Page 91 of Wild Escape

With a grin, she said, "I've seen you both on TV.” She looked at Jack. "You play in that band, right?”

"Guilty as charged.”

"What does a girl have to do to get on the guest list?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.

"Well, I know the right person to talk to," Jack said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Why were you talking to Rachel?” she asked. “What kind of trouble is she in?"

"We're investigating the Gabby Templeton case," I said.

"You know there's a lot of rumors going around campus.”

She had piqued our curiosity.

"What kind of rumors?”

"Everybody knows that Theta is the worst on campus when it comes to hazing. It's an unspoken thing. And nothing ever happens to them. They're the darlings of the university,” she mocked.

"Have you heard anything specific about Gabby's death?”

"It's hard to sort fact from fiction. But I know Rachel and the sorority do horrible things to the pledges. She's such a bitch.” She frowned. “I pledged Theta last year, but didn't get a bid. And thank God. Rachel and I did not get along. I can only imagine the kind of shit she's making those girls do."

"Like dropping them off half naked on Oyster Avenue and making them get home blindfolded."

She nodded. "That's one of the things I've heard.” She paused. "And you know there was that girl who washed up on the beach last fall. Cheyenne, I think her name was.”

“We’re aware,” I said.

“There is some dark shit going on. And there are girls on campus who will do anything to get into Theta. And I do mean anything.”

JD and I shared a look.

“Why are you telling us this?” I asked.

“Because I can’t stand those catty bitches. And I want to see them go down.”

“I need something that ties them definitively to Gabby or Cheyenne’s death.”

A delicious smirk curled on her lips. “You know that guy Rachel was flirting with? That’s Lance. Lauren’s boyfriend.”

“Who’s Lauren?”

“Rachel’s best friend, and her #2 at the sorority. If anybody could give you dirt on the Thetas, it’s Lauren. She knows where all the skeletons are buried.”

“She’s not going to talk to us,” I said.

"If you can prove to her that Rachel is sleeping with her boyfriend, you might be able to drive a wedge between them. No telling what she would share with you. I guess it really just comes down to where her loyalties lie. How much is she willing to sacrifice for Theta to thrive?"

"Where can we find Lauren?”

47

"Last I saw her, she was passed out on the couch," the redhead said. "You should stick around. It’s probably going to get interesting."

"And your name is?" I asked.

"Erica," she said with a smile, extending her hand.