The Night She Disappeared

In her police interview, Mimi describes the hold Scarlett has over her and the others: “there’s always the fear that she would cut you out, just like that, if you displeased her” (356). Mimi confesses that Scarlett’s friends all knew something was going on between Tallulah and Scarlett, though all were surprised by the relationship. The night of the disappearance, after everyone went to Scarlett’s, Mimi saw Tallulah and Zach arguing: “I saw Zach kind of manhandling Tallulah” (358) and throw the ring at her.

Later, Mimi heard Tallulah shouting, asking Scarlett what the heck she just did. Mimi got scared. She knew someone had been badly hurt, but pretended to be asleep. In the morning she snuck out, picking up the ring from the floor on her way. Scarlett called Mimi around noon to say that Tallulah and Zach never got home. Later, Mimi gave the ring to Lexie, who had heard that Scarlett and her family were on a yearlong boat tour. Lexie asked for Mimi for the ring.

Tallulah wakes up feeling groggy and realizes she is tied up. Scarlett calls Joss, who explains that they have to hide Tallulah, implying that it was Tallulah who killed Zach.