“I’m not going to do anything to you, Taylor. But if you join me, we can give Lucas, we can give everyone, closure. It’s the right thing to do.”

“I don’t know.” Taylor sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

This was the opening she needed to convince Taylor to join her.

“I’ll be back in less than three hours,” Candace said. “Let’s talk, just you and me.” If she could get Taylor alone, convince her, they’d go directly to the police. Before anyone else talked to Taylor and changed her mind.

“Okay. Come to my dorm.”

“No. I’m never going back there. The aquatic center, okay? It’s private, it’s quiet, just you and me, and we’ll hash this out, and together we’ll figure out what to do. I promise, Taylor, I won’t do anything without you.”

“You mean that?”

“Yes.” No. She didn’t know if she could trust Taylor, but she wanted to. Deep down, Taylor was a good person, she just needed to be reminded of that.

“Okay. Three hours. I’ll be there.”

Twenty-Four

Thursday

After only a handful of hours of sleep, Regan needed both food and coffee. She arrived at the diner at quarter to seven so she could caffeinate her system before Lucas showed up.

She saw Jessie sitting in her favorite corner booth and slid in across from her. “We didn’t have a date, did we?” Jessie asked.

“Nope.”

Susan brought over coffee. “What can I get you this morning?”

“Nothing yet. I’m meeting someone.”

“No problem, let me know when you’re ready.” Susan walked away.

“Tripp?” Jessie asked.

“Why would you say that?”

“He’s back in town. I see him in here all the time. I thought you knew.”

“I ran into him the other day.”

“He’s always had a crush on you.”

“Bullshit,” she said.

Jessie laughed. “You’re cute when you’re angry. But you know I’m right.”

“He’s JT’s best friend. I’m not even going there.” She paused. “Jess, I have a conflict this weekend.”

“You’re fucking canceling on me?” Jessie said. “I won’t let you. We haven’t gone out once since you’ve been back.”

“Lucas Vega was threatened, I need to keep him close,” Regan said. “And he found one of Candace’s friends dead last night. He took it hard, feeling guilty that his podcast may have led her down a dark road—it’s a probable OD. He tried to save her.”

“Poor kid, I get it, but dammit, Regan, the weather is finally perfect, and you’re playing psychotherapist.” She drained her orange juice. “Bring him with us.”

“I doubt he could keep up. He’s a beanpole and doesn’t look too robust.”

“I’m not happy.”

“As soon as this is over, we’ll go.”

Jessie snorted, finished her waffles. “You’re buying my breakfast.”