“Well, um, okay...” The sound of rustling in the background was followed by the click of computer keys. “Oh my God,” he said softly—so softly she almost didn’t hear him. “Is that Brooke Hogan?”

“It is, and she happens to be my niece.”

“Oh, Lord. I’m so sorry. And Michael Chastain and Hugo Springer...I can’t believe they’d do such a thing. They were both from good homes. I just...I’m sorry, Lieutenant.”

“As you can imagine, we’re trying very hard to get to the source of those postings.”

“I’ll make some calls and see if I can help. I’m so sorry this happened. Brooke is a good kid who fell in with the wrong crowd. I was so hoping for the best for her at her new school.”

“We all were, but we’ll make sure she gets through this. I appreciate any help you can give me, as well as your cooperation with the detectives who’ll want to speak with you about the Wilson kids who were murdered.”

“Of course. Anything we can do to help.”

“Call me if you get anything on the social media account.”

“Will do. Please give my best to Brooke and her family.”

“I will. Thank you.” Sam stashed her phone in her coat pocket. “Nice guy with a tough job,” she said to Avery. “I don’t think I’d make for a very good high school principal.”

Avery busted up laughing. “Really? What makes you say that? Could it be your bluntness? Your lack of political correctness or perhaps your need to always be right?”

Despite the fact that he’d summed her up rather well, Sam scowled at him anyway. “Very funny.”

“Dr. Kelison is here,” Young said from the doorway. He introduced her to Sam and Avery.

Sam turned to face the woman who didn’t look much older than the population she served. She had long, curly reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. “You’re a doctor?”

“I am.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-three.”

“Wow, you don’t look it.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“You worked with my niece, Brooke Hogan?”

“I did.”

“Can you tell me anything she might’ve said to indicate she was planning to bust out of here?”

“It’s been my experience that teenagers can be extremely circumspect when it suits them.”

“Is that a no?”

“That’s a no. Without betraying her confidences, I can tell you Brooke was making progress toward accepting the changes in her life and getting through her senior year successfully. She was anxious to be done with school.”

“Did she say anything about her parents or their decision to send her here?”

Kelison shook her head. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”

“We have a warrant,” Sam reminded her.