In no time, Lia shifted from curious to defensive. “I have no idea what you’re talking about or why you’d even say something like that. All I can say is, your assumption is wrong. I don’t even know much about that case.”
“You do know Thomas Gregory though, don’t you?” Addison asked.
She paused before responding. “He’s the guy who wrote the book about the town’s history.”
“He’s also the guy who said he suspected the cops could have done a better job, among other things.”
“So?”
“So … do you know him, or don’t you?”
“I … like I just said, I know he wrote the book.”
“Oh, I think you know him a lot better than that, Lia.”
Lia took a step back. “Why are you saying this?”
“I saw your picture at his house. It was in a little frame he’d leaned against the windowsill. I almost didn’t recognize you at first, but that’s because the first time I met you at Grayson Manor, your hair was blond. Now it’s brown, just like in the picture I saw.”
Lia looked at Addison like she was trying to decide if she wanted to continue the charade. “Okay, maybe I know Tom a bit more than I let on.”
“I don’t just think you know him … I think you gave him the idea to write about the girls in the first place. I mean, he’s passionate about his convictions, but something else is driving him, or someone else. You.”
Lia stepped forward again until the only thing separating her face and Addison’s was the metal bars between them. “Keep your friggin’ voice down!”
“Why? Who cares if anyone hears?”
“I care.”
“I’m not trying to get you in trouble, Lia. I wouldn’t. We’re on the same page here. I want answers as much as you do. And what would really help me right now is if you told me what you know that everyone else doesn’t.”
“I don’t get it. Why are you involved? Why does it matter to you?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
The rubber soles of a guards shoes squeaked their way toward Addison’s cell. The guard fumbled around his pocket for a key, inserted it into the hole, jerked his head to the side, and grunted, “You’re out of here, Lockhart.”
“I can leave? Already?” Addison asked. “How?”
“Dunno. I was just sent back here to get you.”
“Looks like you made bail,” Lia said. “I have to go.”
The guard turned, heading the same direction he came from. Halfway back, he turned, “You comin’ or what?”
Before Addison could go after her, Lia had already disappeared into another room. Addison followed the guard back to the office, nervous to face Luke when she rounded the corner. Would he be angry? Would he understand? Her nervousness led to uncontrollable chatter, and she found herself saying to the guard, “I guess my boyfriend came to get me.”
The guard turned, “I don’t know nothin’ about your boyfriend. All I know is, he’s not the reason you’re free.”