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Bexley
Monday had an odd air around it. People murmured and huddled off to themselves more frequently. Their gazes were suspect and searching. It felt as though you were being overanalyzed with every step. The library, while usually silent, had a low hum even Mrs. Whitcomb wasn’t snapping at, and the tables were filled at a higher rate. Midterms were coming, but this seemed a little extra.
“Bexley,” Mari whispered and motioned for me to join one of the private study rooms. I could see our full group gathered in one place for the first time this semester. They weren’t in the subgroups, and ten people made the room tight. She closed the door behind me, and they stopped their conversations to look at me.
“What’s going on?”
“You don’t know?” Brent was the first to speak. “There’s a detective and multiple cops on campus.” His chin quivered and he turned to face Janelle.
“I heard a girl went missing,” Janelle offered skeptically.
“I was told they were looking for a killer.” Justine had an odd excitement in her voice. This was ridiculous.
“So, the only facts we have are that cops are on campus. Everything else is pure speculation.”
“Okay, Ms. Law Student,” Janelle retorted with undeserved sass.
“It’s criminal psychology; I’m not in legal. You guys are throwing around gossip. Has an officer talked to anyone here?” They looked at each other quizzically.
“Bex, they were asking about that party the other night. I overheard them talking to a bio professor.” Mari was more hushed than usual. There was a knock on our door and nearly everyone jumped.
“Kiera, what are you doing here?” I asked. Kiera was a sophomore, but she wasn’t Riverwalk alumni. She was more local to Old Oaks.
“Mari, Bex, I need you guys to come with me, please.” It wasn’t unusual to see Kiera, but we weren’t the closest of friends and didn’t have much to talk about since we didn’t have classes together anymore. Her face looked a little puffy and the redness wasn’t from her usual sunburn pattern.
Mari was the first to leave. I looked back to our friends before taking after her. I had to hurry to catch up as Kiera quickly stomped down the halls. Her fire-orange curls were bouncing with each fierce step she took. She led us across campus and into the administration building. The secretary stood and put her hand out to the conference room where I saw the back of a few officials. They turned at our arrival.
“Hello, I’m Detective Noah Bishop. I was hoping you’d sit down and answer a few questions.” His voice was gritty, and the polite smile did little to hide the determination in his eyes. His suit was sharp and tailored. The third officer stepped outside and closed the door.
“What exactly does this concern?” I probably seemed a little stand-offish, but this mystery event surely had little to do with me.
This time the second man spoke, and he sounded less than amused. “We were hoping you could tell us more about this party at the Sigma frat.” He wasn’t as polished as Detective Bishop. He wore a polo shirt and khakis.
“I’m not really sure I’ll be of much help.” I blushed as my night at that party was spent between sheets and not so much networking with my peers. “I wasn’t all that present,” I clarified.
“Could you go over your time there?” Detective Bishop spoke this time. He was gentler than the officer as he opened his notebook and clicked his pen.
“We showed up around 10:30 p.m., Mari and I,” I explained, glancing at her. Mari nodded in agreement.
“Our first stop was just the kitchen. They had food and–” She cut herself short. She realized then that we were about to tell the cops that we were participating in underage drinking. A month from now and this wouldn’t have been a problem.
“I can assure you ladies, we aren’t here to arrest you or charge you with anything regarding alcohol at a party. Any information can help.” Detective Bishop’s face seemed genuine. The conference wasn’t an official interrogation room.Breathe.
“Well,” I continued. “We stopped by the kitchen for drinks and snacks. I didn’t want to drink the punch, so someone handed me a beer. After that, we danced for a while.”
“And after dancing?” he probed.
“Well, the guy who handed me the beer, I, uh, went upstairs with him,” I stammered trying to fight embarrassment. “So, I didn’t see anyone else.”
“What was his name?”
“He was masked,” I replied. The detective looked at me like I told him a riddle.
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, we went upstairs, but I didn’t see his face. We hooked up, but it was dark. I couldn’t see him, and he wouldn’t tell me his name. Only that he knew me, and I knew him.” I was beyond uncomfortable having to divulge my sexual entanglements to a pair of officers. My face was burning.
“You’re forgetting something!” Kiera yelled from our side.
