Page 53 of Silencing Stolen Whispers
Jade took a step backward, as if she were going to turn and reenter the library.
Something stopped her.
“I was at home.” Jade stared at the card before tucking it into the pocket of her white pants. She then met Kinsley’s gaze as if she had nothing to hide. “All evening. Studying for an exam. My roommate, Courtney, was there too—she can verify it.”
Kinsley caught movement through the library's glass entrance. Dr. Reeves had pushed open the door, his pace unhurried. Not once did he glance in their direction.
“I really should get back to work. I’ll have someone reach out to you.”
Kinsley monitored Jade’s departure before switching her focus to Dr. Reeves. He was heading toward the faculty parking lot. Something about him and his interaction with Jade bothered Kinsley to no end. She pulled her phone from her purse and speed-dialed Alex's number. As it rang, she walked over to the shaded part of the entrance.
Alex answered on the second ring.
“I just walked through my front door. Let me change, and I’ll meet you at the campus.”
“Jade exercised her right to have an attorney.”
There was a meaningful pause as Alex digested that information. Kinsley did nothing to interrupt his process while she, too, mulled over Jade’s decision.
“I can hear your brain churning over the line, Kin.”
“We're aware that Rebecca Chambliss had an alibi for the night in question, but you mentioned she refused to answer any other inquiries,” Kinsley said, trying to piece together the investigation while her eyes lingered on the flyer in the window. Someone had scrawled 'canceled' across the typed details of Hannah's vigil, originally planned for last week. “We also know Jade is struggling financially. I'm unsure how these two issues are connected, but both women are stalling us by involving lawyers. This just drags out our investigation. I think we should go ahead with Hannah's vigil and see what unfolds.”
“I think it's a good plan,” Alex responded, following up with an idea of his own. “But I've been thinking about what you said earlier. About the possibility that the fraud case is unrelated toHannah's murder. What if you’re right? What if there's a larger motive we're overlooking?”
“Like?”
“Sienna Webster. What if Hannah’s murder was more personal? What if Sienna didn’t believe that Nick had completely ended his relationship with Hannah? What if she decided to take matters into her own hands?”
21
Alex Lanen
July
Monday — 12:24 pm
Alex pushed through the heavy glass door of the administration building, pausing as it slowly closed behind him. He took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the artificial light. Still, it was the overwhelming smell of cabbage or eggs that took more time to get used to as he finally moved through the foyer. Someone was having lunch, but the foul odor was enough to kill his appetite.
After a second conversation with Kinsley, they decided to obtain a warrant for Jade Patel's class schedule. Since Jade had invoked her right to legal representation, no information would be released voluntarily. Kinsley's curiosity about the student/professor dynamic grew after observing their interaction, and Alex had agreed with the next step.
He spotted his partner sitting on one of the uncomfortable-looking benches, her service weapon clearly visible on her hip. Since it was summer, she wore white pants and a navy blueshirt instead of her usual pantsuit.Two students nearby watched her with open curiosity, their whispered conversation stopping whenever she moved. Unlike Alex, who preferred to blend in when possible, Kinsley never seemed bothered by the attention her badge attracted.
She glanced up as he approached, pushing a paper cup of coffee into his hands before he could speak. The logo on the protective sleeve indicated she had purchased the beverage on campus.
“It’s good. Better than what we have at the station,” Kinsley advised as she scooted over to give him room to sit down. “Any luck?”
Alex reached into his suit jacket, pulling out the signed warrant that he had tucked in behind his small notebook. He handed it off to her while he took a drink of his coffee. She was right—it was much better than what they had in the break room.
“Not going to lie,” Alex muttered as he stared at a large portrait of an older gentleman on the adjacent wall. “That is disturbing.”
“His eyes follow you, too,” Kinsley replied without taking her gaze off the papers in her hand. “The stuffed owl, not the guy. Apparently, he had a strange obsession with taxidermy.”
The painting itself was very typical of one found on any campus, but the expressive owl on the man’s shoulder added a very unique touch. One that wasn’t a compliment.
“Judge Knowles sends his regards, by the way,” Alex said as he took another drink of his coffee. It was the perfect temperature, and he wasn’t going to waste a drop. “Said something about golfing with your father next week. Anyway, what did you find out about Sienna Webster?”
“Twenty-three years old, only child of Kenneth Webster.” Kinsley folded the warrant. “She's in her final year of law school, top fifteen percent of her class. Started dating Nick Rydershortly after he broke things off with Hannah. And you’re right. I think we need to keep an open mind about her involvement.”
