I risk a glance at him.“Don’t hate me, but I had my suspicions it was you.”
Dandy’s mouth drops open in shock, but his expression quickly shifts.“Well, I guess I’m flattered you’d believe I had the balls to do that.”
