Page 31 of Silencing Stolen Whispers (Kinsley Aspen #2)

Kinsley Aspen

July

T he campus courtyard had been transformed into a peaceful gathering space. Students and faculty quietly congregated in the center where Hannah Scriven’s portrait was carefully placed in front of a well-kept flowerbed surrounding a water fountain.

The photograph chosen of Hannah didn’t capture her smile, but rather depicted a solemn expression that matched her personality in life.

The soft, golden flames from numerous candles flickered against the encroaching darkness. The night air was filled with the rich aroma of melting wax, while the faint rustling of leaves in the light breeze added its gentle soundtrack.

Kinsley stood under a large oak tree, observing those arriving from different campus parking lots.

The afternoon had gone by quickly since their interview with Sienna Webster.

They had about half an hour for lunch and less than that for dinner before spending the rest of the time coordinating with campus security and assigning plainclothes officers to the crowd.

The goal was to gather any intelligence that might aid them in the investigation. All personnel involved had been instructed to concentrate on those who had a personal or professional connection with Hannah or the Scriven family.

The radio at her hip crackled softly.

“Position two, no sign of the parents.” Alex's voice came through the radio, which Kinsley had made sure was low enough not to attract attention. “I've got eyes on the east entrance. Position three?”

“Negative.”

“Position four?”

“Negative.”

“Copy that,” Kinsley replied into the radio. “No sign of the twin sister yet, either. I do have eyes on Jade Patel and Courtney Huber, though. Reeves should be visible from position one.”

“Affirmative,” Alex replied.

Kinsley lowered the radio and shifted her weight, remaining in the large shadow of the oak tree. The artificial lighting that highlighted the fountain, along with all the candlelight, deepened the darkened areas around the courtyard.

Jade Patel stood at the edge of the growing crowd with Courtney Huber. Both women were engaged in deep conversation, although Jade’s gestures were quite animated, prompting Courtney to gently place a steadying hand on Jade’s arm.

Every now and then, Jade's gaze would scan those inside the courtyard.

Interestingly enough, Kinsley noticed that Jade had gone still once someone had caught her attention.

Kinsley followed her gaze to where Dr. Victor Reeves stood talking with Professor Bigsby and another faculty member.

Reeves seemed calm, even somber, as he listened to the conversation.

“Movement at the east entrance,” Alex reported over the radio fifteen minutes later. “William and Katherine Scriven have arrived.”

Kinsley turned her gaze in that direction. Before long, the Scrivens arrived and began greeting the attendees of the vigil. The crowd eventually parted as the grieving parents approached their daughter’s portrait.

Katherine walked with mechanical precision, each step measured and controlled, her face a marble mask of composure. William was beside her, his hand resting on her lower back.

Kinsley radioed for a plainclothes officer to take her position so she could circle the perimeter. Such movement allowed her to catch fragments of conversation drifting through the humid evening air.

“—said they found her with a fire poker still…”

“…heard it was some crazed lunatic living in the woods near the cabin.”

“Everyone knows it wouldn't have happened if her parents hadn't pushed her so hard.”

"—think it has something to do with the cheating scandal. What if Rebecca…"

The rumors were spreading like wildfire, each version more dramatic than the last.

Jade and Courtney kept some distance from the gathering, and their focus remained on Dr. Reeves. Whatever connection existed between the student and the professor was charged with something that went beyond a typical academic relationship.

Kinsley's radio sprang to life again, and she instinctively lowered the volume further.

Because resources and staff had been diverted to a surprise operation related to the homicide investigation connected to the string of armed robberies, most of the tech gear had been taken, leaving only a few items that were of little use to Kinsley and Alex.

The Fallbrook Police Department wasn't exactly a top priority in the city's budget, nor the state's.

A sudden noise exploded in the air, capturing everyone’s attention.

Katherine Scriven had stepped up to a solitary microphone and tapped it. She stood next to Hannah's portrait while William moved to stand beside his wife on her other side. The conversations quieted as people gathered closer, eager to hear from the victim's mother.

“Still no Bailey?” Kinsley murmured into the radio, a growing unease settling in her stomach.

“Nothing yet,” Alex confirmed.

“I've got movement,” an officer noted. “West side. I can't confirm it's the twin from this angle.”

Kinsley moved casually toward the west side of the courtyard, careful not to draw attention to herself as Katherine cleared her throat, preparing to address the gathering.

“Possible visual on Bailey,” Kinsley said quietly into the radio. “I'm moving in to confirm.”

As she moved through the crowd, Kinsley noticed how the atmosphere had changed. The earlier murmurs had turned into quiet anticipation. William’s gaze was steady on some distant point, as if he couldn’t fully connect with the moment.

“Confirmed sighting,” Kinsley advised into the radio.

“Copy.”

The goal at this point was to observe body language and overhear conversations that might generate new leads. Besides the four plainclothes officers stationed at each of the four walkways, the others had been instructed to blend into the crowd.

Katherine Scriven began to speak into the microphone.

Her voice carried across the courtyard with the practiced precision of someone accustomed to being heard in crowded courtrooms. Her words about Hannah's dedication to law and passion for justice rang with maternal pride.

There was also a slight tremor in her tone when she spoke of her daughter's promising future. One that was now permanently erased.

“Hannah loved the law,” Katherine continued, her fingers gripping the microphone stand. "She saw it not as a career path but as her calling. She would have made an exceptional attorney.”

