"I have an idea but he was home all night."
"Principal Edwards?"
"You thought so too?"
I shrug. "The guy seems to have a violent side. And if he really did strangle her, then maybe he's the one who killed her."
"But he wasn't here. He was at home."
"Alone. Kristen's mom was in LA. He doesn't have proof he was home."
"They have security cameras around the house. The cameras would show if he left."
"Unless he turned them off. Or tampered with them."
"Who else do you think could've done this?"
I look at him. "Braden."
Jackson sighs. "I didn't want to say it but I was thinking that too. He lives just down the street. It'd be easy for him to toss her in the ocean and run back home. And you said Kristen had been at your house with him, right?"
"Yeah, saying she wanted him back. But then she left. What if Braden was so angry at her for taking off like that that he killed her? Braden hates being rejected. And she already rejected him once."
"Doing it a second time could send him over the edge."
"Exactly. Hey, did you tell the police that Braden tried to rape a girl?"
"Not recently. It was during the Andrea case, when they were questioning me. Why? Was someone asking you about that?"
"Trystan was telling me why Braden hates you so much. He said you made up stories about Braden and told the police. Stories about Braden beating up girls and trying to rape them."
"I didn't make it up. And I told the police I never actually saw Braden do it. I told them it was all stuff girls told me, and I'd seen the evidence showing it might be true. Andrea and Kristen both had bruises on them after dating Braden."
"What about Alyssa?"
"He tried to rape her at a party and she never went out with him again."
"And you know that story is true?"
"Alyssa wouldn't lie about that. And she told the school. She'd never involve the school unless it actually happened."
"But the police didn't care? They just let Braden get away with it?"
"None of what I said was enough to lock Braden up. It didn't prove he killed Andrea."
It makes me so angry that Braden gets away with this stuff. And then Jackson does nothing and gets charged with murder.
Jackson takes my hand. "I feel so much better now that I can see you again. I felt like shit since the moment they took me away. Then you show up and I feel good again. Better than good." He leans down and kisses me. "I love you, Rumor Bennet."
"I love you too." I smile. "And I love that you use my real name. You're the only one who does."
"Because I know it's what you want. You're not a Halliway. You're a Bennet."
"And a Halliway. But I wish I wasn't. I hate Brock. I can't believe he's my dad." I pause. "I think I'm going to try to find him."
"Who?"
"My dad. Orfakedad. Devon. I have to talk to him."
