Wrecked(69)

“I was interviewed by the investigator,” he says simply.

“You weren’t at the party,” Carrie says suspiciously.

“That’s right,” he says smoothly. “I was with you. Which, by the way, I told him.”

Carrie folds her arms across her chest and glares at them. She looks far from satisfied. “This stinks,” she finally declares. “I should report you. Both of you.”

“For what?” Richard says. “And why? So you can compromise the investigation? That would be monumentally stupid. Carrie, this guy, Dean Hunt? He’s smart. He’s tough. Don’t get in his way. He’s doing a good job.”

“How would you know that?”

For a moment, Richard hesitates.

Don’t say anything else, Haley thinks. Quit while you’re ahead.

Richard doesn’t answer her. Instead he looks at Haley. “Don’t let her get in your head,” he says to her. Pleading in his voice. “It’s poison.”

Haley turns to Carrie. “I think you should leave now.”

Carrie doesn’t move as she considers this. “I have one more question,” she says. “Why are you quitting on Jenny? She was pretty upset after you left last night.”

Haley freezes.

That had been the cherry on the great big sundae of an evening. When she was leaving Out House, Jenny had walked her to the front door.

“How’re you doing?” Haley asked.

“Better,” Jenny said. “My folks flew home. I feel calmer.” She put her hand on Haley’s arm. “Before they left my dad said you agreed with him that I should have a lawyer. I told him that’s not true; you would have told me yourself.” She looked at Haley a little accusingly.

Haley paused, stunned. The guy was a piece of work. “Not true. He asked me to quit; I said nothing.”

Jenny looked relieved. “I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t desert me.” She moved toward Haley, intending a hug.

Haley stepped back. “But Jen, he’s not wrong. I said I’d be your advisor, and I will. I’m here for you. But I do think you need a lawyer in there.”

Jenny’s face fell. “I don’t want my dad’s lawyer telling me what to say. I know what happened!”

“Jen, I know this is going to sound harsh, but Dean Hunt ripped holes in your story. You should have been better prepared.”

“I told the truth!” Jenny said vehemently.

“I know,” Haley insisted. “But a lawyer can help you. Like, he would have sorted out this Oscar stuff with you beforehand.”

Jenny looked impatient. “The dog isn’t important.”

Haley couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. “Uh, the dog is very important,” she said. “So are the stairs. So is the vodka. You passed out drunk, can’t remember how you got home, and can’t place the room you were in. You need a lawyer.”

Jenny stepped away from her. She stared at Haley like she was seeing her for the first time. “You don’t believe me,” she said, her voice flat. It was a statement, not a question.

“Yes, I do,” Haley replied, fatigued. “But what I think doesn’t matter. You’ve got to convince Dean Hunt.”

Jenny took another step back. “Just . . . go,” she said, her tone still dead.

“Jen—” Haley began, moving toward her.

But Jenny put one hand up, stopping her. “Did you know,” she said, “your mother called mine? Weeks ago, when this whole thing got started? Told her you were recovering from a head injury and couldn’t get involved. Said you didn’t want to get involved, but that you felt responsible for me.”

Haley was stunned. She’d have thought Jenny was making it up, except . . . it sounded exactly like the sort of thing her mother would do. Behind her back. “I had no idea. I’m really sorry about that—”

“I finally get it now,” Jenny interrupted. “You don’t believe me. You just feel sorry for me.” Jenny turned and ran up the stairs.

Here’s what Haley now realizes: she doesn’t feel one bit guilty. Well, about her mother she does. That was awful, and she’ll have to deal with her at some point. But Jenny does need a lawyer. As she faces Carrie now, it occurs to her maybe she can convince her and Gail to second that message.

“I didn’t quit. She just got upset when I told her she needs a lawyer. The investigator poked serious holes in her story. Maybe you could talk to her.”

Carrie gets up in her face. She looks disgusted. “She needs a friend,” she tells Haley. “Which you are not.” Carrie glances over at Richard. Shoots him a dirty look as well, then heads for the door. “Watch out for this guy,” she says to Haley. “The packaging is nice, but the box is full of worms.” Carrie slams the door behind her.

Haley tries to sit, but actually collapses on her bed. She feels the tiny cat’s paw beginnings of a headache behind her eyes. Richard sits next to her. He presses right up against her.

“You all right?” he asks.

She nods.

“About what she said? You know I would never use you for information.”

“I know,” Haley says quietly.

“Here’s the truth, Haley: I sought you out, at first, because I saw you talking to Carrie. You know the day. Outside the history building? We’d just broken up. But then I got to know you. And you know the rest. How we realized the Jordan--and--Jenny connection. That’s what matters: what we know is true.”