What I've Done (Morgan Dane #4)(45)

Morgan let Chase’s statement fade without comment. Noah’s friends were venting, which was totally understandable. She let a few seconds pass, hoping everyone had settled enough to get the interview back on track. “Tell me about Noah. How long have you known him?”

Isaac exhaled audibly through his nose. “We all met at the university.”

Chase nodded, his jaw clenching.

Morgan continued. “Did he have hobbies?”

“Video games,” Isaac said. “That’s about it.”

“No outdoor sports or physical activities?” Morgan asked.

Judging from their pale complexions, Lance thought they spent most of their time inside.

“My dad is a hunter. He took all four of us on a big trip last year.” Chase shook his head. “Noah was traumatized by seeing his first dead deer. So no, he wasn’t an outdoor guy.”

Morgan made a notation. “Before Friday night, when did you last see him?”

“He had a gaming party at his house the night before. We were all there, plus maybe a dozen other players. A couple of guys brought their girlfriends. People came and went all evening.”

Morgan tapped her pen. “Can you make a list of people you know were there?”

“I already gave it to the cops.” Isaac shrugged. “You can get it from them.”

But the fact remained that there would be numerous unidentified fingerprints at the crime scene, which was actually typical. The sheriff’s department would eliminate the prints of close family and friends and run the leftover prints through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. If any of the prints were those of a known felon, they would turn up in AFIS. Otherwise, the leftover prints were simply kept on file in case another suspect was identified.

“Noah shouldn’t be dead,” Justin blurted out. He sniffed and swiped a hand over his eyes. His face looked strained, as if he were holding back tears.

Had Justin been closer to Noah than Isaac or Chase? Or was he simply more sad than angry? Everyone grieved differently.

Lance unzipped his jacket. “Before Friday night, had any of you ever been to Beats?”

“Yes.” Isaac interlaced his fingers on the placemat in front of him. “Since it opened, we’ve gone most weekends. Grey’s Hollow isn’t Manhattan. Beats is the best club around. Everybody goes there.”

“Did you all go to the club together last Friday night?” Morgan noted the date and people present.

“The three of us drove together.” Isaac motioned between them. “Noah was running late, so he met us there.”

Morgan held her pen over her notebook. “When did Noah notice Haley?”

“Right away. She was all over him.” Justin’s lips pressed into a flat line. “We had a beer together, but he was more interested in her.”

“Did it bother you that he was spending all his time with her?” Morgan asked.

“Why would that be a problem? He wanted to hook up with her.” Isaac shot Justin a look. “Noah didn’t usually go for the slutty type, but he was really into her. We all let him do his thing.” He frowned. “But I don’t get it. She definitely wanted to go home with him. Did she plan to kill him all along? Is she some kind of psycho-killer bitch? The whole thing is totally fucked.”

Lance couldn’t agree more with the last sentiment. “Was anyone else paying attention to Haley?”

Isaac shook his head. “Noah had it wrapped up.”

“Did you all leave together?” Morgan asked.

“We walked out together,” Isaac said. “Then Haley and Noah left in his car.”

“What did you three do?” Lance scanned their faces.

Isaac shrugged. “Not much. We came back here and played video games.”

“Do you remember what time your party broke up?” Lance wanted specific times to establish alibis.

Isaac gestured to the adjoining living room. “Justin and Chase ended up crashing on my couches.”

Lance leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table. “The three of you were together all night?”

“Yes.” Isaac blinked and looked away, his eyes misting. “We were hanging out and chilling, while she was killing Noah.”

Eyes tearing, Justin abruptly stood, turned, and punched the wall. For a skinny guy, he was either stronger than he looked, or his emotions lent him some power, because he left a decent dent in the wallboard. He spun around and stared at Morgan and Lance, his chest heaving, his face red. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. The fist he’d hammered into the wall opened and closed as if he were testing his fingers for damage.

“You should put some ice on that hand,” Lance said. “Could be broken.”

Justin flinched at the words. Then his shoulders caved in. He grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter and fled the house. The front door slammed behind him.

“He’s taking it hard.” Isaac stared out the window, but his gaze didn’t seem to be focused on the wooded view. “We all are.”

“We understand.” Lance did commiserate with them. They hadn’t even buried their friend yet. But there was no way to investigate Noah’s murder without digging into everyone’s background, including the victim’s.

Especially the victim’s.