The Sorority Murder (Regan Merritt, #1)(58)

“Tripp?” Jessie asked.

“Why would you say that?”

“He’s back in town. I see him in here all the time. I thought you knew.”

“I ran into him the other day.”

“He’s always had a crush on you.”

“Bullshit,” she said.

Jessie laughed. “You’re cute when you’re angry. But you know I’m right.”

“He’s JT’s best friend. I’m not even going there.” She paused. “Jess, I have a conflict this weekend.”

“You’re fucking canceling on me?” Jessie said. “I won’t let you. We haven’t gone out once since you’ve been back.”

“Lucas Vega was threatened, I need to keep him close,” Regan said. “And he found one of Candace’s friends dead last night. He took it hard, feeling guilty that his podcast may have led her down a dark road—it’s a probable OD. He tried to save her.”

“Poor kid, I get it, but dammit, Regan, the weather is finally perfect, and you’re playing psychotherapist.” She drained her orange juice. “Bring him with us.”

“I doubt he could keep up. He’s a beanpole and doesn’t look too robust.”

“I’m not happy.”

“As soon as this is over, we’ll go.”

Jessie snorted, finished her waffles. “You’re buying my breakfast.”

“Fine.”

Jessie nodded toward the door. “That’s him, isn’t it?”

“Yep.” Lucas didn’t look like he’d had much more sleep than she had.

“You’re right. Scrawny. A hike would do him good.”

Jessie got up, introduced herself to Lucas as he approached. “I’m Jessie Nez, Regan’s best friend, and she bailed on me for you, so I hope you appreciate it.”

“You’re impossible,” Regan said and shook her head.

“I gotta bolt. Dead deer off Route 66 in Bellemont. Doesn’t seem to be a vehicle involved, but I need to check things out. Be careful, Regan.”

“You, too, Jess.”

Lucas sat down across from her and Susan came over with menus and more coffee for Regan. “Coffee for you?” she asked Lucas as she put a mug down before grabbing Jessie’s empty plate.

He grimaced. “Yeah, I need it.” He liberally poured sugar in his cup.

They ordered, and then Regan said, “How you holding up?”

“I didn’t sleep. I feel awful about the whole thing.”

“Like I said last night, Taylor’s OD is not on you. How are we going to handle this on your podcast?”

“My plan was to recap what we know, read the anonymous letter, and then I guess now talk about Taylor’s death. But I feel bad about that. I don’t want to say she ODed without knowing it’s true or not. Will they have the autopsy done by then? It’s usually twenty-four to forty-eight hours, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to get it before it’s official.”

“You don’t have to give cause of death. The media would say an apparent drug overdose, pending investigation.”

“Right. So talk about that, and how people need to dig deep because what one person remembers another might remember more, and so on.”

“We already have solid sightings. I’m particularly interested in the library sightings. And,” Regan continued, “I think you need to share all the details about Candace’s death. Beginning to end.”

“I planned to. I just wanted to do this chronologically.”

“That makes sense on paper, but consider this. You received a possible threat. We were followed. Taylor died, either on purpose or by accident, we don’t know. And you have more information about Candace’s death. You mentioned that she didn’t die in the lake, but you need to reveal all the details. It will interest some people, horrify others, and they’ll talk—and talking is where people will remember. Okay?”

He nodded. “I can do that.”

Susan brought over their breakfast and poured more coffee. When she left, Regan said, “I want to talk to Richie Traverton, just to get his take on Candace and the investigation. You should be there.”

“I don’t know. You got more out of her roommate because she didn’t know I was there.”

“Think about it, okay? And I’d like you to research more about the sorority, Candace’s peers, and the current president.”

“Okay, but why?”

“Because if we find anything good, you need to expose it on the podcast.”

“Expose? That sounds ominous.”

“They’re not talking, but I find it hard to believe that everyone there agrees on this. Isn’t at least one person curious? And after Wagner gave me a hard sell about the mental health of the girls. I’m sure there are some who are seriously troubled by what happened, but so troubled that they want to shut down all conversation? It rubbed me wrong. Candace wasn’t last seen at the sorority party, we know that now, but the reason she left in the first place may be directly connected to something that happened at the party. It’s the only thing that makes sense. If we can stir the pot a bit, it might encourage one or more of them to break ranks.”

“I like that idea. But I don’t want anyone else hurt. Seeing Taylor last night... I just...” He looked pained, and Regan felt for the kid.