“She loved me. Jamal wasn’t shit to her. He confused her, made her think she could get out of Galveston Bay. But he wasn’t meant for her, and he couldn’t handle it.”

“Jamal wasn’t ruining her life, and it’s not his fault you two didn’t work out. It’s high school. Sounds like you’re the one who was angry enough to get revenge.” I know it’s a risk, but I poke at him to get a response.

Chris shakes his head. “I was ready to forgive her for getting caught up with Jamal, take her back by convincing her what the whole town already knows: Jamal is just like his dad.”

“Jamal didn’t kill Angela.” I’m trembling. “She was out by the Pike because of you and your friends.” I know I’m reaching, but I need to see his response.

“What do you know about the Pike?” Chris’s eyes widen, and his voice is shaky. Something about the Pike has him scared.

“You tell me about the Pike. I know all about what happens there,” I lie. The memory card had a lot of photos that I’m still sorting out, so I put the only pieces I know together. Angela went to the Pike and was continuing to date Chris because he could help with whatever she was researching.

“Angela is dead because of Jamal.” Chris is crying, choking on tears while he’s talking.

I can’t get over his face exploding in pain, but is it pain from losing her or guilt because it’s his fault?

Dean closes the distance between us, grips my shoulder, and holds me close to him.

“Jamal is the reason she’s dead,” Chris says. “If he would’ve stayed away from her, none of this would’ve ever happened.”

Chris is hazy talking. Like he’s reliving the horror of seeing her body. But he said Jamal was the reason she’s dead, not that Jamal actually killed her. There’s a difference.

“Did you find Angela alive or dead?” I ask.

“What does it matter?” Chris cries out, shaking his head. “It’s his fault.”

“Did Jamal get there before or after you?”

Chris grabs his things and walks away, mumbling to himself, “He killed her. He killed her.”

“Chris is getting away,” I say to Dean. He wraps his arms around me, holding me back, shushing me to keep my cool. “He’s getting away.”

“Let him go,” Dean says.

“Chris!” I shout.

He turns to me and cocks his head like he’s remembering we’re still talking.

“Did you see Jamal with Angela before or after you found her body?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He keeps walking.

I calm my voice, so he knows I’m not attacking him. “Before or after?” I just want the truth.

“After,” he whispers, then jogs to his truck.