Chapter 46
Rachel’s face stiffened, and her eyes filled with panic.
The guy she was talking to shifted uncomfortably. "If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
He bailed on her, and Rachel glared at him.
"We just have a few questions for you," I said.
"What's this about?” she asked in an innocent voice.
Her breath smelled like vodka.
"We stopped by the sorority house a few times, trying to get hold of you. I hope you're feeling better.”
Her brow wrinkled with confusion for a moment, then she snapped to it. "Yes, thank you. I'm feeling much better.”
"This won't take long, then you can get back to the party," I said, trying to reassure her. "I'm sure by now, you've heard about Gabby's death."
She frowned in an overly dramatic way. "Yes. I'm so broken up about it. We all are. Gabby held such promise.”
"We have a witness that says he dropped Gabby off at the sorority house the night she disappeared."
"Okay," she said in a cautious voice.
"Do you remember seeing her that night when she returned?”
Rachel shook her head. "I don't believe so."
"You want to talk about the hazing that took place that night?”
Her face stiffened again, and she swallowed hard. "No hazing took place that night."
“We have a witness that states otherwise. Can you explain to me why Gabby was dropped off by a van on Oyster Avenue wearing only her underwear with humiliating words written in Sharpie on her flesh?”
"I really don't know anything about that. I can assure you, nothing like that happens under my watch. I will not stand for any type of hazing, verbal abuse, or humiliation. That's not what being a Theta is about.”
"That's good to hear. Still, something happened to Gabby between the time she was dropped off and the following day.”
"I don't know what to tell you, and I don't think I should say anything more without an attorney."
My brow knitted. "Why would you need an attorney?”
"Because you’re making all kinds of false allegations.”
"I'm not making any allegations. I’m merely telling you what the witnesses have told me."
"I don't want to misspeak. I'm afraid it could be misconstrued.”
"What can you tell me about Cheyenne Tisdale?”
Rachel's eyes flared. She shrugged, then stammered, "Another tragedy. If I recall correctly, she drowned.”
"That's two pledges at your sorority that washed up on the beach within the span of a year.”
"Potential new members,” she corrected. “Like I said, I don't think I should say anything else without an attorney present.”
Rachel glanced around with nervous eyes, looking for a way out of the conversation.
"Did you know Cheyenne and Gabby were half-sisters?”
A look of surprise washed over her face. "No. I didn't know that.”
"Did you know Gabby was going to write an exposé about the hazing practices at the sorority?”
Her jaw clenched tight, and her cheeks reddened. "As I've told you, there is no hazing at our sorority. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a social life to return to.”
Rachel sauntered away and disappeared into the crowd.
I shared a look with Jack.
"There's definitely something going on here,” he said.
I looked at my watch and figured we should get over to the Mega Mart before too long.
A gorgeous redhead approached. She was easy on the eyes and had a devious look. "You two are cops, right?”
Jack beamed with pride. "Coconut Key's finest."
With a grin, she said, "I've seen you both on TV.” She looked at Jack. "You play in that band, right?”
"Guilty as charged.”
"What does a girl have to do to get on the guest list?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.
"Well, I know the right person to talk to," Jack said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Why were you talking to Rachel?” she asked. “What kind of trouble is she in?"
"We're investigating the Gabby Templeton case," I said.
"You know there's a lot of rumors going around campus.”
She had piqued our curiosity.
"What kind of rumors?”
"Everybody knows that Theta is the worst on campus when it comes to hazing. It's an unspoken thing. And nothing ever happens to them. They're the darlings of the university,” she mocked.
"Have you heard anything specific about Gabby's death?”
"It's hard to sort fact from fiction. But I know Rachel and the sorority do horrible things to the pledges.
She's such a bitch.” She frowned. “I pledged Theta last year, but didn't get a bid.
And thank God. Rachel and I did not get along.
I can only imagine the kind of shit she's making those girls do. "
"Like dropping them off half naked on Oyster Avenue and making them get home blindfolded."
She nodded. "That's one of the things I've heard.” She paused. "And you know there was that girl who washed up on the beach last fall. Cheyenne, I think her name was.”
“We’re aware,” I said.
“There is some dark shit going on. And there are girls on campus who will do anything to get into Theta. And I do mean anything.”
JD and I shared a look.
“Why are you telling us this?” I asked.
“Because I can’t stand those catty bitches. And I want to see them go down.”
“I need something that ties them definitively to Gabby or Cheyenne’s death.”
A delicious smirk curled on her lips. “You know that guy Rachel was flirting with? That’s Lance. Lauren’s boyfriend.”
“Who’s Lauren?”
“Rachel’s best friend, and her #2 at the sorority. If anybody could give you dirt on the Thetas, it’s Lauren. She knows where all the skeletons are buried.”
“She’s not going to talk to us,” I said.
"If you can prove to her that Rachel is sleeping with her boyfriend, you might be able to drive a wedge between them. No telling what she would share with you. I guess it really just comes down to where her loyalties lie. How much is she willing to sacrifice for Theta to thrive?"
"Where can we find Lauren?”