He pales.
Tyler’s footsteps thump on the stairs, and I release him just as he reappears. Together, we haul the slimy bastard up and force him into the chair. We tape his ankles to the front legs of the kitchen chair, and I take a seat on the edge of the bed.
Tyler withdraws his phone, and he nods at me when he starts recording.
“Let’s go over what happened last year,” I say. “You want to tell us the truth, don’t you, Nick?”
The guy doesn’t seem very convinced. Or scared. Yes, he’s tied up, but he probably doesn’t think we’re going to do anything seriously harmful.
I get up and scan the few photos on top of his dresser. One seems to be his high school graduation with his parents, complete with a dark-blue cap and gown. Another is him in football gear.
“You play?” I hold up the photo. “For Yale?”
He makes a face. “Yeah. Why?”
“And what else do you do for fun?”
“I’m in a fraternity–and those guys will find you and tear you down if you don’t cut the shit.”
I sigh. “Right. Of course. They probably know about that night with Scarlett, right? Your buddies might’ve even heard your plan beforehand and had a laugh over it?”
“I–”
“No lies,” I interrupt. “I’m so fucking sick of your voice, but I want to hear what you did. And then maybe you’ll walk out of here. Ormaybe, your precious Yale will find out about the fighting. Do you think they’d take you off the football team? Would the frat have no choice but to kick you out?”
“My life will be just fine,” he snaps.
I smile, but all I feel is an icy rage. “Will it?”
He sees something in my expression and sits up straighter. “Listen. I didn’t do anything with the cash yet. It’s in my closet. You can have it–”
“Yeah, we’ll be taking that on our way out. Butfirst…”
I come closer and press the pointed edge of the crowbar under his chin. The cold metal digs into his skin, and fear widens his eyes.
“Tell us about that night. You had no problem telling me in the cage.”
His gaze flicks to the phone in Tyler’s hand then back to me.
I lower the crowbar and take a seat again.
“Fine,” he says on a sigh. “Scarlett loved to play hard to get. She rebuked me a few times, but she would always come to the parties with her friends. So, yeah, I thought I might give her a little something extra to help me win her over.”
“And…”
“And when she finished the drink, her eyes could barely open. I helped her upstairs. And nature took over.”
“Nature,” I repeat. “With…an unconscious girl.”
He frowns. “She wasn’t passed out.”
“No, you drugged her to bring her right to that edge of oblivion.”
“Exactly!” He pauses. “But she wanted it. She was moaning.”
My stomach twists, because I’ve heard hermoan, and I bet it was nothing like what came out of her mouth that night.
“I’ve heard enough.” I stand. “Tyler, shut it down.”
