Chapter 3 #2
I nodded, then got to my feet and headed into my room.
With the door closed behind me and the curtains open, I was drawn once again to the city view, but I wasn't seeing the skyline; I was seeing Paige, beautiful, talented, Paige, who'd felt like my nemesis, the person I couldn't beat, the person I envied, the person I wanted to be…
But that person had died at the age of twenty-one, and maybe her story wasn't what it appeared to be.
After a sleepless night filled with taunting images of the past, Morgan and I headed down the street to Hennings Café, a bustling restaurant with an outdoor patio a block away from the hotel.
Alina had gotten there before us and was already sitting under a shaded umbrella.
She didn't get up when we approached, just gave us an assessing look as Morgan and I sat down.
"Wasn't sure you'd actually come," Alina said.
"I said I would. This is Morgan Kent."
"I know who you are." Alina gave Morgan a quick look before turning her gaze to me. "I thought you might come alone."
"Our podcast is covering your sister's death. That includes Morgan and Cassidy."
"And you're fine with them knowing how you were involved?" Alina challenged.
"I wasn't involved."
"Of course you were, Tessa. You were the last person my sister called."
"A call I didn't answer. I'm sure your sister's phone records confirmed that."
"That doesn't mean you didn't see her that day. Or that you don't know why she was calling you."
"I saw her at rehearsal. That was the last time." I paused, seeing the disbelief in Alina's gaze. "Do you think I had something to do with Paige's death?"
"I think you know more than you're saying. I believe many of Paige's so-called friends know more than they're saying."
"Who exactly are you referring to?"
"Your boyfriend, for one. Paige texted Liam Crawford four times that week, the last two times that Friday night, just a few hours before she died."
I stared at her in surprise. "She texted Liam? I had no idea."
"He didn't tell you?"
"No," I admitted. "What did the texts say?"
"The first two texts alluded to a conversation they'd had at the bar. She wanted to know if he'd told you about it."
"Did he say he had?"
"He said that she needed to find someone else to talk to. She didn't respond to that. That exchange was on Wednesday. The last two on Friday night were about meeting up. She said she needed to talk to him, that he needed to text her back."
"Did he reply?"
"No. But it's quite possible he saw her that night. Even more possible now that I know he didn't tell you about the texts. Why do you think he didn't? Why was he being so secretive?"
I wasn't sure why, and I didn't want to get into my thoughts about Liam with Alina. "It sounds like you should be asking Liam these questions, not me."
"I've tried to talk to him. He won't speak to me, but he might talk to you." She gave me a suspicious look. "I really can't believe you didn't know about the texts. Detective Cabot talked to Liam about them. It's in the police report."
"Liam didn't tell me, and I never saw the police report. Why would I?"
"I thought Cabot might have asked you about them, since you and Liam were together."
I shook my head. "He didn't. This is the first I'm hearing about any texts. Those last two months of college were a hectic blur. I was tied up for hours every day in the theater, and Liam and I were slowly breaking up, so we weren't talking a lot, and when we were, it wasn't about Paige."
"What do the police have to say about all this?" Morgan interjected. "Have you been in touch with the detective on your sister's case? Has he shared the police files with you?"
"A very generalized report was shared with my family years ago, but there was nothing of substance in it.
Detective Cabot came to his conclusion of accidental death very quickly.
We only got details on Paige's text messages to Liam and her last call to you, because we eventually got her phone back. "
"And this detective has never been willing to reopen the case?" Morgan asked.
"He retired three years ago. I tried to talk to the person who took his place, Detective Colton Barclay, but he wasn't interested in anything I had to say. Your podcast might change that. If the public starts asking for answers, someone in the police department might be forced to respond."
"So, that's why you came to me," I said.
"Your trip here seemed like a sign. That this might be the best and possibly the only opportunity to get to the truth," Alina replied.
"But you don't trust me."
"I don't have to trust you. You can generate attention.
According to my sister, you were always good at that.
" She paused as the server filled our cups with coffee and asked if we were ready to order.
Alina told her we needed a few more moments, then turned back to me.
"What are you going to do first? I would suggest speaking to Liam.
He owns a club in the West Loop now. It's called The Peak. "
I hadn't seen Liam since I'd graduated, and I didn't want to see him now.
But I did find the fact that he'd never told me about those texts to be puzzling.
We'd talked about Paige in the days after her passing, and he'd never said a word.
Of course, I also hadn't told him about my missed phone call, which I couldn't explain, either.