Page 90 of Wild Escape

She frowned in an overly dramatic way. "Yes. I'm so broken up about it. We all are. Gabby held such promise.”

"We have a witness that says he dropped Gabby off at the sorority house the night she disappeared."

"Okay," she said in a cautious voice.

"Do you remember seeing her that night when she returned?”

Rachel shook her head. "I don't believe so."

"You want to talk about the hazing that took place that night?”

Her face stiffened again, and she swallowed hard. "No hazing took place that night."

“We have a witness that states otherwise. Can you explain to me why Gabby was dropped off by a van on Oyster Avenue wearing only her underwear with humiliating words written in Sharpie on her flesh?”

"I really don't know anything about that. I can assure you, nothing like that happens under my watch. I will not stand for any type of hazing, verbal abuse, or humiliation. That's not what being a Theta is about.”

"That's good to hear. Still, something happened to Gabby between the time she was dropped off and the following day.”

"I don't know what to tell you, and I don't think I should say anything more without an attorney."

My brow knitted. "Why would you need an attorney?”

"Because you’re making all kinds of false allegations.”

"I'm not making any allegations. I’m merely telling you what the witnesses have told me."

"I don't want to misspeak. I'm afraid it could be misconstrued.”

"What can you tell me about Cheyenne Tisdale?”

Rachel's eyes flared. She shrugged, then stammered, "Another tragedy. If I recall correctly, she drowned.”

"That's two pledges at your sorority that washed up on the beach within the span of a year.”

"Potential new members,” she corrected. “Like I said, I don't think I should say anything else without an attorney present.”

Rachel glanced around with nervous eyes, looking for a way out of the conversation.

"Did you know Cheyenne and Gabby were half-sisters?”

A look of surprise washed over her face. "No. I didn't know that.”

"Did you know Gabby was going to write an exposé about the hazing practices at the sorority?”

Her jaw clenched tight, and her cheeks reddened. "As I've told you, there is no hazing at our sorority. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a social life to return to.”

Rachel sauntered away and disappeared into the crowd.

I shared a look with Jack.

"There's definitely something going on here,” he said.

I looked at my watch and figured we should get over to the Mega Mart before too long.

A gorgeous redhead approached. She was easy on the eyes and had a devious look. "You two are cops, right?”

Jack beamed with pride. "Coconut Key's finest."