Still Jaded (Jaded 2)

Then we followed behind as Sheila showed us through a door. When we went into a back room, I saw that they had set up a temporary office. It looked like a staff break room that was attached to another smaller room.

Sheila informed me, "She approached us here. We wanted to get the confession on tape so we set up base in this back room. When the interrogation is done, we'll relocate to the police station. Until then," she gestured to a video camera. My eyes widened when I saw Grace at a table with Officer Milon across from her. Sheila gave me a set of headphones, and I plugged in to hear Grace saying, "…didn't want to be included with this. The house thing wasn't planned, but like I said before—I feel terrible. I would never want anyone to hurt Sheldon. I don't want anything more to happen."

He leaned forward. "Can you state again what you've already said?"

She looked surprised and confused, but leaned into a small microphone and spoke slowly, "Like I said, I'm the one who pushed Sheldon into the glass table. I was supposed to push her into the pool, but everything got mixed up. I pushed her the wrong way."

"Why did you do that?"

She took a deep breath, hesitating, but answered, "It was a hazing thing. The girls from Zeta Gamma Phi approached me earlier in the night. They said I had to do this, but nothing was going to happen to Sheldon. They wanted me to push her into the pool. It was supposed to be a stupid prank, nothing else."

"And what did they say when you shoved her into the table?"

She spoke in a monotone voice, like she'd already said it a million times. "They told me that I couldn't say anything. Sheldon would press charges against us. Then they said that I had no proof that they told me to do it. They'd lie and say I did it on my own, that I was jealous of Sheldon and wanted to hurt her."

"And did you?"

"No. I cared about Sheldon. She'd been a good friend to me."

"Why didn't you come forward when it first happened?"

"Because I was scared. And then when Sheldon was in the hospital, they had me come back to the house. They said the Alpha Mu guys had left Sheldon's home. No one was there and it was the perfect time for another prank." She stopped abruptly and swallowed tightly, glancing downwards.

Officer Milon looked towards the camera, but didn't comment. His eyes switched back to Grace, whose hands had started to tremble on the table. She tucked them between her legs.

Officer Milon cleared his throat and indicated the recording device. "Can you please tell us what happened next?"

Her voice started to shake as well. "Sheldon doesn't know this, but I know the codes for her gate or I did. I think she's had them changed, but I knew them then. Cadence wanted me to let them inside so I…I did. I opened the gate, and then Cadence had a key. I don't know where she got it from, but it opened the door. Sheldon's security system didn't go off because the codes at the gate turned them off. I knew they did that, but… It doesn't matter anymore." She swallowed again and kept going, "The girls destroyed Sheldon's home. I didn't do anything. I refused to, but it didn't matter. They knew I wouldn't stop them. I'd already hurt Sheldon…I couldn't… Cadence said they wanted to get in Sheldon's head. They wanted to make her scared, but it didn't work. They don't know Sheldon how I do. I knew she wouldn't even really care, but Cadence wouldn't listen to me."

"You didn't try to stop them?"

She shook her head, and a tear fell down the side of her face. Grace seemed distant, like she didn't realize that she started crying. Another few tears followed, but she didn't wipe them away. She closed her eyes and kept going, "No, but I wish I had now."

"Why are you coming forward now?"

"Because I messed up. I thought I could fix things, but I realized that I can't take back what I did. I just want to make things right even if it means…"

Sheila spoke in my ear, "That sorority house is going to turn against her now. You know that, right?"

I nodded. Watching Grace, I barely recognized her. She was scared, but she was something else. She looked like she'd already lost what she wanted. I refused to believe that was me. She lost me a long time ago. I had humiliated her in front of her house.

That's when I wondered, "I think they already turned against her. I said some things last night. I ripped into her. I bet they already turned on her, and this is her card against them. She's going after them."

Sheila seemed surprised. "Sometimes, Sheldon, you scare me. If you ever turned to the criminal side, I would not want to go against you. That's for sure."

"That's high praise coming from you." Flashing a smile, I turned and saw Bryce in the background. He still held my hand, but had stepped back a little. My smile left, and I murmured, "Do you need me for anything?"

She looked over her shoulder and moved back. "I wanted you to know this. You don't seem that surprised."

"Grace acted weird after that incident. I wondered if she had done something or seen something. It makes sense that she was covering for the girls. Making friends can be a powerful reason for why people do things."

People liked to be accepted.

"She has an alibi for the night that someone tried to break in. She's told us that she came forth because she didn't want to be involved with that. She's adamant that the house has had nothing to do with your car brakes. How long has your car been at the hotel?"

I shrugged. "It's been awhile. I went to the hotel after leaving the hospital. I was there for two days and then I was at Denton Steele's house for awhile. It's been a couple months."

"Denton Steele?" Her voice sounded hard.

"Yeah. He was a neighbor growing up. He offered his home, and I had been staying there until a month ago. One of the first nights I got back was the attempted break-in. You don't think it's related to him?"

Sheila rolled her eyes and grunted. "Who knows with you? You've got so many men surrounding you, it's not healthy. Any girl could be obsessed with them and decided to go after you. Hell, now we have to look into Denton Steele and see if he's got any stalkers. One celebrity isn't enough? I hope Corrigan doesn't become a national name. You will have even bigger problems with him. Girls will go nuts for that one." She stormed off, muttering under her breath.

The room was full of police, but none of them mattered. It was me and him, always me and him. Then Bryce sighed as he stepped close and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You've changed. He's changed you."

I rested my hand on his arm.

It was so rigid, but I couldn't think of that. "I want to see Corrigan first and then…" My heart was pounding. "You and I need to talk."

He nodded.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

We were shown to Corrigan's room, but he was still sleeping. When Katrice and Corrigan's father saw us, they stood. She whispered in my ear, embracing me at the same time, "He loves the both of you." Then she squeezed my hand, kissed my forehead, and left us alone.