Break the Silence (Detectives Kane and Alton)

“Uh-huh.” Rowley smiled at him. “Great is good.”

“We’re just good friend

s, Jake. Don’t read anything into it.” Kane looked at him. “We enjoy each other’s company is all.”

“Okay.” Rowley held up both hands in mock surrender. “Good friends, I get it.”

When they arrived at the freshmen dorm, they found flowers and a sign with the words “RIP Chrissie.” Kane frowned and moved through the girls on the lawn holding a vigil outside the front door. Inside, a woman in her thirties held up a hand like a sentry.

“What do you want, deputies?” The woman frowned. “Haven’t these girls gone through enough without you questioning them at a time like this?”

Kane stared at her in disbelief. “We need to interview them while events are still clear in their minds. Now, if you’ll step aside, we need to speak to Livi Johnson.”

“I’ll take you to her—poor thing, she hasn’t stopped shaking all day.” The woman gave him a contemptuous look. “The ME sealed the room and she’s not been able to collect her things. She can’t go to class in her PJs. How much longer before we’re allowed inside?”

“I’ll find out, ma’am, but it won’t be for a while.” Kane followed her into a large room with wide windows overlooking a neat garden. Floral-patterned sofas surrounded a fireplace big enough to roast a pig. “I’ll probably be able to collect some things for her, but as it’s a potential crime scene, we can’t risk anyone going in and contaminating evidence.”

“Contaminating evidence?” The woman had a hooked nose and red hair sticking up in all directions. She resembled a rooster the way she fluffed up and stared at him with beady, black eyes. “Chrissie was in the shower with slashed wrists. It’s pretty plain to me what happened: she committed suicide. I’ve seen it before and it’s becoming an epidemic. The moment one thing goes wrong in their lives, they end it.”

Surprised by her callous attitude, Kane lowered his voice. “I’m aware the suicide rate among young people has increased, but that doesn’t mean we become complacent. In any unnatural death, the ME will make a determination according to the evidence he finds. Right now, he’s reason to believe there’re a few mitigating circumstances surrounding Chrissie’s death.”

“Really, how so?”

“I can’t say.” Kane frowned and took out his notebook. “May I have your name and what position you hold here?”

“Rose Bishop.” She gave him a long stare. “I’m the student hall director.”

Kane took down the details. “When is the curfew?”

“Curfew? Do you mean when do I lock the lobby door? Eleven thirty every night but Saturdays. It’s left open or I’m up and down all night to open it.” She turned and headed for the door. “I’ll go get Livi.” She hustled away down the hallway.

“She was here yesterday morning.” Rowley stared after Bishop and frowned. “She spent her time waving her arms around.” He turned to Kane. “I tried to interview her but she refused to speak to me. She said the welfare of her girls took priority over anything I had to say to her.”

Kane rubbed his chin, wondering if Rose Bishop had anything to hide. “Hmm, well I’m sure she’ll make time to speak with us today.”

When Livi arrived wearing oversized sweatpants, pale and with eyes red from crying, Kane waved her to a seat. He stared down at Bishop, who’d returned with her. “Thanks, we can take it from here.”

“I’m not sure I should leave Livi alone with you.” Bishop lifted her chin and glared at him.

Kane sat beside the girl on the sofa and Rowley leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest. “We’d prefer to interview her alone.” Kane looked at Livi. “If that’s okay with you? Trust me, I understand what it’s like to find a body, and if you’re not up to talking to me today, that’s okay.”

“I’m fine. Mrs. Bishop, I can do this.” Livi waited for Bishop to leave the room and looked up at Kane with big, sad brown eyes. “I told the medical examiner everything I know. I woke up, heard the shower running in the bathroom. I waited for about half an hour and then called out. When she didn’t answer, I opened the door.” She dragged in a ragged breath. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened to her. I was asleep.”

Kane opened his notebook and took out his pen. “You’re doing just fine but I need to ask you a few questions about the time before she died.”

“Sure.” Livi pulled up her knees and hugged them. “Ask away.”

“When did you last see Chrissie?”

“Around nine Saturday night; she was heading out to a party.” Livi frowned. “She’d met a guy on the football team.”

Kane made notes then looked up at her. “Did she mention his name or where the party was being held?”

“Yeah, it was Seth Lyons, the quarterback.” Livi gave a little sob of distress. “I told her not to go anywhere near the football team—they’ve a house off campus and the parties are wild. They do a ton of hazing and it’s not safe for a freshman girl to go there alone.”

Kane’s mind was working at a million miles an hour. “Yet she still went alone?”

“Yeah.” Livi frowned. “A few days before she met Seth, she got some bad news from home about her brother going missing. He’s a Navy Seal. She told me the waiting was driving her crazy and she needed a distraction.”