Blaze tucked her chin inside the scarf. “We broke up after I filed the charges, but his friends and other people he knew started harassing me because of it. Said I was ruining his life. They wouldn’t let up. The harassment was unbearable and was interfering with school. I just wanted everyone to leave me alone.”
“The school and the cops were useless,” Neo said, cutting in and answering my unasked question. “She went to the police station and talked to a guy, but he didn’t do anything about the harassment. Jesse’s buddies weren’t the ones who were charged, so he didn’t care. The school said they were looking into it, but fuck knows they didn’t seem to care either. I confronted Jesse personally and made some threats. Told him to have his friends back off or else.”
“Or else you would kill him?” I asked.
Neo laughed humorlessly. “No. Are you trying to pin his murder on me?”
“It was a simple question.”
“Well, fuck you. I didn’t touch the guy, but I can tell you, he was an ongoing problem on campus. A lot of women had issues with him and his friends.”
“Why did you drop the charges, Blaze?” Rue asked.
“They wouldn’t leave me alone. It was the only way.”
“It took time, but the school finally wised up and got rid of Jesse,” Neo added, “but it was a joke. Fucking drug charges. How about assault? Meanwhile, he was gone, but his crowd was still around pulling the same shit.”
I considered Neo’s words as Rue asked Blaze another question. “Ms. Freely, did you know Professor Kordestani?”
Blaze wrinkled her nose as she picked at her nails. “Yes. I was in his biochem class in my second year.”
“You’re a med student?”
“Yes.”
“And what was your impression of Dr. Kordestani?”
“He’s an asshole,” Neo answered for his sister.
Rue arched a brow.
Neo didn’t elaborate, so I stepped in. “How do you know Dr. Kordestani, Neo?”
“I took his class before as well.”
“Are you both in the same program?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“Two med students. Bet your parents are so proud.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
Rue gave me a warning look.
“Nothing. Are you aware that Dr. Kordestani was also killed in the same fashion as your beloved Jesse?”
Blaze gasped, eyes widening as she slapped a hand over her mouth. She flipped her attention from me to her brother and back. “We heard he died. We didn’t know he had been killed. Did you know, Neo?”
“News to me.”
I studied Neo’s reaction, but the guy was locked up tight.
“Do you know if Jesse Vargas and Navid Kordestani were acquainted?” Rue asked, taking back control.
Blaze seemed to grapple for an answer. “I don’t know. I… don’t think so. Jesse wasn’t in the medical program.” She turned to her brother. “Neo?”
“I don’t know,” he mumbled, far more subdued.
