CHAPTER 33

“Get up,” Maisie said.

Brennan’s eyelids opened partway. He blinked at Maisie, but made no effort to get out of bed. “What are you ... how did you get in here?”

“You need to get up, Brennan.”

When he still failed to move in a timely fashion, Maisie yanked the pillow from beneath his head and smacked him in the face with it.

“What the hell!”

Maisie sat on the bed, bending down until she was a few inches from Brennan’s face. “You may be stoned out of your mind, but we need to talk.”

He sighed. “Fine.”

He peeled the covers off his body and stood, dragging his feet across the floor as he walked. He grabbed a bag of potato chips off his desk, walked back to the bed, sat down.

“I’m sorry about Linda. How are you doing?”

“Why do you think I look like this?”

“You’re in need of a shower, among other things.”

He lifted a finger, pointed. “If you can’t handle the smell, there’s the door.”

“I’ll survive. I guess I don’t need to ask how you’re doing.”

He buried his head in his hands. “Part of me doesn’t want to live anymore, you know? I’m just numb, dead inside. I can’t stop thinking what happened to Zoey is probably going to happen to Linda too.”

“You were just friends, weren’t you?”

“We dated here and there. I guess I always hoped one day it would turn into something more. I mean, you probably look at me and think there’s no way a guy like me could ever get a girl like her, but we had a lot in common with each other, and I wasn’t the only one who could see it. She could too. She told me.”

“Told you what?”

“She said I was the first guy who made her feel like she could be herself. I mean, she still saw other guys, but they never lasted. I figured if I waited it out, there was a chance she’d realize she wanted to be with me.”

“Did she know you felt more than friendship for her?”

He shrugged. “Think so.”

“And did she return your feelings?”

“She wasn’t ready for a relationship. Not with me, or anyone.”

 “Why not?”

He stared out the window. “What time is it?”

“No idea. Late, or early, depending on how you look at it. Look, I’ll get to the point about why I’m here. Did you know Jayden Conrad?”

“I knew who he was. Everyone on campus did. He was on the football team.”

“Did you ever hear any rumors about him?”

“What kind of rumors?”

“About how he was with the women he dated.”

He shrugged. “I dunno know much about what his dating life was like. We didn’t party in the same circles. I mean, I saw him a couple times here and there, but that’s it. Why?”

“Earlier tonight I met a girl who had an unfortunate experience with Jayden at one of your college bonfires. Sounds like he had a habit of taking advantage of the ladies.”

Maisie focused on Brennan, hoping for a sign indicating he’d heard rumors about Jayden. The look of surprise on his face indicted he hadn’t.

“What do you mean by unfortunate? What happened to her?”

“She was raped.”

“By Jayden?”

“Not just Jayden. By another man too.”

Brennan ran a hand down his face.

“Are you all right?” Maisie asked. “Do you need a glass of water or something?”

He shook his head. “I’m fine. I just feel bad for the girl, whoever she is. When did it happen?”

“A couple months before Jayden’s murder.”

He thought about it. “If it’s the bonfire I’m thinking of, this drunk chick barfed all over my shirt that night.”

Wondering if the drunk chick he was referring to was Brittany, she said, “Who?”

“Nikki Rivera. She yacks at least once at every party, seems like.”

“Did you happen to see Kyle Grady at the bonfire?”

“Yeah, seemed like he was there.”

“Do you recall who he was with that night?”

“Just a bunch of the football guys.”

“What about Jayden? Were they ever together?”

He paused. “I dunno. The jocks tend to stick together, so maybe. The girl who was raped, did she go to the police at least?”

“She didn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Her attackers threatened her, and it scared her enough to keep quiet. She hadn’t told anyone about it until tonight. I told her to talk to Detective MacDougal. Jayden may be dead, but if she comes forward and tells her story, it might help the police find out why Lane and Zoey were murdered, and maybe even help them find Linda.”

“I don’t understand. How could it help? How are they connected to each other?”

Maisie folded her arms, looked Brennan in the eye. “I need you to tell me what the argument was really about between you and Lane. Whatever Linda didn’t want you to say doesn’t matter anymore. What happened to Linda, Brennan?”

“Nothing. Nothing happened to her.”

“Brennan. Look me in the eye. I need to know the truth now.”

He seemed so lost and confused, so unsure about what to say and if it was all right to say it.

“Shall I help you?” Maisie asked.

“Help me how?”

“By telling you my theory. You see, I believe I’ve figured out the big secret you all have been keeping. I may not know who killed Zoey, but I know why she was killed.”

“And why is that?”

“Jayden Conrad raped her too.”