Monday morning as I traversed the lawn in the quad on my way to developmental psych, the air held a hint of sorrow and notes of anxiety. Groups were standing in hushed circles, offering comfort to friends with red-ringed eyes. The halls were eerily quiet aside from the occasional sniffle.
I had entered the lecture hall about fifteen minutes before class was scheduled to begin and found Lex gathering his things at the table in the front of the class.
"Hey," I smiled cautiously, "do you know what's going on?"
He stopped shuffling papers before turning to face me, bracing one arm at the front of the table and pulling the other through his wayward raven locks. "A student was found murdered in the freshmen dorms. A girl."
Unable to stifle a gasp I quickly brought my hand to cover my lips. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes and my thoughts traveled to Renee, still warm in her hospital bed. I collected myself before asking, "What happened? Do they know who did it?"
Lex blinked his eyes closed slowly before pursing his lips and offering a gentle shake of his head in the negative. We stood silently for what felt like hours but must have only been seconds.
"I know that Jade was telling me that there was a girl attacked on campus a couple of weeks ago. Was it anything like that? Don't the dorms have cameras?"
Taking a deep breath he chanced an answer to me. "From what I've heard it does seem to be connected. Maybe the same attacker. The dorms do have cameras at the doorways and in the halls but the file that held the footage that would have helped has been corrupted. They don't know if it was intentional or accidental."
I paused another breath, then two, trying to decide what line of questioning alludes to more of morbid curiosity rather than an investigation I'm deeply embedded in. "Oh, God, that's terrible. Do they know when it happened? Is she someone I might know?"
"The body was found yesterday. It sounds like it may have happened on Saturday night or early Sunday. I'm honestly not sure if you would have known her. She was still an undergrad, a senior, but her major was purely artistic. Musical Theater. She wanted to be on broadway. Had an audition in New York coming up, too.''
I cocked my head to the side and put my hand on Lex's arm, ignoring the heat between us at the contact. "You knew her."
He nodded in response. "She used to be one of Brooklyn's friends. A sister, actually, in the sorority. Still was, technically. She left the house for the dorms when some drama went down. I had spent some time with her. She was a nice girl."
Lex turned from my grasp and went back to sorting through papers leaving me to mull over my thoughts of just how well Lex knew this girl, what Brooklyn's connection to her may mean, and how I can get my hands on the actual reports to get the information. I'm sure the police aren't revealing everything to the public.
As I made my way to an open desk near the front of the hall I felt my mood plummet as the shock of the news wore off. That could have been Renee. She could have died. I could be planning her funeral instead of sneaking off for hospital visits. Investigating her murder rather than her attack. The thought turns in my stomach.
I fired off a quick text to Lenore.
Hey. There was a murder. Another girl. Same MO, except the perp finished the job.
It took less than ten seconds for me to receive a response.
I'm booking a flight. I'll see you on Thursday. I've got more notes from Jessie. See you soon.
I let out a slow breath in relief. It will be so nice to have someone here that I know for a fact I can trust. I never told Lenore that I wanted her to come over during the upcoming fall break, but she knew. Classes will be out from Wednesday through the end of next week giving us some time to explore the investigation and some much-needed girl time.
Back east, when it was during finals prep, or a particularly stressful week before the paper went out - Lenore and I had a ritual. Neither of us had to tell the other that it was time to do it - we both knew. The stress in our lives was palatable. The recipe for relief is one bottle of tequila, one box of trash wine (it absolutely had to come in a box), and a rewatch of The Office. It cures what ails you. I'll have to head to the store to pick up the necessities before she gets in town. I'll want to beat the Thanksgiving rush, too. A quick pulse of vibration came from my phone, but this time the incoming text was from my mom.
Are you coming home for Thanksgiving, dear? We were also thinking of taking time to go see Renee as a family.
I scoffed. "As a family," was something that we hadn't done in years, and for good reason.
My Tuesday-Thursday classes had a large break between them, with one in the early morning and the other two well into the afternoon. I use that time to go visit Renee on my own. That's how we always felt: on our own. Seems a fitting way to spend our time.
Thanks, mom, but Lenore is coming in. I hate Turkey, and will probably be spending some time going over the coursework I missed from the beginning of the year. Yes to the hospital visit though. I'll bring Len. What time?
I probably wouldn't receive a response from her for hours. Paying attention to her phone, or her daughters for that matter, never seemed to be at the top of her list of priorities.
