The Rose Ransom (Girls Wearing Black: Book Three) Read Online Free

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locations for week-long dates, things would be quiet at Thorndike for a few
days. But the night that Nicky and the other contestants were scheduled to
return, the senior class would gather in Renata’s ballroom once again, and the
next game would start.
    The Rose Ransom.
    The final Coronation event of
the fall semester, the Rose Ransom is a massive treasure hunt with the entire
school looking for a girl the immortals have kidnapped and hidden away.
    Jill remembered writing those
words for Nicky’s briefing book. She remembered all the research, all the
computer hacking, all the meetings—more than a month of effort—tonight it came
to a head. The Network’s plan for the Rose Ransom was simple, and was entirely
in Jill’s hands. She had a ring in her pocket. Before the night was over, that
ring would be on the finger of one of her classmates, and the Network’s plan
for winning the Rose Ransom would be in motion.
    “Well, even though Jill doesn’t
want to share, I think it’s fair to say we owe her a big debt of gratitude,”
said Annika. “She’s the one who convinced us to back the right horse.”
    “Actually, you convinced me,
Annika,” said Jake. “No offense, Jill, but until Annika sent that text message
telling us to go to Nicky’s party after the Masquerade—well, let’s just say I
thought Jill was a bit nutty.”
    “True genius is always a bit
nutty,” said Annika. “In fact, let’s raise our glasses. I want to make a
toast.”
    Annika held up her champagne
flute. The others followed her lead.
    “To Jill,” she said. “We’re all
so thankful you didn’t screw us over.”
    “Here, here!” said Jenny.
    As they clinked their glasses,
Jill sensed the conversation around them getting quiet. The rest of the class
was watching them.
    “Let’s do one more, shall we?”
Annika said.
    “One more what?” said Jill.
    Annika didn’t answer, but
instead turned away to face everyone else, and started thunking her champagne
flute with her fingernail.
    “Everyone, I have an
announcement!” she said.
    What little conversation buzz
remained went completely silent. Annika had the room’s attention.
    “I know that many of you were
scared to back anyone other than Kim Renwick,” Annika said in a commanding
voice. “And I can’t say I blame you. Just a few weeks ago, it seemed crazy that
a new girl could just waltz into school and win the Coronation contest. But it
doesn’t seem crazy now, does it?”
    A few heads nodded, a few voices
murmured their agreement.
    “Those of us who supported Nicky
from the beginning are certain to get a lifetime of government favors when she
wins,” Annika continued. “That’s just how it works. And although it is indeed
too late for you to be in Nicky’s inner circle, it’s not too late for you to
settle this contest once and for all and make sure that hideous Renwick girl
doesn’t become the immortal from our class.”
    That hideous Renwick girl got a light gasp from the crowd. No, Kim wasn’t here—like all the girls wearing
black she was off on her date—but Annika could be certain that her words would
find their way to Kim’s ears eventually.
    Jill smiled. Whatever her flaws,
there was no denying that Annika was a girl who had guts.
    “A week from now, we’ll all be
gathered again in Renata’s ballroom to kick off the Rose Ransom,” Annika
continued. “A month or two after that, one of you is going to find the princess
and win the ransom money. If you donate that money on behalf of Kim, you’ll
drag this contest out until the end of the year and all of us will be walking
on eggshells until spring. But if you give it on behalf of Nicky, the
Coronation contest is over. If Nicky wins the Rose Ransom, her lead will be so
huge that no one else will have a chance to catch up. Are you hearing what I’m
telling you?”
    A few people around the room
were nodding their heads; others were looking at the floor.
    “I’m telling you that we can be
done