until you talk to me.”
She turned so that her blanket-covered face appeared to him.
“Attagirl. I know you can do it.”
“Can you be quick? I don’t feel so well.”
“Of course.”
“Can you ask my mom to leave the room?”
He turned to Isla. “Would you mind? It should only take a few minutes.”
Isla stood unmoving for a few seconds, her face tight and her body conveying unease. Then she stepped back and shut the door, and the room fell into darkness. He waited for his eyes to adjust before speaking.
“You must know by now that it was Dakota’s body they found.”
She nodded and, in doing so, caused a tear to fall down her cheek.
“Do you know what happened to him?”
“No.”
“How well did you know him?”
“He hung out in the same circles as Willow.”
“Were they dating?”
“Don’t know.”
“Don’t know or don’t remember?”
She shrugged ever so subtly.
“You need to be truthful with me, Katie.”
“I’m trying. Honest.”
“You need to try harder, or else we can do this down at the station.”
“Nooo.”
“Then don’t force my hand.”
“I’m doing my best. What more can I tell you?”
He paused to let the moment linger. “I’m getting irritated. I really don’t think you are doing your best.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I think I do,” he said. “How about you and Dakota?”
“What about us?”
“Were you seeing him?”
She stayed silent for a moment. “We kissed once.”
“He kissed you?”
“Does it matter who kissed who?”
“Did you tell your parents about the kiss or the wild parties you attended?”
“What do you think?” She wiped her eyes. “Please, don’t say anything to my mother or Drew about it. I’m begging you.”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“How did you find out about those parties?”
“It’s my job. Besides, your mom is going to find out about them eventually.”
“Please don’t tell her just yet.”
“I’m assuming alcohol was involved, but were there drugs?”
“Willow’s parents wanted to make sure everyone stayed on the grounds if they drank. That’s the only way they would allow her to host those parties.”
“But were there drugs?”
“I don’t know. I think. Maybe.” She sniffed back her tears.
“What do you mean, you think? Either there was or there wasn’t.”
“I can’t remember for sure. It’s possible.”
He sighed long and loud so she could hear his displeasure. “Where did they come from?”
“I just told you, I don’t know. I’m no drug user.”
“Was Julian at these parties? And if so, was Willow romantically involved with him?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Every boy wanted to be with Willow. How would I know about all this?”
“You are her best friend.”
“Only at our school. She has all those Chance Academy friends, too.”
“We read some of your texts. In them, you call her your BFF more than once.”
“Yes, but she didn’t tell me everything that happened in her life. I could tell she hid a lot of things from me.”
“You’re not being very cooperative, Katie, considering that your friend might still be out there and alive.”
“Could you please go now? My head is killing me.”
She turned defiantly in the opposite direction. He could hear her crying softly as he stood to leave. There was no doubt in his mind that she knew more than she was letting on, and that she’d been using her concussion diagnosis as a convenient excuse. But what did she know? He now felt certain that those kids had procured and used drugs. The question was, Who had supplied them? And had Katie used them, as well?
KATIE
IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THIS POLICE OFFICER KNOWS THAT I’M EVADING HIS questions. Of course he doesn’t know everything that happened, or he wouldn’t keep badgering me. I can’t claim a head injury forever, despite not knowing what happened to Willow. It’s like my mind doesn’t want me to know. Maybe my mind has been blocking my memory for a reason. Does that mean she’s dead?
The cop knows a lot more than he’s letting on. Like that we held wild parties and that drugs were involved. I couldn’t tell him that I’d set up the purchase of those Mollies. What would my mother think if she knew this? It would freak her out. As for the parties, she’ll be shocked when she finds out her good little girl lied to her. What will Drew think when he learns that I kissed Dakota James, the missing boy? The dead boy.
I don’t want to see or speak to anyone. I feel nauseous and irritable all the time. Drew came by this morning, but I told my mother not to let him in. Coach Hicks came by, as well, and I also