HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

Thomas did not look at her. “Lucia. Tell me.”

The girl’s mouth trembled. For a moment, no words came. Then, like a dam breaking, the truth came out in pieces.

Madison Clark had been Lucia’s best friend freshman year. Popular, rich, cruel in ways adults called confidence. Madison began teasing Lucia after Lucia refused to help her cheat on a chemistry test. Then the teasing became rumors. Then someone got into Lucia’s phone during gym class and copied private photos—ordinary selfies, family pictures, old messages with friends. The images were edited, twisted, captioned, and threatened.

Lucia told Veronica first.