Lana made a face. “Apparently he’s not thrilled with the idea of me dating a police officer. He acted like a complete ass in front of Max and flat-out told me to stop seeing him, like I’m sixteen years old.”
“I hope you’re not putting up with that crap,” Brandy said hotly.
She couldn’t help but smile at how vehement Brandy was at the thought of someone trying to stand between Lana and Max, especially when she didn’t seem interested in putting nearly that much energy into the relationship she could have with Chris.
“No, I’m not going to put up with that crap,” Lana assured her friends. “I made no secret of the fact that I plan on seeing Max again. We’re going out tonight, actually. I asked him to pick me up here. We’re grabbing something to eat, then going dancing.”
She was about to add that she’d asked Max to pick her up here instead of her parents’ house so she wouldn’t have to deal with her dad’s stupidity when her cell phone rang. Hopping up, she hurried over to the chair where she’d tossed her purse when she’d first come in. She hoped it wasn’t Max calling to say he had to work late.
But Max’s name didn’t pop up on her phone. Instead, it was a number she didn’t recognize. She almost let the call go to voicemail, then changed her mind. It was a 512 area code, which meant Austin. It could be someone from the university calling.
She thumbed the green button and put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Ms. Mason, this is Detective Gabriel Peterson, Austin Police Department. I was wondering if you could come to the station. I need to speak to you about your roommate, Denise Sullivan.”
It took a few seconds for the words to filter through, but when they did, the first emotion that hit Lana was panic. “Oh God! Is Denise okay?”
“This is really something I’d prefer to talk to you about in person, Ms. Mason. Would you be able to come to the station? I could meet you somewhere else if you prefer.”
“I’m not in Austin right now,” she said. “I graduated from college a few weeks ago and I’m back home in Dallas. Please tell me Denise is okay.”
Lana’s breathing came faster and faster, her whole body buzzing like she’d put her finger in a light socket. Even her gums were tingling.
“Detective?” she prompted.
Brandy and Miriam must have figured out there was something wrong because they got up and gathered around her. They looked as nervous as she felt.
What is it? Brandy mouthed.
Lana ignored her. She couldn’t focus on Brandy and the phone at the same time. “Detective?” she said again, almost begging this time.
There was a pause and then a slight cough, like Peterson was clearing his throat. “Ms. Mason, your roommate was found murdered in your apartment this morning. Would it be possible for you to come to Austin so we can ask you a few questions? We could really use your help.”
Lana heard Brandy and Miriam asking her what was wrong, and the detective asking if she was still on the line, but she was so stunned she couldn’t think of how to answer. All she could think about was the last time she’d seen Denise.
That had been only three days ago. How could her friend possibly be dead?
“What happened to her?” Lana asked Peterson softly.
“It would really be best if you could come down to the station,” the detective said. “I can tell you more then.”
Lana stuttered out that she’d be there, though she wasn’t sure how the heck she’d make the three-hour drive south on I-35. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely hold her phone. How could she possibly drive?
She hung up, then somehow stumbled across the room until she found the couch and sat down. Brandy and Miriam followed, taking a seat on either side of her, each of them putting an arm around her.
“It’s my roommate from school, Denise,” Lana murmured. “She was murdered. The police found her dead in the apartment we used to share in Austin. They want me to come down there so they can ask me some questions.”
“There’s no way we’re letting you drive all the way down to Austin on your own,” Miriam said. “Not in the condition you’re in right now.”
Lana nodded as her phone rang again. She sat there, too numb to answer it.
Brandy took the phone gently out of her hand and answered it. Lana tried to listen in on the conversation, but she was too out of it to focus on anything. Instead, she leaned against Miriam, tears in her eyes.
“Honey,” Brandy said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. “That was Max. He’s on his way. I told him what happened and he said he’ll take you down to Austin to talk to the police. Okay, Lana?”
Lana nodded, a little bit of the weight crushing her chest easing up at the mention of his name. Max would be here soon. He’d help her get through this.
* * *
