“Before I was shot, I had started to think that maybe Owen wasn’t innocent,” Luna said.
“I don’t understand,” Mason said. “Innocent how? You know he didn’t kill Irene. They have the gun; they have the shooter.” Mason thought Luna needed another MRI.
“I know he didn’t kill Irene,” Luna said. “I’m not sure about Scarlet.”
The couple exchanged a heavy glance. Their spousal language was impossible for Luna to comprehend.
“Luna,” Mason said. “You’re wrong. You’ve got to stop thinking that.”
“Yeah, Luna, you really need to stop,” Casey echoed.
“He knew what she was wearing. Scarlet. The day she died. He knew. How did he know?” Luna said.
“Maybe it was in the newspaper or the police told him,” Mason said.
Casey drained her glass and opened another bottle of red. “You’re angry about Griff and you’re trying to find a reason to hate Owen. But you’re wrong. And you need to stop this.”
Luna didn’t want to argue with her friends. She wasn’t interested in convincing them of Owen’s guilt when she wasn’t entirely convinced herself.
“You’re right,” Luna said. “I’m just tired. I think I’ll go to bed now.”
Luna took her glass and retired to the downstairs guest room. Soon after, Casey and Mason headed upstairs to the master suite. Luna felt charged up and wide-awake. She watched television until she finally felt groggy. It was just past two a.m. when she nodded off. A knock. A creak. Then footsteps. She shot up in bed. Mason was standing over her.
“Shh,” he said, finger to lips.
“Mason,” Luna said. “What are you doing up?”
“I need to tell you something.”
“Okay,” Luna said.
Mason shut the door and sat on the edge of the bed. “I wanted to tell you sooner. Years ago, really. But Casey wouldn’t let me,” Mason said.
“Tell me what?” Luna asked.
“Owen didn’t kill Scarlet. I know that—for a fact.”
“How do you know?” Luna asked.
“Because I was there when Scarlet died,” Mason said.
March 2004
After being ejected from Luna’s dorm room, Owen, Mason, Casey, and Ted huddled outside and debated what to do with the rest of the night. Ted had heard about a party at Bing Hall and asked if anyone wanted to join him. Owen declined. He didn’t want to risk running into Scarlet. And Mason was so stoned by then, any group activity seemed fraught with peril. Casey and Mason broke off and ambled around the quad. Casey kept looking up. There was supposed to be a full moon that night.
Mason stopped in his tracks and said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
Casey turned to face Mason, steeling herself for the breakup conversation.
“Why not?” she said.
“I’m so thirsty. If I don’t hydrate soon, I don’t know what will happen.”
Casey laughed, relieved. She took Mason back to her dorm room and gave him a tumbler of water, which he finished in one long, impressive gulp.
Casey went down the hall and refilled the tumbler at the bathroom sink. When she returned, Mason was out cold. She tried to wake him, but it was no use. Casey, still wide-awake, decided to check out the party at Bing. She scribbled a note for Mason and left.
Casey’s room was at the end of the hall, conveniently located by the stairway, inconveniently next to the pay phone. Casey always wore earplugs to bed, since the phone ringing was as loud as any alarm clock. There was supposed to be a strict quiet time between ten p.m. and seven a.m., but no one paid attention on the weekend. The ringing phone eventually woke Mason. He tried to ignore it, but it kept ringing. He got up, propped the door open with a shoe, and answered the call.
“Avery Hall,” Mason said.
“Is Amber or Bobbi there?” said a female voice.
“Hang on,” Mason said.
He walked down the hall to Amber and Bobbi’s room and knocked on the door. No one answered. He returned to the phone.
“They’re not here,” Mason said.
“Is this Mason?”
The voice was familiar, but Mason couldn’t place it. He felt a tad paranoid that the girl on the line knew who he was.
“Who is this?”
“Scarlet.”
“Oh hey,” Mason said, less paranoid.
“Have you seen Owen?”
“Uh, yeah. We were hanging out in Luna’s room earlier.”
“When?”
“I don’t know. I fell asleep. Where are you?” Mason asked.
“I’m waiting for Owen at Black Oak Bluff.”
“Why? It’s cold out, and you shouldn’t be there at night.”
“I’m so fucking over it,” Scarlet said.
“Over what?”
“Doesn’t matter. Everyone will know soon enough.”
“What’s going on? You sound weird.”
There was a long pause. Mason thought the connection had dropped.
“You still there?” he asked.
“Luna is not who she says she is,” said Scarlet.
Scarlet’s tone worried Mason. He was afraid for Luna.
“Who is she, then?” Mason asked.
“Forget it.”
“Come on, tell me.”
“Remember that girl who lied on the stand and her brother got away with murder and then he—”
“I know the story,” Mason said.
“That’s Luna.”
Mason’s mouth was so dry he couldn’t swallow. He thought he was the only one who knew. “You shouldn’t spread ugly rumors. It says more about you than her.”
“It’s the truth, Mason. I went to the library, did some research. It all adds up. Luna’s mom’s name is Belinda. Belinda Brown is the name of John Brown’s stepmother. Later she changed her name from Brown to Grey. How stupid. You can change your name and you don’t pick something different or even cool.”
“You should come back to the dorm,” Mason said. “Why don’t you meet me at the Mudhut. Let’s talk about it.”
“I gotta go,” Scarlet said.