“But you didn’t overhear the conversation,” Regan said.
She shook her head. “I only said I was there in the letter because I didn’t think you would take me seriously if I weren’t.”
Regan had suspected that. Good to know her instincts were still strong. “Go on.”
“At the end of the Spring Fling, Candace asked Taylor to go to the police with her and tell them what had happened to Adele. She said it was the right thing to do because her family was still looking for her. Taylor said no, that they would all go to jail.”
“And Kimberly Foster was there.”
“Yes. And based on what Candace said, Kim was on the fence. She had already graduated, she had a good job, she had a lot to lose, but she reminded them that it had been an accident, and she thought they should get a lawyer to help with their statement. Kim was always practical like that. Candace didn’t want to, she felt so guilty, but she said she would do it if that meant telling the truth. Then Rachel said no.”
“Rachel Wagner was there?” Vicky had mentioned it this morning, but Rachel implied that she’d only been around for part of the discussion.
“Yes. Rachel insisted that they would all go to jail, she would lose her job, never attain full professor, that even if they got probation, it would cost time and money and they wouldn’t be eligible for certain jobs. Rachel had a way of getting into your head, and she told Kim her life would be over—Kim was dating a ballplayer then, she was making nearly six figures two years out of college, she would lose her job and the condo she’d just bought, and everyone would talk about her. Kim was practical, but she was also vain, and she finally sided with Taylor and Rachel. Candace left. Then she called me.”
“Why did she call you?”
“Because I was there when Adele died.”
Alexa breathed in deeply, let it out, asked Mateo for water. Then, finally, she started to talk. “It was over six years ago. I was a sophomore, Adele was a freshman. The last night of finals, we all went to Rachel’s apartment.”
“Your advisor.”
“She wasn’t our advisor then. It was her first year teaching on her own. She was friends with Kim and a bunch of other girls. She liked to hang out with us.”
“Who was there?”
“Me, Kim, Candace, Taylor, and Adele. And, of course, Rachel.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Were you there or weren’t you?”
“Hey,” Mateo interrupted. “Don’t badger her. This is hard enough.”
She hadn’t thought she was badgering, but Alexa contradicted herself and Regan needed clarity.
“I don’t remember much of anything about that night,” Alexa said. “I’m telling you the truth. We had homemade wine coolers and drank a lot. Then Taylor brought out joints. I remember that much, I wasn’t so drunk I was passing out, but I was definitely intoxicated. Rachel didn’t want anyone smoking in her apartment, so the six of us walked to the preserve next to the country club. It wasn’t far—just on the other side of her complex. It was dark, and there was a steep hill to get up there. We sat down and smoked, and then...I remember absolutely nothing after that. I don’t even remember smoking. I don’t remember how I got back to Rachel’s. I don’t know how long we were out there. I don’t remember anything until I woke up the next morning with the worst hangover in the world. I was so sick. I don’t drink a lot, and so I thought this was normal. I still can’t drink alcohol after that night, I don’t even like the smell.
“When I woke up in Rachel’s apartment, Candace was the only one there. She was on the phone with someone, yelling at them, which is what woke me up. She hung up and threw her phone across the room. She looked angry, and she’d been crying. I asked her what was wrong, and she wouldn’t talk to me. Then I asked where everyone was, and Candace said she didn’t know. Later—I don’t know how long because I fell asleep again—Kim, Rachel, and Taylor came in. I still felt awful, and Candace was making me drink a lot of water and eat crackers. I asked where Adele was—or Candace did, I don’t remember. Rachel said she hadn’t come to the party last night. She turned to me, said didn’t I remember that Adele had decided to go home? I remembered precisely nothing. I thought Adele had been at the apartment, but everything was a jumble, and when Rachel said she wasn’t there, it was like I erased any memories of her. I looked at Candace, and she didn’t say anything. Then I just assumed I remembered wrong. I was really sick and out of it.”
They had basically gaslighted Alexa. Candace knew the truth, but she remained silent.
Until her conscience couldn’t take it anymore.
“What happened to Adele?” Regan asked.
“I didn’t know until Candace came to me after the Spring Fling. I didn’t even make the connection, even though I knew that Adele had gone missing after winter break.”
Alexa drank her water; her hand was shaking.
“I was living with my parents in Kingman, single and six months pregnant. I was a student teacher and trying to figure out what I was going to do about my life as a single mom. That’s when she told me the truth.”