Deadhead: Bedhead Book 3

the group because the direction Robbi’s heading isn’t going to help anyone.
“Just tell us why you think she did it.” I’m not sure which woman asks the question. My guess would be Patsy.
Turning back around, I see the worry on all their young faces. “I’m not at liberty to say much, but I can say there was an eyewitness.”
One by one, their expressions change from worry to something completely different.
“Bullshit.” Robbi again.
“Ladies, that’s all I can say for now. The detective in charge of the case is Dan Trumbull.”
“But you’re going to help, right, Gage?” Katherine Kramer, better known as Kat, steps forward. “Quinn would want you to help find the real killer.”
These Beedle Babes, as Quinn calls them, have all got the impression that Quinn and I have some sort of special friendship. We don’t. Sure, my heart sort of did a little flip-flop when I first met Quinn, but that lasted until the day I met the boyfriend. She’s got someone in her life, and she seems happy. That’s all there is to it. Still, I care about Quinn. I probably always will. She’s unique. Special. Beautiful. I’ve got more adjectives I could use to describe her, but why bother? That ship has sailed. I missed my chance with her. Period.
“I’m assisting on the case.” At least according to my captain, and much to my chagrin. Like I said, I’m too close to this one.
“So you’ll find the real killer,” Kat states, again, like it’s a done deal.
It’s not.
I blink at the women, wondering what I need to say to get them out of here. I’m tired and so damn hungry having worked a double shift thanks to the murder of Kara Becker.
With a sigh, I place my hands on my hips. I might as well take advantage of the fact they’re all there. Hell, if Quinn were here in the States, I’m afraid she’d be sitting in the station for questioning as well. I may as well ask them a few. “Let me ask you all something. When was the last time you each saw Kara Becker?”
There’s a backstory here that needs to be addressed. These women—Patsy and Susanna, in particular—have known Kara for years. Their mom works for her father. Kara was supposed to live with this group of women in their rental on Beedle Drive here in Ames. Instead, Quinn moved in, which infuriated Kara. The two were at odds for a while. So much so that Kara destroyed Quinn’s scooter and was undeniably out to get Quinn. All of it forced Kara’s father to drag her out of Ames, promising everyone that she’d transfer to another school. Apparently, that didn’t happen.
“When did we see Kara last?” asks Lindsay.
I nod. “When was the last time each of you saw Kara?”
“I haven’t seen her since she moved back home,” Lindsay answers first.
“We”—Patsy points to her little sister—“saw her when we went home the last time.”
“When was that?” I reach up to grab my notebook, but I’m not wearing my uniform, only my old army tee. Pulling out my phone, I open my Notes application, then look up at Patsy, waiting for her response.
“March?” she asks, looking at her sister.
“Yeah, spring break,” Susanna replies.
“Right,” Patsy says, nodding.
“I’ll come back to that.” I say to the sisters. Turning to Robbi, I ask. “What about you, Robbi? Did you know Kara Becker was back in town?”
Surprisingly, Robbi’s quiet. But only for a second. “I saw her. At Cy’s.”
I can’t help noticing the looks on the other women’s faces. They’re obviously surprised to hear that Robbi had seen her in town.
I look down at my phone and type, asking, “When?”
“Last weekend.”
“Who was she with?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. I was sitting at the bar with Bull. She stepped up, saw me, then turned and left. It was weird.”
“So you didn’t see her in the bar prior to that?”
Robbi shakes her head. “No.”
“Have you seen her since?”
I get another head shake.
“Did you happen to mention to anyone else that you’d seen Kara?”
When Robbi doesn’t answer my question, I look up from my notes. “Robbi? Did you hear my question?”
She nods slowly.
“And?”
I’ve been a cop long enough to know that silence can be deafening. “You know you’re going to be officially questioned, right? You need to be prepared to answer questions truthfully.” I arch my brow and look directly at Robbi.
“Um… I sent Tayler a text.”
I’m not sure who, but someone gasps.
Glaring at her friends, then at me, she snaps, “I did it so she’d warn Quinn.” Robbi’s voice rises, sounding defensive.
Patsy reaches out and places her hand on Robbi’s shoulder. “We would have done the same thing, Rob.”
“Why will we be questioned?” Lindsay asks with a squeaky voice.
“Because you knew the victim and you know the accused,” I explain.
“This is all such bullshit,” Robbi spits. “Tayler wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
I know Tayler’s a nice woman and all, and she may not hurt a fly, but she might just hurt the person who was out to get her best friend. She’s not as sweet and innocent as people are making her out to be. I witnessed it firsthand sitting in her living room. She threatened Kara’s life that day when I told her and Quinn that Kara was moving back to Ames. Actually, she said something like “Kara had better hope she never crosses my path. I’ll fucking kill her.”
So there’s that.
“Thanks for agreeing to talk to me here.”
The next afternoon, Finch and I are sitting in the living room of the house on Beedle Drive. I warned him to keep his mouth shut this time. He agreed. Each of Quinn’s former roommates are present, including Lindsay, Patsy, Susanna, Robbi, and Kat. A guy known as Bull, real name Brandon Kemp, is also here since he was with Robbi the night she saw Kara at Cy’s Roost.
“Ask us anything you want, Gage,” Patsy says, smiling. “Whatever we need to do to help Tayler, we’ll do it.”
I nod, scanning the small group.