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."Only things we worked on together.Emily was helping me plan my club back then.We'd drawn up ideas for games, magic acts, shows, virtual-reality stories.I knew she kept them in a drawer in her desk, so I dumped that drawer in a box and kept it for myself.I really didn't think it would matter to anyone but me.When I went through the box the other night, I found a film strip from the boardwalk, one of those places you go to take pictures of yourself and a friend.When I saw the guy in the pictures, I recognized him as the professor Emily met with for supposed tutoring.All the puzzle pieces fell into place.Emily told Madison the guy she wanted was unattainable, and the professor was married.I figured he was the guy Emily was— was in love with."Judging by the bitterness in Dylan's voice, Cole had a feeling that sentence had cost him dearly.He wasn't ready to forgive Dylan for his lies and secrets, but one thing was clear—Dylan had loved Emily."So you came down here to confront the professor.Why didn't you come to me and tell me your suspicions?""I didn't know what the professor knew about Emily and me.I wanted to find that out first.""Because you didn't want me to know.""Yeah, I was trying to avoid a black eye," Dylan said.Cole didn't feel a speck of remorse about the fact that Dylan's right eye was turning purple and swelling shut.He'd deserved the punch for keeping so many secrets."I have another question for you.What about your trip to L.A.? You said you just figured out Malone was Martin, so why were you in L.A.at the same time?""I went to L.A.to see a magician friend of mine.It didn't have anything to do with Malone or the book." Dylan paused."We can do this later.I have something to show you.Follow me.""You were just caught breaking into the professor's office.Now you want to do it again?""We're not going in." Dylan led him around to the back of the building.He walked over to some thick bushes."When I heard someone coming, I tossed it out the window.""Tossed what out the window?"Dylan dug through the leaves of a bush and pulled out a purple notebook."This.It's Emily's journal.I found it in the professor's office."Cole felt chilled to the bone as Dylan handed the book to him.Emily's handwriting adorned the front cover along with doodles and girlish stickers she'd placed there more than ten years ago.He shook his head, feeling a rush of emotion that ranged from pain to anger to a deep, almost unbearable sadness."Natalie was right.He had this journal all along.His words in the book were really Emily's words.At least some of them." He paused."I've got to call Natalie.Tell her we found the journal and that Martin is really Malone.She's probably wondering where we are.""You came here with Natalie?""Yes." Cole's eyes narrowed as he looked at Dylan."I still don't understand why you don't like Natalie.Why you thought it was conceivable she had pushed Emily off the roof.What's that about?""I heard them fighting that night about you.I knew Natalie was drunk, and it was possible she and Emily continued their argument out on the roof.The fact that she claimed not to remember was always a little too convenient for me.""That's it? That's all you have against her? That's weak."Dylan tipped his head."All right.Fine.Natalie didn't like me.Okay? She didn't want Emily to work the magic clubs with me.She didn't like my bike or my cigarettes.She thought I was leading Emily astray.I didn't like her.She obviously felt the same way.""Good for her." Cole felt strangely pleased and proud of Natalie.She'd done what she'd promised his parents she would do—she'd tried to protect Emily."You're obviously back under her spell.""Actually, I think I'm finally beginning to see Natalie for who she really is, not who I want her to be, or who other people think she should be.Natalie didn't owe any of us anything, Dylan.She didn't have to look out for Emily.She didn't have to protect her.She wasn't her mother.She was her roommate, her friend.I think she did her best to protect the friendship they had.What happened with me was never meant to get in the way of what Emily and Natalie had together.And I blame myself for that.I wasn't up-front with Natalie; that's why she went to Emily for answers.I'm the one who put Em in the middle.""You're not the one who pushed her off the roof.""Neither was Natalie.I'd stake my life on that."Cole took a breath."Are there any more secrets? Something else you know about Emily or Natalie or the rest of them? Were you the one who gave Emily the pills we found in her drawer?""Hell, no.That was McKinney.""Drew McKinney?" Cole asked in surprise.Although was he really surprised? Drew had always been a little sleazy.Dylan nodded
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