Break the Silence (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Jenna ignored him. “So, if I ask all the guys living here, they’ll tell me Chrissie Lowe has never been here, is that right?”

“I’m not sure many of them would have met her. Alex did, and Pete.” Lyons grinned. “You want it in writing, Sheriff?”

“Yeah, I do.” Jenna pulled out her statement book and handed it to him. “Write it down and sign it. I’ll ask Pete to do the same and I’ll be on my way.”

“You still haven’t told me why.” Lyons stared at her. “Has she made a complaint against me?”

“No, she hasn’t said a word.” Jenna straightened but her eyes never left his arrogant face. “Because she was found dead on Sunday morning, right after your date. I gather you missed the news tonight?”

“Yeah, we were on the bus.” He gave her a direct, cold stare. “Shame, she was a nice girl.” He set about writing the statement.

With his uncaring attitude toward the death of a young girl he’d thought worthy of asking on a date, Jenna needed to push harder. He and his roommates had gone to the top of her suspects list for Chrissie’s rape. “How many people came to the party?”

“Not many—ten, fifteen maybe. They drift in and out all night.” Lyons signed the document and handed it to her. “It’s invitation-only.”

“How many of them were women?” Jenna noticed the way he hunched his shoulders and one hand partly obscured his mouth. He’s hiding something.

“I don’t recall.” Lyons’ eyes flashed in annoyance. “I noticed a couple of girlfriends.

The guys take them up to their rooms, so the majority were guys. It’s not like we don’t invite girls but we have a bad rep and they often refuse to come here.”

“How so?”

“Aw, come on, Sheriff.” Lyons barked a laugh. “We study and train hard all week, then on the weekends we party. That’s why we’re off campus. It was move out here or leave, so we came out here.”

Jenna nodded then pulled out the trump card. “I see. Would you be willing to give a DNA sample?”

“No way.” Lyons scowled at her. “That comes close to the same as microchipping a dog. I don’t want my private information in the FBI database.”

“Okay.” Jenna waved a hand toward the hallway. “My partner is talking to your friends. Why don’t we join them?” She wet her lips. “Do you mind if I grab a glass of water?”

“Knock yourself out.” Lyons placed his empty glass on the table then stood and headed out the door.

Jenna waited a beat, then without a second thought, she pulled an evidence bag from her pocket and placed the glass inside. After filling out the label, she pushed it into her pocket, removed her gloves, and made her way to the front of the house. Not so clever after all, are you, Mr. Lyons?

Eight

Kane had the men in the family room spread out away from each other. He’d established the bag of weed and the bong belonged to a young man living in the house. The guy in question suffered from epilepsy and was legally engaged in the medical marijuana program. He carried a card as proof. The others denied smoking the illegal substance and to prove their innocence had agreed to submit to drug testing, which he conducted on the spot. To his surprise they’d all come up negative. They informed him all members of the football team had agreed to random drug testing after one of them had been caught with drugs and suspended last semester.

He hadn’t informed them about Alex Jacobs’ death and had only just finished entering their information into the files when another young man strolled into the room. Kane took in his pale face and strained expression then noticed Jenna coming behind him down the hallway.

“Did he tell you? Alex is dead.” The man scanned the room. “And that freshman girl I invited to the party on Saturday night, the no-show, she’s dead too.” He stared at the others. “The sheriff wanted my DNA but I refused. I’m a suspect because I asked her out on a damn date and you guys know I was with you all Saturday night. I didn’t leave the house until we all caught the bus on Sunday morning.”

A barrage of questions followed and Jenna hustled into the middle of the room.

“We’re not accusing anyone of a crime but we’d like to know if any of you saw Chrissie Lowe on Saturday night. She’s the girl Seth asked to the party.” Jenna pulled out her cellphone, brought up a picture of Chrissie, and showed it to each man. “Did you see Chrissie at any time on Saturday night or early Sunday morning?”

“I was in the cafeteria with Seth when he asked her out on a date.” One of the men glanced at Lyons. “I’m Pete Devon. She was a no-show, just like he said.”

“So, she’s never been in the house?” Jenna frowned.

“Not that I recall.” Pete shrugged.

“Can I have that in writing?” Jenna handed him the notebook and pen she was carrying. “Seth has already given me a statement.”

“Sure.” Devon took the statement book and, resting it on the arm of a chair, started writing.

Kane considered the body language of each man as he peered at the image. All of them to a man glanced at Chrissie’s photo, denied knowing her, and then looked straight at Seth Lyons. They all had the same confused expression and one of them shook his head slowly. Kane could tell by their reactions they all recognized her and he figured at least two of them had been involved in the rape. Lyons’ speech when he’d walked into the room had given them all just enough information to keep their mouths shut.