Chapter 5
Tiffany was a bubbly blonde with curly hair that tickled her shoulders, powder blue eyes, and plump lips.
She made the saddest face when I told her that Gabby was deceased.
Her throat swelled, and she couldn't speak.
Tears misted her eyes, then spilled over.
She looked like she was about to melt down.
I felt terrible delivering the news. It was the worst part of the job.
She blotted her eyes.
JD and I gave her a minute to process everything. "What happened? I've been so worried about her for the last few days. I sent her texts, called. Nothing. I figured she was off with the sorority or doing something, and she couldn't reply.”
"When was the last time you saw Gabby?" I asked.
Tiffany bit her lip and thought a moment. "I guess it was Friday. She had a function that night at the sorority.”
"What kind of function?”
"I don't know. She wasn't at liberty to say.” Tiffany frowned. "I rushed Theta, but didn't get a bid."
"Was it unusual for her to disappear for a few days at a time?”
"I didn't think she disappeared. I just figured she was busy, you know. Between school and dating and the sorority, it can get pretty hectic.”
"Did you just meet this semester?" I asked.
Tiffany nodded. "I know we only knew each other for a short time, but I felt like I had known her my whole life. She was just one of those people. We clicked instantly. Sisters from another mister.”
"Who was Gabby dating?" I asked.
Tiffany’s face tightened, and she hesitated for a moment. "She didn't have a boyfriend."
"That's not exactly what I asked," I said, sensing there was something more.
Tiffany gave a nervous glance down the hallway. "We should probably talk in private."
She invited us in, and we followed. The dorm room had the identical layout to Gabby's, although this room lacked the pictures of bands and skaters on the walls.
"You were saying…"
"I don't know if I should really be telling you this.”
She had our attention.
"You’re not going to say anything, are you?” Tiffany asked. “I mean, I don't want to get anybody in trouble.”
"It's not like Gabby is going to get in trouble at this point.” I had an idea of where she was going.
"She was seeing one of her professors." Tiffany cringed. "I know that's against the rules." Then she added, "He's married, too."
JD and I shared a look.
"I don't want you to get the wrong impression. Gabby wasn’t a whore or anything.
It just kind of happened. She told me she wanted to break it off with him.
She didn't feel right about it. But she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She loved him. I guess he had something she liked.
" In a hungry growl, she said, "Gabby told me the sex was amazing.
Half these college guys don't know what hole to put it in. Sorry, but it's true.”
"How long had she been dating her professor?”
"She met Joshua over the summer. He wasn't her teacher at the time. You know, things happen.”
It was against campus policy for professors to date undergrads, especially if the professor had influence over the student’s grades. It was starting to sound like a motive for murder. I'm sure Joshua didn't want to lose his job or destroy his marriage.
"Did Gabby want Joshua to leave his wife?”
"I think that was her fantasy, but she knew that was never going to happen.
To tell you the truth, I was surprised it lasted as long as it did.
I thought it was just going to be a fling.
But they kept seeing each other." Tiffany frowned. "Gabby was so tortured about the whole thing. Like I said, she wanted to break it off, but couldn’t do it.”
"Did Gabby ever threaten to expose their relationship?”
Tiffany shook her head. "No. Gabby would never do something like that.”
Jack said, "You’d be surprised at what people will do when they're in love.”
Tiffany frowned, knowing it could have been a possibility. “Doesn’t sound like love if you try to hurt someone.”
“Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm her?”
Tiffany's face tightened as she thought. "Well, there is this creepy guy. He's totally obsessed with her. Followed her around all the time. He's come by the dorm a few times as well.”
"You know his name?”
“He's in one of her classes." Her lips scrunched. “Austin, I think.”
"You know his last name?”
Tiffany frowned and shook her head.
“What class does Joshua teach?”
“Intro to Psychology.”
“I know her mother passed recently,” I said. “Does she have any other next of kin?”
“I don’t know. She’s from Dallas. Maybe there’s somebody there, but she never mentioned anyone.”
“What can you tell me about the sorority?”
“Everybody wants to be a Theta. Your social life is set. You go to the best parties, meet the hottest guys, and the alumni network is strong. She was so lucky to get a bid.”
“Did you end up pledging?”
“I decided to wait till spring rush. Honestly, I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment.” With a scrunched lip, she said, “There’s part of me that’s glad I didn’t get a bid at Theta. It’s such a huge time commitment, and I can barely keep my head above water as it is.”
I gave her a card and told her to call if she thought of anything else.
“How was she killed?”
“I can’t discuss the details. I’m sorry.”
She gave an understanding nod.
We said our goodbyes, stepped back into the hallway again, and called the admin office to find more information about Austin, but they had closed.
I called Isabella, my contact at Cobra Company. The off-the-books clandestine agency had vast intelligence resources. She could find out anything about anyone.