Page 82 of The Graveyard Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #11)

EIGHTY-ONE

Athens

Just as they were leaving Ida’s house, the detective from Athens called.

Someone recognized Cameron from the photo they’d posted online and said he was living with a group of guys in a hostel on the edge of town.

The detective had driven out to question him and found Cameron asleep, with drugs on the coffee table so had hauled him in and put him in a holding cell on possession charges.

Ellie parked at the police station and she and Derrick went in. The receptionist remembered them, informed the officer they were there, and he met them in the front of the station.

“Thanks for calling us,” Derrick said. “Did Cameron mention Jacey?”

The officer shook his head. “No. He was pretty wasted, so I decided to wait until he sobered up a bit before questioning him.”

“Smart thinking,” Ellie said with a smile. Anything Cameron said while under the influence, even a confession, wouldn’t be admissible in court.

“How is he now?” Derrick asked.

“Better. He slept a while. We got some food and coffee in him, and he’s perked up. I’ll bring him to an interrogation room.”

They thanked him and followed him down the hall and settled into a small room on the right while the officer went to the holding cell to get Cameron.

Five minutes later, Cameron shuffled in looking wary, his eyes bloodshot, T-shirt rumpled and baggy jeans dirty.

He reeked of sweat and drugs, indicating he probably hadn’t showered in days.

Cameron glanced at them then sank into the chair the detective pulled out for him and stared down at his shaking hands. He knew he was in trouble.

Ellie identified them. “Do you know why you’re here, Cameron?”

He swallowed hard. “Yeah. Drugs.” His voice quivered as if he might be on the verge of tears. “But I don’t know why the fed’s here. It’s not like I was selling or anything like that.”

“You were brought in on drug possession charges,” Ellie said. “But that’s not the only reason, Cameron.”

A bewildered look crossed his face, and he swung a confused gaze at Ellie.

“Have you seen or heard the news in the last two days?” Derrick asked.

A frown pulled at the corners of his eyes, and he shook his head.

“How about your girlfriend, Jacey? Do you know where she is?”

He jerked his head up. “She left. Why? She say something bad about me?”

Tension built as Ellie let a heartbeat pass before she continued. He was still strung out. Obviously, Jacey had reason to leave him. “Just tell us when you last saw her.”

He ran a shaky hand through his tousled brown hair. “A day or two ago. I thought she was going on a food run, but she didn’t come back.”

“Is that what happened?” Derrick asked.

“Yeah.”

“Were you two getting along?” he pushed.

Cameron shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Then why would she leave and not come back?” Ellie asked.

He jiggled his leg up and down, then shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know.”

“Really?” Derrick asked, his tone curt. “I think you do. I think maybe you weren’t getting along and you got in a fight and she ran away from you.”

The boy released an agitated breath. “Naw, we didn’t fight.”

“Did you chase her when she left? Was she running from you?” Derrick continued.

Cameron shifted, his body going rigid. “No, I didn’t go after her,” he mumbled.

“Not even to make sure she was safe?” Ellie asked.

His cheeks reddened. “No. I… was tired and went back to sleep.”

Ellie leaned forward, arms on the table. “Asleep or passed out, Cameron?”

“All right, all right. I took some pills and they knocked me out. I… ain’t left the apartment since then.” He cut his eyes toward the officer who was standing at the door, arms folded across his brawny chest, his big body poised as a barrier to the boy’s escape if he tried to run.

“Cameron,” Ellie said softly, regaining his attention. “Jacey was found dead in a town called Brambletown.”

Cameron’s face paled and he coughed and made a gagging sound. The detective grabbed the trash can and shoved it to him just in time to save the floor.