Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele)

“I think she and Josh would sometimes hook up in the woods,” Lauren added softly. “I got the impression it was too hard on her emotionally to go back there after they split. I’m surprised to hear that she was there yesterday.”

“What? You don’t have any feelings about it?” Jayne gave Lauren a smug grin.

“Tell me about Josh,” Amanda started, not even about to let herself get worked up this time. She’d save her breath. After all, what would be the point? No matter what she said, they continued to bicker. “He and Chloe used to date. Tell us about their breakup.”

Jayne dropped her hand. “It was about time they called it quits. She was with him way too long if you ask me. We’re young, and we should be having fun.” Jayne winked at Trent.

“My God!” Lauren threw her arms in the air. “She’s like a walking hormone.”

Well, this is proving to be fun…

“You probably slept with him behind her back,” Lauren accused.

“Hold up. I’m going to pretend you never said that, or I’d come over there and—” Jayne made a move like she was going to spring from her chair and lunge at Lauren.

Lauren didn’t even twitch.

All right…Amanda’s temper was sizzling beneath the surface of her skin. These two were best to remain miles from each other, yet they were roommates. “When did Chloe and Josh break up?”

Jayne shrugged. “Say, three weeks ago.”

The timing lined up with what Josh had told them. “Whose idea was it?”

“They both decided it would be best. But Chloe was starting to become quite a… how would you say it, a nerd?” The way Jayne put that felt like she’d searched for terminology Amanda’s generation would understand. Maybe Amanda was more sensitive about her age after not knowing what a brand ambassador on Snap VidPic was.

“She was more interested in her studies than dating?” Amanda asked. “Is that what you mean? If so, that’s admirable.”

“That’s what I think.” Lauren knotted her arms tighter and shot off another glare dagger at Jayne.

Amanda didn’t want to know what it was like at home in the townhouse with these two. And now with Chloe gone, who had possibly been a mediator between them, it wouldn’t be surprising if Jayne and Lauren went their separate ways. It would probably be healthier for both of them if they did. “You two obviously don’t… see eye to eye.” Amanda took the time to put it delicately. “But you were both close with Chloe, so we need to know if either of you were aware of someone who had an issue with her. Someone who might have a reason to kill her.”

The girls looked at each other, and for one moment in time, all nails were retracted.

“That guy,” Lauren said.

“Stephanie,” Jayne chimed in at the same time.

Amanda looked between them. “Stephanie…”

Jayne nodded. “Piper is her last name. She was like Chloe’s nemesis.”

There was that name again. “And this guy you mentioned, Lauren, who is that?”

Jayne turned on Lauren. “Yeah, who are you thinking about?”

“Luke Hogan,” Lauren answered Jayne, and Jayne’s eyes widened.

That name…

Jayne faced Amanda. “She’s right. He is a bit… off.”

“What’s off about him?” Amanda needed a lot more clarity on the matter.

“He’s in love with her, follows her around like a puppy dog.”

The skin tightened on the back of Amanda’s neck. Follows her around… They’d theorized that Chloe’s killer might have stalked her. “Did Chloe give him the time of day or…?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Jayne said. “He’s a real dork, nerd, whatever you want to call him. But he had it bad for her and never took the hint that she didn’t even want to be his friend. She was constantly brushing him off. Smart, but dumb, because he couldn’t take a hint.”

Lauren rolled her eyes.

“You don’t agree?” Trent asked her.

“It’s not that. I just don’t know why she has to be quite so judgmental.”

“I just call it how I see it. Like you sense things.” Jayne used finger quotes.

“All right. Thanks, girls,” Amanda said, stepping in. She pretty much reached her limit with these two. “One more thing, though. Do black orchids mean anything to either of you?”

Jayne made this stumped face like she hadn’t a clue, but Lauren picked at the spine of a textbook.

“Lauren?” Amanda prompted.

“Don’t they mean death? But they can also carry a positive meaning such as success and strength.”

“How do you know that?”