“Erica Lambert?”
The girl was pretty and poised. Dark hair and eyes, but no hard edges, no false bravado like the moron that had preceded her.
“One of our medical examiners—”
“Is my mother,” Erica said.
Ben arched the eyebrow. “I know her. She's good at what she does.”
“She's good at lots more,” Erica said.
“Cass McBride.”
Erica's eyes filled but didn't overflow. She straightened her spine, folded her hands, and composed herself. “What do you need to know?”
“Who would take her?”
“If I had any idea, you would know by now.”
Ben tapped a pencil against the desk.
“Tell me about her. What's she like? Anything.”
“She's my best friend.”
“Tell me something about her that would piss her off if she knew you said it,” Ben said.
Erica's face registered the shock. “Why would you want me to do that?”
“Singing her praises doesn't tell me who would take her. Unless you know about a stalker, and you'd have already told me that. So give me a not-so-great quality; maybe that will lead me somewhere.”
Her voice was low when she began and she didn't make eye contact. “Cass has a wicked sense of humor, but it's usually aimed at someone. But behind their back. She doesn't hurt anyone's feelings—you know, to their face.” Erica paused. Looked up. “It sounds bad. I know. But it's high school. It's what people do. And Cass is so good at seeing stuff in people, little things to pull out and exaggerate. She did these dead-on impersonations at parties. We couldn't help laughing. But sometimes it could be mean and I wished then she'd lighten up.”
“Did she make enemies that way?” Ben asked.
“Guys, never. Cass was careful; if she did a take on a guy where anyone could see or hear, it was funny, but not so that it would embarrass the guy. It was almost a compliment. She could get a little bitchier with girls. But I don't know anybody that had a real hate going for Cass.”
“Were you and Cass close enough for her to give you intimate details of her life?”
Erica blushed. “Are you talking about sex?”
Ben gave her one curt nod.
“I know she's a virgin.”
“So if I told you someone told us she might be pregnant, you would say what?”
“I would say you were listening to someone that's stupid or has an agenda.”
“Okay, changing subjects. Did you know David Kirby?” Ben asked.
Erica's head had been lowered, studying her hands as if she was embarrassed to criticize her friend. Her eyes seemed to pull her head up, slow, wondering, almost frightened. Ben sensed a secret.
Ben leaned forward.
“David Kirby?” Erica said, “what's he got to do with this? I mean, he's dead. He died before Cass was kidnapped. She was kidnapped, right? You asked who would take her?”
“Erica,” Ben said, “what do you know about Cass and David Kirby?”
“Nothing.” She looked at Ben then back at Scott. “Honestly, it's nothing. My mom got the call about him. She told me about it, because she thought I might know him. Didn't want me to be surprised if it was announced at school. I told Cass and she…” Erica faltered and a crease dug between her eyes as she stared into her lap.
“What, Erica?” Ben gentled his voice, leading the girl.
She put her index finger on the crease between her eyes and rubbed. Easing it, she lifted her eyes.
She doesn't know she does it, Ben thought. It's a decision to tell the truth.
“She surprised me. I thought she'd blow it off or make the proper noises or ask the gruesome questions that people ask me, you know, because of my mom.”
Ben nodded.
“But, she went all -” She stopped. The crease. The look down. The rub. Back up. “She looked scared. I can't remember ever seeing Cass scared. Then she ran to the bathroom and threw up.”
“She barfed?” Scott said.
Ben closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
But Erica responded to Scott. She turned to face him. “Right in a sink. Didn't make it to the toilet. I couldn't believe it. It was so embarrassing, but more than that, it was so NOT Cass.”
“Was there a girl called Firefly in the bathroom when that happened?” Scott had a feeling he'd engaged the girl and ran with it.
Erica nodded. “Oh, that's who you're talking about. About Cass being pregnant.” She sighed and rolled her eyes up. “She asked Cass if she was knocked up or hung over.”
Ben mentally crossed pregnant off the crime board.
“Cass say anything about hurling?” Scott asked.
Erica nodded again. “She said she got a ‘visual’ and it made her stomach go wonky. She said she thought she had a class with David.”
“Thought?”
“Right. She wasn't sure. David didn't sail in Cass's ocean. She didn't even know he was Kyle Kirby's brother.”
Ben interrupted. “Cass knew the brother?”
“Knew of. We both kind of crushed on him when we were freshmen. He didn't know we were on the planet.”
“After she threw up, how did she act after that?” Scott asked.
“Just like the old Cass. It was a bump in the road. But it was a weird bump.”
“She didn't go to the kid's funeral, right?” Scott said.
“No, I did. My mom and I went. His dad is a pharmaceutical rep. I didn't know it, but he brings new stuff to the office so they have it for testing. Honestly, that's the only reason I knew Kyle and David were brothers. Because Mom knows their dad.”
“Okay, what about old boyfriends? Any of those holding a grudge?”
“Not the boyfriends.” She rubbed the crease in her forehead again. “Let me give you an example. Right now, Cass will be the Homecoming Queen. She has been dating Derek Richards because he's a senior and the starting quarterback. That helped her get all the football team votes because that will make Derek the Homecoming King.” Erica looked at Ben then Scott. “Following?”
“King is the guy who is the Queen's date. He doesn't get elected,” Scott said.
“Right. Now, Jen Underwood is, like, crazy in love with Derek, so she's totally jealous of Cass.”
“So you think this Underwood kid would take Cass to keep her from getting Homecoming Queen?”
Erica grimaced. “No. You guys watch too much TV. Jen Underwood knows that the minute Homecoming is over, Cass won't be dating Derek anymore. In fact, Cass will probably talk Jen up to Derek during the Homecoming dance. Jen will end up with Derek because of Cass and she might not have had a chance with him before. That's why nothing bad ever sticks to Cass.”
Scott rubbed his head. “Then what happens to Cass?”
“She dates here and there. No more than a date or two with any guy. When she gets a handle on who is most likely to be Prom King, she'll date him until prom is over.”
“And then Cass will hand him off to someone that's in love with him?”
“Probably. That's why I don't understand this. It has to be someone who doesn't know her. Someone who wants her dad's money. But my dad says her father is in hock up to his ears.” Erica stopped. “I shouldn't have said that.”
Ben rocked back in his chair. “Oh, yes, you should.”