and didn’t have plans to see each other. The roommate said they had minor quarrels all the time, but they were good about giving each other space to get over it.”
“Then maybe she went to her parents or her sister,” Laila said, her tone edgier. “They live in San Diego, and sometimes she just jumps in her car and drives down to see them.”
Mason saw the detectives exchange a look, and that was when he knew. He reached out, taking Laila’s hand. “You’re not trying to trace a missing person, are you?”
The pair across the table exchanged another loaded glance.
“What does that mean?” Laila asked in a thin voice. She watched him with her heart in her eyes.
There was a short silence. “It means they’re here because they already found the body,” he said gently, squeezing her hand.
It was the only thing that made sense. A college girl missing for a few days would have been taken seriously if the disappearance had been reported, but from what the detectives had said, that hadn’t been the case.
And they sure are hell wouldn’t have come asking about Joseph Dubey if there hadn’t been a body. These were career cops. They wouldn’t have poked that hornet’s nest unless they had to. But if Laila’s friend was dead, then they didn’t have a choice.
Laila’s breath fractured as she saw the truth written on the detective’s faces.
Silano’s next words confirmed her worst fears. “Miss Elliot fell off the radar Friday night. Her cell phone was turned off or died around two AM. It was found with her body.”
“But you can’t find a trace of her, no witnesses who saw her after the frat party,” Mason supplied. “Joseph and his cousin were the last people she was seen with alive. Let me guess—the pair are alibiing each other?”
Annoyance flitted across Silano’s face. She ignored him, choosing to focus on Laila.
“At this time, neither Joseph Dubey nor his cousin Bryce Johansen are suspects. Both have clean records with several commendations for community service between them. That and several of the Alpha Omega brothers swear they were there all night. “
Laila’s intake of air was sharp. Mason wanted to bang on the table and shout. Hell, that was it.
The detective paused, but when Laila stared shell-shocked and unmoving, Silano continued.
“We came to speak to you after interviewing Jasmine Elliot’s roommate Rosamie Bautista. Miss Bautista said you might have further information on that.”
Swallowing loudly, Laila took a deep breath and nodded. She gestured to her bruised face and told them what had happened to her Saturday morning, and later that night.
“I didn’t know why Joe was so insistent that he’d come home that night,” she said, looking nauseated. “He was so upset, so angry. It was irrational and out of proportion, or at least I thought so…”
Mason moved his chair until it was flush with hers. He threw an arm around her, pulling her into him. She was cold to the touch under his hands.
“Based on this information, we’ll be able to interview Joseph Dubey,” Silano said, trying to seem like she hadn’t swallowed a lemon.
Mason read between the lines. Dubey had lawyered up with what was doubtless a high-priced attorney. Hell, he probably has a team.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to take some pictures of your injuries, to go with your statement.” Silano pulled out her cell phone.
Jaw firming despite the lost expression, Laila nodded, murmuring her assent.
“I took her to my doctor this morning,” Mason told the detective. “He took X-Rays as well as pictures. I can have them sent them to you.”
“Do that,” the officer said, her tone a touch more gracious than before. “But we still need our own.”
With that, she stood and ushered Laila to push her chair away from the table. Silano walked around her, taking pictures from several angles. They left a few minutes later.
Laila’s drawn face worried him. So was her continued silence. He pulled her into the living room, throwing a blanket over her. She let him fuss over her, but she didn’t react until he tried to press a hot chamomile tea into her hands.
“No, thank you,” she said, still unfailingly polite despite her obvious heartbreak. She pushed the mug away, piercing his soul with her big brown eyes.
“Mason…will you hold me?”
“You never have to ask.” But Mason didn’t hug her. That wasn’t enough to soothe the yawing ache inside him. He sat next to her, pulling her bodily into his lap.
Laila was startled, but it only took