And who wouldn’t like Lizzy? She was beautiful, confident, witty, and had no trouble making up her mind. Sometimes Jane said she made up her mind too easily, but I’d take that over my indecisiveness any day.
“I talked to Graham’s manager at work,” Riley said, pulling me from my thoughts. “She said he got off work at 5:00, and that he was completely normal when he left.”
“That narrows it down a bit for us.” I took the list back and updated it.
“And it gives us a three-hour window to look into, which matches the information I got from Graham’s mother.” Riley glanced at me. “Do you know who might’ve wanted him dead?”
“Actually, I might.” As we walked, I repeated what Mayor Pembroke had mentioned. “So I think looking into Caleb is as good a place to start as any.”
“True. We can do that next.”
“When we get there, let me do the talking,” I told Riley as Graham’s brick apartment building came into view. “I’m friends with his roommate.”
Riley studied me for a long moment, but then nodded as we stopped outside their door. “Why does Graham live with a roommate when his parents are just a few minutes’ drive away?”
“He always said he wanted to be more independent, so he moved out after his freshman year.” I knocked on the door, then stepped back. The black cat decoration in the window glared at me as we waited, and yellow police tape clung to the side of the house, matching the color of the row of maples in front of the house. I breathed in the smell of the crisp autumn air tinged with wood smoke from a fireplace a few doors down.
Moments later, Jaxon opened the door. His eyes widened, and he ran a hand through his disheveled hair.His usually sunny smile was dimmed. “Hey, Kitty. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“I know.” I ducked my head. I hadn’t been over since Graham and I broke up a month and a half ago.
“Who is this?” Jaxon jerked his head toward Riley.
“Jaxon, this is my… friend, Riley. Riley, this is Jaxon, Graham’s roommate and an old friend.”
“Hi, I’m Riley thefriend.” Riley stuck out his hand.
I jabbed him with my elbow and hissed, “Stop being misleading.”
Jaxon studied Riley for a minute, then shook his hand and gave him a single solemn nod.
“I was hoping to talk to you,” I told Jaxon.
His gaze swiveled back to me. “I’m guessing you heard what happened then?”
“I did,” I said, “and I heard you were the one who found him.”
Jaxon closed his eyes and swallowed hard, then nodded. “Yes,” he whispered hoarsely.
“I’m so sorry.” I put a hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve been better.”
“I hate to ask this, but… where was Graham found?” Sympathy tinged Riley’s voice.
Jaxon pointed a shaky finger around the side of the house. “He was outside.”
That made sense considering all the police officers had been outside.
“We also heard he was poisoned.” Riley watched Jaxon closely.
Jaxon’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t realized that was already getting around.” He looked from side to side, then waved us in. “Let’s talk indoors. The town already has enough to gossip about without us providing more fodder.”
Inside, the furniture was the same as the day they moved in: a threadbare couch, a tiny kitchen table, and a few wooden chairs. The only thing the guys had brought of their own was the giant television screen and their game consoles. And someone—my guess was Jaxon—had attempted to decorate for Halloween. A few textbooks sat on the coffee table under a small plastic cauldron filled with candy, and an inflatable ghost stood guard by the door. Despite the bowl of candy corn on the table, it smelled like microwave popcorn.
Riley leaned closer, his voice loud enough for only me to hear. “I was prepared for the crime scene tape and the poorly furnished college apartment, but not for how cute you’d look when you went into detective mode.”
I flushed and scowled at him. That love potion couldn’t wear off soon enough. I tilted my head toward the ghost and turned to Jaxon. “Nice decorations.”
