Page 72 of Good Girls Lie

“What?” My face starts to burn, and I jerk my hand away, but Becca has a death grip on me.

Dean Westhaven clears her throat. “That is a totally inappropriate question. I don’t see the relevance—”

Becca interrupts, “Why would you say that?”

The detective gestures toward us. “It’s nothing important. You’re holding hands. I was only wondering if you’re in a relationship.”

“I’m comforting her. You’re accusing her of murder.”

I yank my hand from Becca’s, heart taking off at a gallop. “I didn’t murder anyone.”

The sheriff has both hands up. “Whoa, whoa. We aren’t accusing anyone of anything right now. We’re just trying to figure out what happened to your roommate, Ash. Please answer the question. What is the nature of your relationship with Miss Curtis?”

“We’re not an item.”

“All right. Where were you tonight? Can you account for your whereabouts this evening?”

“I—”

“Shewaswith me.” Becca’s voice is strong and clear.

Eyebrows rise all around.

“Not like that. We had a secret society meeting tonight. Ash was tapped. She was with me from a little after 10:00 p.m. until now. So, you see, she couldn’t have hurt Camille.”

Becca blows out her breath as if she’s been holding it and grabs my hand again. Squeezes hard. I get the message.Do not contradict me.

“Well, that’s very helpful,” the sheriff says. “But, Ash, I’m afraid we’re going to have to talk to you alone.”

The dean nods. “Wait outside, Becca dear. And see if you can ferret out who sent the summons, will you?”

With one last squeeze so hard my bones crush and tears start, Becca leaves.

“Why don’t you take a seat, Ash. I need to speak with the sheriff.”

The dean takes the sheriff by the arm and escorts him out into the hall. The detective follows, casting a last curious glance at me.

Oh, God. I am royally fucked.

* * *

“Tony, what is this? You can’t possibly think one of my students had anything to do with Camille’s death, especially Ash. She is so reticent she couldn’t hurt a fly, much less a person. There’s no way she had something to do with this.”

“She’s wearing a shirt with a tear in it, made of what looks like similar fabric to what we saw up in the bell tower. And need I mention it’s her roommate who died? I most certainly am not ruling it out. We need to find out if she was up there. And why. And what happened.”

“Then I’m afraid, as her guardian, I will have to call our lawyers. Alan Markert is in Lynchburg, he can be here in an hour, maybe less. My God, Tony, I can’t have you treating a student like a murder suspect.”

“But what if she is a murderer, Ford? Have you thought about that?”

She bites back a sharp reply. “Detective Wood, could you give us a moment, please?”

Kate nods and steps away. When she’s out of earshot, Ford whirls back to face Tony, whispering furiously.

“This is about us. You’re trying to punish me. I get it. I’m sorry you’re hurt, Tony. But we don’t work. Not anymore. Don’t you dare take your frustrations with me out on my girls.”

Tony’s lips press together in a thin line. “Ford, for an intelligent woman, you can be so colossally stupid sometimes. This situation has nothing to do with us because there is nous. There never will be. You made your position clear. I’m never going to leave this place, and you’re going to get out the first chance you get. I understand completely. But don’t think that just because I fucked you a few times it impairs my ability to do my job. If you want to call a lawyer, do it. I’ll call for a deputy to take Ash Carlisle to the office and do this formally. And I’ll give her a Breathalyzer, too.”

“You wouldn’t dare. You have no cause.”