Page 52 of Silencing Stolen Whispers
“It’s quite alright,” Kinsley responded with a small smile. “I believe you spoke with my partner last week, Professor Bigsby.”
“I did, yes.” Professor Bigsby pulled the book closer to her chest. “It’s a horrible tragedy, what happened to Hannah. Just terrible. Are you any closer to arresting the person responsible?”
“We’re working very diligently to make that happen.”
Kinsley returned her attention to Melanie, who was pointing down a specific aisle to their right. The hesitation in her gesture was evident, prompting Kinsley to follow the line of sight.
“There’s Miss Patel now, detective.”
Jade Patel wasn’t alone as she rounded the end of the aisle. She came to a stop, turning to face the man with whom she appeared to be having a rather heated discussion. Even from this distance, Kinsley could sense their quiet frustration.
She recognized the man as the same one who had entered the library earlier. He had already been irritated before approaching Jade, so it wasn’t a surprise to find that his demeanor hadn’t changed. The way he dressed indicated that he placed a lot of importance on his appearance. His manner of leaning in to speak with Jade displayed something more than just a professional relationship between student and teacher.
“Who is Jade speaking with?”
“Dr. Reeves. If you’ll excuse me, I need to help Professor Bigsby. Patty, if you’ll follow me,” Melanie instructed as she exited the side of the circular desk to draw the other teacher’s attention away from the spectacle. She then lifted a hand to capture the attention of a young man. “Clark, please take over for Jade. Go on. She’ll be taking a break to speak with Detective Aspen.”
Clark’s attention was solely focused on Kinsley with the kind of intensity that made her believe he had more to say about Jade Patel. She made a mental note to question him before leaving the campus this morning. In the meantime, Kinsley was curious about the exchange Jade was having with Dr. Reeves.
The heated discussion seemed to have dissipated as Jade turned to continue down the aisle. Two things happened at once—Jade faltered when she spotted Kinsley, and Dr. Reeves straightened instantly as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. He met her gaze before he began to follow in Jade’s footsteps, though at a more leisurely pace.
“Detective Aspen, what are you doing here?” Jade asked as she approached Kinsley. “Did you make an arrest?”
“No, not yet,” Kinsley replied guardedly as she glanced over Jade’s shoulder. Dr. Reeves kept his expression neutral as he weaved around one of the sitting areas to where Professor Bigsby and Melanie were standing near a bookcase of legal periodicals. “The conversation between you and Dr. Reeves looked a bit intense, Jade. Is everything alright?”
“Do you mind if we step outside?” Jade asked quietly, moving toward the exit without waiting for a reply. “I’d really prefer to have this conversation in private.”
“Of course,” Kinsley agreed softly as she fell into step beside Jade.
Kinsley glanced over her shoulder before exiting the library to find Dr. Reeves now in deep discussion with the other two women. They could have merely been discussing the campus gossip regarding Dean Chambliss and his niece. No doubt, the news was surely making the rounds. But there was something in their body language that suggested something else entirely.
Jade stepped out into the morning sun. It hadn’t been noticeable in the artificial light, but there were dark circles beneath her eyes that even concealer couldn't quite mask. Herfingers worried the hem of her sleeve in a nervous gesture that seemed unconscious.
“That looked like more than a casual conversation in there, Jade.” Kinsley positioned herself so she could still monitor the entrance. “You didn’t answer my previous question. Is everything alright?”
“Not really. My mom is dying, my best friend is dead, and I’m barely making ends meet.” Jade’s laugh carried no humor. Just the brittle edge of someone operating on too little sleep and probably too much caffeine. “Dr. Reeves was offering to help me with some scholarship applications. He thinks I might be a good candidate for some grants to help me finish my last year here.”
Jade shifted her weight from one foot to the other, a restless energy that betrayed her words.Kinsley had to wonder just how much of what Jade had just spouted was the truth.
“Sometimes his enthusiasm can come across as... forceful.”
Kinsley wasn’t going to get anywhere if she kept on the current topic, so she chose to pivot to more pressing matters.
“I’m sure you’ve heard through the grapevine that we've arrested Rebecca Chambliss in connection with the academic fraud scheme you claimed to have no idea was taking place on campus.”
“Look, I wasn’t going to throw someone under the bus when I didn’t have any proof. Have I heard the rumors? Sure. Everyone has, but I didn’t know for certain. I stuck to the facts in my interview.”
“Did you?” Kinsley responded in kind. Jade was only getting in her own way. “Jade, you knew very well that Hannah had been in touch with Rebecca Chambliss. And yes, we know all about Rebecca’s offer. She was hoping to obtain personal information to blackmail a judge if she was ever caught, in exchange for taking the bar exam. So why lie to us about it?”
“You know what?” Jade threw her hands up high, as if she was at the end of her rope, though it was more about the topic of their conversation. “I think we’re done here, Detective Aspen. And after careful reconsideration, I’d like to exercise my right to an attorney.”
By this time, all color had drained from Jade's face. Her complexion was now ashen beneath her carefully applied makeup. She pressed a hand to her throat, as if the gesture would prevent her from saying another word.
“That’s your right, Miss Patel,” Kinsley replied evenly, reaching into her purse. She was unable to find a business card, so she pulled out her wallet instead. She recalled tucking one behind a credit card. “You’ll want to give my information to your attorney, Miss Patel. We’d like to know your whereabouts last Wednesday night.”
Kinsley extended her business card. She had phrased her statements so that Jade’s response could theoretically be submitted through her legal representative. If she decided to offer it now, Kinsley was willing to listen.
Sometimes, the most genuine emotions come from people who have the most to hide. Considering Jade's financial troubles due to her mother’s treatments, along with the conversation between Jade and Dr. Reeves, it was hard not to assume that everyone involved was directly connected to their victimandRebecca Chambliss.
