happened after that.”
“You sound skeptical.”
“I guess I am, a little. Plus, get this,” I said. “When I mentioned Tawny Milligan, he refused to talk about her at all. He completely shut down and asked me to change the subject.”
“That’s weird,” Sadie said.
“Tell me about it. Did you find her photo in the
Beaver
? I really want to get a look at this woman.”
“No, I didn’t find her photo because I didn’t find the
Beaver
. That’s another weird thing,” she said. “You know how I thought nothing had been stolen from the house during last night’s break-in? Well, Blake’s copy of the yearbook and all his OSU alumni newsletters are gone. He kept them all together in a file drawer, and when I went to get the yearbook, I saw that everything was gone.”
“Do you think maybe Blake moved them or threw them away?” I asked.
“I believe it would be a huge coincidence if he did,” she said. “Don’t you?”
“Well, yeah. Who else knew where Blake kept those things?”
“Everyone and no one, I suppose.” She expelled a breath of frustration. “I mean, it wasn’t a secret. The file cabinet was labeled.”
“But who—other than one of the fraternity brothers—would want that stuff?” I asked. “It had to be one of them who broke in. And whoever it was
has
to be trying to hide something from their OSU days.”
“Like what, Marce? That’s quite a stretch. Imean, we can go online and order another copy of the yearbook. And all the back issues of the newsletter are archived on the Web site,” said Sadie. “Nobody is hiding anything by stealing those.”
“I guess that’s true. But still, I think we need to order that year’s issue of the
Beaver
and also find out if there’s anything about any of those frat guys mentioned in the newsletters,” I said.
“Before we can do that, we’ll need to get Blake’s username and password.” A note of unease crept into her voice.
“You won’t need those until tomorrow. It’s too late to start work on it tonight. Maybe you can get to it after the bail hearing. Or Blake can log on to the site himself.” I was trying to sound reassuring, but I think I was missing the mark.
“I hope you’re right.”
I infused my voice with as much cheerfulness as I could muster. “Of course I’m right. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“The judge might deny bail,” she said.
“That won’t happen. Blake and Todd are upstanding citizens. They’ll be granted bail.” I said a silent prayer that I wasn’t lying to my best friend.
I got to the courthouse at about eight forty-five Monday morning. I’d left Angus at home in the backyard. Even though it was raining, he could lounge on the porch swing. He liked to snooze there on rainy days. I hoped to have time to go back and get him after the arraignment, but that would depend on the court’s schedule and if the arraignment proceeded as quickly as Ted had said it would.
I’d worn dark jeans, taupe pumps, and a lacy beige long-sleeved top. I hadn’t wanted to appear overly casual for court, but I hadn’t wanted to get dressed up either. This wasn’t
my
arraignment. Besides, I had to wear this outfit all day—and it was going to be a long one. Even though I didn’t have a class this evening, I was meeting with Mark, the personal trainer, and with Charles, the journalist, after work.
I walked into the courtroom and spotted Sadie. She was sitting near the front with her mom and dad. Sadie shares her mom’s dark coloring and her dad’s height. Under other circumstances, I might’ve reminded her she got the best of both worlds as far as her parents’ genes went.
Even from behind, I could assess the trio’s roles. Sadie’s back was straight in her navysuit, and her head was held high. She was being strong for her husband, for herself, and—thanks to me—for her parents. Her mother was bent forward, weeping into a tissue. She was wearing black, as if she were at a funeral. Sadie’s dad had
“You sound skeptical.”
“I guess I am, a little. Plus, get this,” I said. “When I mentioned Tawny Milligan, he refused to talk about her at all. He completely shut down and asked me to change the subject.”
“That’s weird,” Sadie said.
“Tell me about it. Did you find her photo in the
Beaver
? I really want to get a look at this woman.”
“No, I didn’t find her photo because I didn’t find the
Beaver
. That’s another weird thing,” she said. “You know how I thought nothing had been stolen from the house during last night’s break-in? Well, Blake’s copy of the yearbook and all his OSU alumni newsletters are gone. He kept them all together in a file drawer, and when I went to get the yearbook, I saw that everything was gone.”
“Do you think maybe Blake moved them or threw them away?” I asked.
“I believe it would be a huge coincidence if he did,” she said. “Don’t you?”
“Well, yeah. Who else knew where Blake kept those things?”
“Everyone and no one, I suppose.” She expelled a breath of frustration. “I mean, it wasn’t a secret. The file cabinet was labeled.”
“But who—other than one of the fraternity brothers—would want that stuff?” I asked. “It had to be one of them who broke in. And whoever it was
has
to be trying to hide something from their OSU days.”
“Like what, Marce? That’s quite a stretch. Imean, we can go online and order another copy of the yearbook. And all the back issues of the newsletter are archived on the Web site,” said Sadie. “Nobody is hiding anything by stealing those.”
“I guess that’s true. But still, I think we need to order that year’s issue of the
Beaver
and also find out if there’s anything about any of those frat guys mentioned in the newsletters,” I said.
“Before we can do that, we’ll need to get Blake’s username and password.” A note of unease crept into her voice.
“You won’t need those until tomorrow. It’s too late to start work on it tonight. Maybe you can get to it after the bail hearing. Or Blake can log on to the site himself.” I was trying to sound reassuring, but I think I was missing the mark.
“I hope you’re right.”
I infused my voice with as much cheerfulness as I could muster. “Of course I’m right. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“The judge might deny bail,” she said.
“That won’t happen. Blake and Todd are upstanding citizens. They’ll be granted bail.” I said a silent prayer that I wasn’t lying to my best friend.
I got to the courthouse at about eight forty-five Monday morning. I’d left Angus at home in the backyard. Even though it was raining, he could lounge on the porch swing. He liked to snooze there on rainy days. I hoped to have time to go back and get him after the arraignment, but that would depend on the court’s schedule and if the arraignment proceeded as quickly as Ted had said it would.
I’d worn dark jeans, taupe pumps, and a lacy beige long-sleeved top. I hadn’t wanted to appear overly casual for court, but I hadn’t wanted to get dressed up either. This wasn’t
my
arraignment. Besides, I had to wear this outfit all day—and it was going to be a long one. Even though I didn’t have a class this evening, I was meeting with Mark, the personal trainer, and with Charles, the journalist, after work.
I walked into the courtroom and spotted Sadie. She was sitting near the front with her mom and dad. Sadie shares her mom’s dark coloring and her dad’s height. Under other circumstances, I might’ve reminded her she got the best of both worlds as far as her parents’ genes went.
Even from behind, I could assess the trio’s roles. Sadie’s back was straight in her navysuit, and her head was held high. She was being strong for her husband, for herself, and—thanks to me—for her parents. Her mother was bent forward, weeping into a tissue. She was wearing black, as if she were at a funeral. Sadie’s dad had
Similar Books
