Chapter 13 #2
"No one really knows what's going on in someone's life, even when they're close to them. Everyone has a secret," Morgan said. "We find that out in every crime case we follow."
"And we don't know all of Paige's secrets yet. When we do, that's when we'll be able to figure out who killed her. Thanks for doing all this work, Morgan. It's super helpful, and you also got us lunch."
"No big deal. What are you going to do next?"
"After I finish eating, I want to go next door and see if I can talk to Nate again, or maybe Jay. Was he mentioned in the police report?"
Morgan shook her head. "I don't remember seeing his name. But there was a note that no other statements from students in the cast and crew had provided useful information, so maybe he was grouped up in that comment."
As Morgan finished speaking, her phone rang. "It's Cassidy on a video call."
I moved around the table to sit next to Morgan as Cassidy's face appeared on the screen.
"Hey," I said. "How's the grand opening coming?"
"Keeping me busier than I thought. I feel guilty for not helping you more," Cassidy said.
"It's fine. We've got things under control," I said.
"I did go through the comments on last night's post. That setting was really eerie, by the way; it added a lot of atmosphere. Good call on going out there at night."
Neither Morgan nor I mentioned the guy in the hoodie, and I thought that was because neither one of us wanted to think about it.
"I'm texting you two of the comments to read right now."
I grabbed my phone as she sent the text and read the first one aloud: "You bitches are going to be sorry if you don't stop trying to create a problem where there is none. Paige drowned by accident. Get over yourselves."
"That's a popular sentiment," Morgan said dryly.
"The handle is Chicagobabe29," Cassidy said. "I looked across social media and found one account created yesterday. This was the first and only activity on that account."
"What does the second text say?" Morgan asked, keeping Cassidy on her screen.
I looked back at the text and read it aloud: "What better way to cover up a crime than to be the one investigating it?
But too many of us know who you were and how desperate you were to get rid of Paige.
" I paused. "This sounds like the first note I got with the flowers.
They want to deflect by throwing the blame on me. "
"Unfortunately, those comments generated more comments in response, with people speculating whether you might know more than you're saying and wanting you to address your relationship with Paige, which you haven't really done," Cassidy said.
I thought about that. I wanted to focus on the crime, but I was part of the circle. Could I really avoid talking about myself? "I don't want to make myself the story. It will take away from Paige."
"But you are part of the story," Morgan said.
"I understand that I have to say something. But let me think about exactly what that should be. If we can get more clues and leads, then, hopefully, we can turn the audience in a different direction."
"I have to run now," Cassidy said. "Keep in touch."
"We will. Enjoy the grand opening."
As Morgan ended the call, I thought about who might have posted those comments, because they both sounded like they'd come from someone in my former circle of friends, if I could even call them friends, because they certainly didn't feel like that anymore.
But speculation wasn't going to get me anywhere.
"I'm going to check out the theater," I said, getting to my feet. "I'll be back soon."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No. You keep doing what you're doing. You're starting to put together a more comprehensive picture of everyone connected to Paige, and we'll need that information to get Detective Barclay to understand the complexities of the case."
"Okay. But stay away from the stage and anything that might fall on your head."
"I will." I took my empty plate to the kitchen, put away the food, then headed next door.
When I entered the theater, it was a little after two, and it appeared that the actors and crew members were coming back from lunch, but the afternoon rehearsal hadn't begun yet. Jay was sitting alone, so I headed for him first, sliding into the row next to him.
He gave me a wary look. "You're back."
"I am. Did you know I almost got knocked out by a sandbag falling from the catwalk yesterday?"
"Yes. Your aunt made us do a sweep through the building to make sure there was nothing else in danger of falling. Glad you're okay."
He didn't sound that concerned, but I didn't care about that. "I was wondering if you were interviewed by the police after Paige died."
Anger flashed through his gaze. "I talked to some cop for a few minutes, but I didn't know anything, and that's what I told him. I worked crew. I wasn't in on all the drama going on between you and Paige and Carrie."
"Carrie?" I echoed. "Carrie wasn't involved in our drama."
"Well, it looked that way to me. She had as much ambition as the two of you did. Frankly, I think she was hoping you'd kill each other so she could get the part."
"Carrie idolized Paige. She wanted to be just like her."
"Or maybe she just wanted to be her," he suggested.
"You're seriously pointing the finger at the current star of your show?" I asked in surprise.
"Well, I didn't have any say in casting.
That was your aunt and Hale. They made the decision to cast her.
She's not bad, but she wasn't the best we saw.
I don't think your aunt was convinced, either, but Hale overruled her.
" Jay paused. "He might be starting to regret casting her, though, because she talks back to him nonstop.
What I don't get is why he lets her do it.
It's almost like she has something on him. "
I straightened at that comment. "Something like what?"