Kinsley made her way back around so that she could monitor Jade and Courtney. The two women still maintained some distance from the others, though Jade’s interest wasn’t on Katherine.

Dr. Reeves was now speaking with two new faculty members.

While Kinsley had been approaching Jade’s position, Melanie Young had been making her way over to Bailey.

The two women now stood side by side while listening to Katherine’s speech.

The hostility in Bailey’s posture toward her mother’s words was evident.

Kinsley pivoted her attention back to Jade.

She and Courtney were now engaged in what appeared to be an increasingly heated exchange.

Courtney even had a hand wrapped around Jade’s arm while whispering urgently in her ear.

Jade shook her head repeatedly, her face flushed with what appeared to be anger.

"…done." Jade's voice had risen just enough for Kinsley to catch the words. “I can't do this anymore.”

Courtney's grip tightened on Jade's arm.

“Please, not here. Just wait until after?—”

Jade wrenched herself free, her sudden movement drawing glances from nearby mourners.

She straightened her shoulders and walked away, her trajectory unmistakable.

She was heading directly toward Dr. Reeves, who had also noticed the exchange.

He intentionally separated himself from the other two professors before Jade could reach him.

Kinsley began moving parallel to Jade's path, keeping enough distance while maintaining a clear view of what was unfolding.

Katherine's eulogy continued in the background, her voice now describing Hannah's childhood determination, but Kinsley's focus had narrowed exclusively to the collision course between professor and student.

Dr. Reeves reached the shadow of a large oak, stepping into the dark silhouette where Kinsley couldn't read his expression.

Jade, meanwhile, had already reached into her purse, pulling out a white envelope she held tightly enough to crumble the middle.

When she finally got to Reeves, she thrust the envelope against his chest with enough force to make him step back.

“Alex, are you seeing this?” Kinsley murmured into the radio, observing the exchange with growing interest.

Though their words were inaudible from this distance, their body language spoke volumes. Jade's chin jutted forward in accusation. Reeves’ response came with hands raised in a placating gesture, though his face was still obscured by shadows.

“Affirmative,” Alex replied. “We’re not the only ones.”

Kinsley scanned the others with interest.

Nick and Sienna were positioned at the rear of the crowd.

While they might have been listening to Katherine’s speech, their focus was on Jade.

Melanie Young was no longer standing next to Bailey.

Instead, Patty Bigsby had joined Hannah’s twin sister, and the exchange between Jade and Victor Reeves had drawn their attention, as well.

It was William whom Alex must have been referring to, because Hannah’s father had vacated his spot next to his wife, not that she had taken notice. He was making his way around the assembly. Kinsley realized almost immediately that his interest was in Bailey, not Jade.

“I’ve got Jade, you take William and Bailey.”

Kinsley had made the decision to intervene the second that Jade's reaction had become immediate and visceral.

She had stepped back, shaking her head with such vehemence that her hair whipped across her face.

When she turned to leave, Reeves lunged forward, his fingers closing around the sleeve of her jacket.

Before Kinsley could get involved in the altercation, Jade yanked her arm free. She then spat something at Reeves and quickly headed back toward where Courtney waited, her hands pressed against her mouth in distress.

“Jade.” Kinsley caught both women before they could exit the courtyard. “Jade, what was that exchange about?”

“Tell her,” Courtney urged as she placed a hand on Jade’s shoulder in encouragement. “Please. This is wrong on a lot of levels.”

Kinsley had to be careful about how this exchange unfolded. Jade had invoked her right to a lawyer. While she wasn’t under arrest, any responses could be excluded from court if a trial ever occurred.

In the background, Katherine was concluding her remarks, thanking everyone for attending the ceremony to honor Hannah's memory. Few noticed the drama playing out on the periphery, for which Kinsley was grateful.

“Courtney, what just happened between Jade and Dr. Reeves?”

Courtney's gaze darted to Jade, seeking guidance. Jade had gone perfectly still, her eyes fixed in the direction of her professor. She wasn’t paying any attention to them.

“It's not what you think,” Courtney began, her voice barely above a whisper. “Jade is just?—”

“I'm not here to make accusations,” Kinsley interrupted, her tone gentle but firm. She positioned herself subtly to block their easiest path of retreat. “I'm here because Hannah Scriven was murdered. Brutally. Alone. If this is regarding the cheating scandal, then I?—”

“Stop, please.” Jade’s breathing had become shallow, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession. Kinsley noticed the way she had flinched at the word ‘alone’. “Just stop.”

“Hannah's mother is delivering a eulogy for a daughter she clearly didn't fully understand.” Kinsley pushed a little harder. “Hannah’s parents may never have closure unless the truth comes out. Can you imagine going through life not knowing who destroyed your family?”

“Stop! Please, stop. Courtney is just trying to protect me. She didn't know everything until after—” Something had broken loose inside Jade, some dam of restraint that could no longer hold back the flood of truth. “Dr. Reeves is blackmailing me.”

“Blackmailing you? Why?” Kinsley tightened her grip on the radio, anticipating giving a directive to detain Victor Reeves. “Why was he blackmailing you, Jade?”

“Because I found out the truth,” Jade whispered, wiping away her tears.

“And what truth is that?”

“Hannah was having an affair with Dr. Reeves.”