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AS SOON AS THE BELL rang to dismiss school, kids flooded out Willow Creek High, spilling in various directions.
“Ah, high school.” Dee sat in the driver’s side of her Chevy Malibu eating glazed doughnut holes. “You miss it?”
“Kinda.” Connie bounced in the seat. “I loved to learn.”
“You were a nerd, huh?” Dee sucked glaze from her index finger. “Were you as nosey in school as you are now?”
Connie grinned, wiggling her nose. “What do you think?”
Robin Glover exited the school with a group of boys.
“Well, well,” Dee said. “He seems chipper doesn’t he?”
“Definitely not like he’s grieving.” Connie leaned out the passenger window as the boys made it to the sidewalk. “Robin?” She waved. “Mind if we speak to you for a moment?”
“Whoa, man.” The redheaded, pimple-faced guy beside him, nudged Robin with his elbow. “Got a hot date?”
“Hey ladies.” The black boy with the flat top blew kisses at the detectives. “Looking for a real man?”
“Cool it, Junior.” Dee stuffed the bag of doughnut holes in the console. “Get in, Robin.”
He slipped his backpack off his shoulder and shrugged at his friends. “Why?”
Dee sucked sugar from her teeth. “You know why.”
The redheaded boy whistled. “Hey, if he doesn’t want to go I’ll lend you my services.”
“Yeah.” The black boy pinched the collar of his T-shirt. “You two so fine I might go commit a crime just to see you again.” He and the redheaded boy laughed.
“Cute,” Connie said.
Robin headed for the car, sighing.
“Will we see you later, man?” the black guy asked.
“Yeah, hit me up on my cell.” Robin got in the backseat as his friends left. “What’s up?”
Dee turned around to face him. “No bullshit, okay. You’re in serious shit.”
He swallowed, switching his eyes to Connie. “I didn’t do anything.”
Connie said, “You left out some things about you and Lang.”
“What did I leave out?”
“You didn’t accept that Lang wanted to break things off,” Dee said. “In fact you were furious and harassed her.”
“I wasn’t harassing her.”
“Robin.” Connie leaned back on the window. “Let me tell you something about the police. By the time we ask questions, most likely we already have some answers.”
“Is it true you’d been emailing her and sending her text messages, one which said you wished she was dead for breaking your heart?”
He twisted his lips. “Fuck.”
“Didn’t you realize we’d check her phone?” Dee observed his demeanor. “We saw everything you sent her. You were angry she broke it off.”
“Okay, I was angry, but I didn’t kill her.” He moved his legs. “I didn’t mean what I said. I loved Lang. Why would I kill her?”
“You know who would?” Connie asked.
“Someone who might’ve been jealous?” Dee shrugged one shoulder. “Someone with an axe to grind with Lang?”
“Someone who wanted her out the way?” Connie squinted. “Your girlfriend Danita, perhaps?”
“No.” He frowned. “She wouldn’t do anything like that.”
“It’s possible,” Dee said. “She’s your girlfriend, and you were cheating on her.”
“Did Danita know about Lang?” Connie asked.
“Danita wouldn’t kill anyone and I wouldn’t either.” He sat back, rubbing his beige slacks. “Isn’t this illegal? Questioning me without my parents?”
Dee leaned in between the seats. “No, but lying to the police is.”
“I’m not lying. I didn’t kill Lang.”
“Can you be positive Danita had nothing to do with it?” Connie pointed at him. “You can’t, can you?”
“Please don’t talk to Danita.” Seriousness swept across Robin’s face. “I care about her and I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Why were you with Lang then?” Connie asked.
“It’s complicated.” He fidgeted, stroking the diamond in his left ear. “I had all these emotions inside.”
Dee glanced between his legs. “I bet you did.”
“It wasn’t just sex with me and Lang. She got me in a way even Danita didn’t but now she’s gone.” He grabbed his backpack. “Can I go now?”
Dee frowned. “Yep.”