up for the fall.”
“What job?”
“Devante? They’re like, the best firm in Boston. She was an accounting major. So boring, I know, but she was a genius when it came to numbers.”
“Can you tell me about Saturday night?”
Tears came to Rachel’s eyes.
“This is about Cindy, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Avery said. “Maybe we can sit down?”
Rachel crashed on the couch and cried.
Through sobs, she tried to speak.
“Is she all right? Where is she?”
It was the part of the job Avery hated the most – talking to relatives and friends. There was only so much she was allowed to discuss. The more people learned about a case, the more they talked, and that talk had a way of getting back to the perpetrators of crimes. No one ever understood that or cared in the moment: they were too distressed. All they wanted were answers.
Avery sat beside her.
“We’re really glad you called,” she said. “You did the right thing. I’m afraid I can’t talk about an ongoing investigation. What I can tell you is that I’m doing everything in my power to find out what happened to Cindy that night. I can’t do it alone, I need your help.”
Rachel nodded and wiped her eyes.
“I can help,” she said, “I can help.”
“I’d like to know everything you remember about that night, and Cindy. Who was she talking to? Was there anything that stood out in your mind? Comments she made? People that took an interest in her? Anything about when she left?”
Rachel broke down completely.
Eventually, she raised a hand and nodded and pulled herself together.
“Yeah,” she said, “sure.”
“Where is everyone else?” Avery asked as a distraction. “I thought sorority houses were supposed to be packed with hungover girls in Kappa gear.”
“They’re at class,” Rachel said and wiped her eyes. “A couple of girls went out to get breakfast. By the way,” she added, “we’re not technically a sorority house. This is just a place we rent to crash when we don’t want to go back to our dorm. Cindy never stayed here. Too modern for her. She has more of a ‘homey’ air.”
“Where does she live?”
“Student housing not far from here,” Rachel said. “But she wasn’t headed home on Saturday night. She was supposed to meet up with her boyfriend.”
Avery’s senses heightened.
“Boyfriend?”
Rachel nodded.
“Winston Graves, big-time senior, rower, asshole. None of us ever understood why she dated him. Well, I guess I did. He’s handsome and comes from tons of money. Cindy never had any money. I think, when you don’t come from money, it’s really appealing.”
Yeah, Avery thought, I know. She remembered how the money and prestige and power of her previous law firm job had made her believe she was somehow different from that scared and determined young girl who had left Ohio.
“Where does Winston live?” she asked.
“In Winthrop Square. It’s really close to here. But Cindy never made it. Winston came over early on Sunday morning looking for her. He assumed she’d just forgotten about their plans and passed out. So we went to her house together. She wasn’t there, either. That’s when I called the police.”
“Would she have gone anywhere else?”
“No way,” Rachel said. “That’s not like Cindy at all.”
“So when she left here, you’re sure she was headed over to Winston’s house.”
“Absolutely.”
“Was there anything that might have changed those plans? Anything that happened to her early in the evening, or even at the end?”
Rachel shook her head.
“No, well,” she realized, “there was something. I’m sure it’s nothing, but there’s this boy that’s had a crush on Cindy for years. His name is George Fine. He’s handsome, tough-looking, a loner, but a little weird, if you know what I mean? Works out and jogs around campus a lot. I had a class with him once last year. One of our jokes was that he’s been in a class with Cindy nearly every semester since freshman year. He’s been obsessed with her. He was here Saturday, and the crazy thing is, Cindy was dancing with him, and they even kissed. Totally not like Cindy. I mean, she’s dating Winston – not that they have the perfect relationship – but she was really drunk, and raging. They kissed, danced, and then she left.”
“Did George follow her out?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Honestly. I don’t remember seeing him after Cindy left, but that might be because I was totally wasted.”
“Do you remember what time she left?”
“Yeah,” she said, “at exactly two forty-five. Saturday was our annual April Fool’s Night party, and we’re supposed to play this great joke, but everyone was having so much fun we forgot about it until Cindy left.”
Rachel lowered her head. Emptiness filled the air for a while.
“Well look,” Avery said, “this has been really helpful. Thank you. Here’s my card. If you can remember anything else, or if your sorority sisters have something to add, I’d love to hear about it. This is an open investigation, so even the smallest detail might give us a lead.”
Rachel faced her then with tears in her eyes. And as the tears began to roll down her cheeks, her voice remained calm and steady.
“She’s dead,” she said, “isn’t she?”
“Rachel, I can’t.”
Rachel nodded, and then she cupped her face in her hands and completely broke down. Avery leaned over and hugged her tight.
CHAPTER SIX
Outside, Avery turned her face to the sun and breathed out a heavy sigh.
Church Street was busy, and there were numerous storefront cameras. Even in the middle of the night, she couldn’t believe it was where the abduction had taken place.
Where did you go? she wondered.
A quick check on her phone revealed the easiest route to Winthrop Square. She took a stroll up Church and turned left on Brattle. Brattle Street was wider than Church, with just as many shops. Across the street, she noticed the Brattle Theatre. A small alley was on one side of the building, buttressed by a coffee house. Trees hid the area in shadows. Curious, Avery crossed over and entered the narrow strip between buildings.
She moved out onto Brattle again and checked
