Once upon a time, they’d been best friends. She and Taylor had met the first day of college in a biology class and became immediate friends. They rushed Sigma Rho together, ate lunch together most every day, went on double dates. With Taylor, she had another sister. She missed her real sister, Chrissy, but with Taylor she wasn’t so homesick and miserable.
The choices they’d each made that first year had, ultimately, torn them apart. But now, maybe, from the ashes of their lives, they could reclaim the friendship they’d once had. They would endure this together. United.
Candace had been waiting at the aquatic center for an hour. She’d slipped in right before closing, hidden in the locker room, and when everyone had left, texted Taylor where she was.
It had taken her time to drive down the winding mountain highway from Payson, then return the truck she’d taken. She felt bad about it, but she didn’t want to get anyone else involved with the mess she’d helped create. She’d filled it up with gas with the remainder of the cash she had, and she’d explain to Willa when she had a chance.
Because maybe—maybe—she wouldn’t be arrested. Maybe she could ask for mercy or community service. All she really wanted was to give Adele’s parents the truth.
Candace sat on the bleachers running alongside the pool. Her eyes had become adjusted to the near-dark security lighting under the bleacher stairs and over each door casting odd shadows everywhere. The water was still, the Olympic-size pool ominous even with waterproof lights under the cement lip.
Candace had propped the side door of the locker room open with a small block. They’d done the same thing many times over the years, when the sorority wanted to have a midnight swim party. Totally against the rules, but so much fun. There were security cameras on the outside of the building, but not in the locker room or inside, so the sorority took advantage of that once a year.
The pervasive chlorine smell and humidity of the enclosed swimming pool almost made Candace believe that everything was going to be okay. That her conscience would finally be clean once she told the truth. Over the years, she had spent many hours sitting on bleachers next to pools. Candace was a good swimmer, but her sister, Chrissy, was amazing. Candace had gone to most of her kid sister’s meets, even after Candace had gone away to college. Chrissy had won so many championships in high school and was now swimming for the University of South Carolina.
She’d almost called Chrissy today, now that she’d finally made her decision, but what would she say?
“I’m not the good sister you thought I was.”
Candace would rather tell her after she better understood what was going to happen. Such a conversation would be better in person, face-to-face. She would ask for Chrissy’s forgiveness, for her love, for her support. And in her heart, she believed Chrissy would give it. Because that’s who she was.
She heard the door to the aquatic center open, a faint echo in the cavernous hall.
Candace watched a shadowy figure walk toward her. For a split second, she was frightened, then as the figure came closer and started up the few stairs to her level, Candace breathed easier.
Taylor.
“Hey,” Candace said quietly.
Taylor James stopped about ten feet away, sat down on the bench, glanced at her, then looked out at the pool. “Where have you been?”
“Looking for the evidence,” said Candace. “I can’t get to it. The only option now is going to the police. They have the tools and resources to find her body.”
“That’s what you were doing? I thought you were just saying that. I didn’t think you would actually go up there. Oh, God...Candace. That’s...shit.”
“It’s the right thing to do.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Candace said. “It’s the only way I can live with myself. I thought you agreed with me.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Taylor said.
“Yes, I do. We do. Remember? We agreed that it was for the best.” This afternoon, only hours ago, Candace had talked to Taylor. “Remember?” she repeated, now becoming confused. She’d been alone all week; maybe she had heard wrong.
You heard right. Someone talked Taylor out of going to the police. Taylor has always changed her mind based on the last person who talked to her.
“What happened?” Candace demanded. “Have you changed your mind? Please...Taylor...together we’re stronger. You know that.”
Taylor wouldn’t look at her. Then her old friend got up and walked back the way she’d come.
Candace jumped up and ran after her, tripping down the bleachers stairs but then catching herself. “Taylor, stop! Listen to me for a change.”
Her voice echoed and Taylor kept walking toward the locker room.
Candace followed.
As soon as Taylor stepped into the locker room, another person came out and shined a light directly in Candace’s face.
Security?
“I’m sorry. I’m leaving.”
“No,” a familiar female voice said, but Candace couldn’t immediately place it. There was so much rage in the one word.
The light turned off, but Candace was temporarily blinded.
“You will ruin my life, you fucking bitch,” the woman said.
Fear gripped her. She turned to get away and tried to scream, but the woman behind her grabbed her by the throat and squeezed.
Candace spun her arms around and elbowed her attacker. She felt the hands loosen just a bit. She tried to take in a breath so she could scream, but the fingers dug into her neck, pushing into her trachea. She started to choke.
She flailed. Candace realized that if she didn’t break free, she’d be dead.
“Help! Tay...lor!!” Candace choked out, then couldn’t say anything else. She tried to scream for help, but she couldn’t catch her breath.
You’re an idiot, Candace.
She had never thought that one of her sorority sisters would betray her.
She’d never thought one of them would want her dead.
Candace felt herself being pulled backward. Her eyesight started to return as the temporary blindness faded and she could see shadows from the security lighting. Her head was spinning; her neck ached. All she had left to fight with were her arms and legs, but her strength was waning.
She was going to die.