I was sitting at a table at the quad coffee shop in the early afternoon, using the time to copy over my notes while I nursed my second latte of the day. The air smelt of rich espresso, but only two other tables were occupied. Most people were on their laptops with headphones in, the only sound being a chorus of coffee grinders, milk steamers, and running water. I was about two-thirds of the way done when I heard the chair across from me scrape across the floor before a body filled the vacant seat.
"Hello, Genvieve."
I raised my eyes from my paper to look into Trent's warm coppery eyes. I threw him a look of confusion, but I knew I wasn't getting out of this. I leaned back in my chair, folded my arms, and let out a deep sigh before allowing my face to show my annoyance.
"Hello, Trent." I popped the last t of his name harshly off the roof of my mouth.
He feigned offense, clutching his imaginary pearls to his chest. "Wow. First, you pretend not to know me, and now you say my name like a curse. If I didn't know any better, I would think you weren't happy to see me."
"That's because I'm not happy to see you."
He smiled, but malice danced in his eyes. "Wow, you've really grown some claws. You were always such a sweet girl. Look at us. Having coffee together. It's such a nice first date."
Thoughts of our history began playing through my mind like an old film reel and caution returned to my focus, silencing my need to hurt him as he hurt me. I let out a deep breath and schooled my face into a look of indifference. "What's up, Trent? What do you want?"
"I want a lot of things, Gen, but let's start with my desire to know why you're pretending to be someone else?"
I unclenched my jaw and wet my dry lips deciding how much I had to reveal. "I'm here on a story for my school paper. I can't exactly get the information I need if everyone knows who I am."
"So, you're not here about your sister, then?"
I paused. I didn't want to let him know this was a personal vendetta. "I'm also here because my sister is in the hospital. I want to stay close by while she's on the mend. I figured I could catch some classes here, and continue my previous work from back home."
"Funny. This used to be your home."
"Things change." I quipped.
"Not that. Where did you end up going to school?"
"Back east"
"What school?"
"One in the New England area."
He smiled. "Why are you being so evasive, Genvieve?"
"Why are you asking so many questions, Trent?"
We both sat quietly challenging the other for a moment before Trent tapped the top of his coffee with his index finger, returning his attention to me.
"Ok. Since it was so good catching up with such a close friend, I'll make sure to keep your identity to myself, for now. Don't do anything rude or I'll return the favor." He pushed the chair out behind him as he stood from the table, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to the top of my head with a deep inhale. Did he just sniff me? "Good to see you, Gen. I'll be seeing you around."
I sat, stunned as the bell over the shop door gave a satisfying ding signaling Trent's exit. I chanced a look behind me to be sure he was gone before turning back to the pages in front of me that now seemed to be a blurred jumble of words.
"Fuuuuuuuuck. Fuck. FUCK. " I let the cursed whisper of pure frustration roll from my lips, squeezing my eyes closed tightly and running both hands through my hair.
I knew he was going to be a fucking problem.
***
Windsor's dorms usually have rules about outside guests staying in the dorm rooms, but they put those rules on hiatus through long holidays like fall, winter, or spring break. They know everyone is traveling. As long as your roommate signs off on it, you can have one guest. The concierge will even bring up a rollaway for them with five-star hotel-quality bedding.
Jade is spending the holiday at home with her family and gave the go-ahead to let Lenore share our space while she's away. Jade's family winters in Park City, a yuppie ski town in the mountains in Utah. Apparently, they had caught some early snow so she's excited to hit the slopes there. It's also nice because I won't have to worry about her coming back unexpectedly during the week. She won't get in until next Thursday - just in time to party away the weekend.
Just landed. Catching a cab from LAX. I'll text you when we're outside. Maybe an hour and a half. See ya soon.
I smiled at the text and shot Lenore a quick response telling her she doesn't need to text, just stop at the concierge desk after security and they'll send her up after she shows identification. I already let them know to expect her.
The day is cool for LA, but not freezing. I won't be surprised if Lenore packed nothing but shorts because they've already had days below freezing back home. I'm already acclimating to the weather here, so I opt for my Burberry pants, a black turtleneck, and my Miu Miu platform sandals. My toes might be cold, but they take the look from a respectable lady to a hot college student, which is what I'm feeling today. I'm just putting my long locks into a chignon when I hear a quiet rapping at the dorm room door.
I stop outside the door, not opening it. Murderer, and all. "Who is it?"
"It's me."
I pause trying to recognize the voice through the thick oak. "Elaborate."
"Ellie, it's Lex. Open the door." I grin at his bossy tone before undoing the double deadbolt and slipping the newly installed slide-lock out of place before turning the handle.