“Um … I mean, sure. We talk when we see each other. It’s not a very big class. Ellie sits right in front of me.”
“Do you remember what you talked about?”
Simmons shook his head. “Nothing unusual. I can’t remember specifically. We had a test coming up that I was stressed out about. We all were. It’s a tough class. I think we talked about the material.”
“Did she tell you her weekend plans?”
Simmons shrugged. “I just don’t remember that. She might have. But Ellie didn’t really have much of a social life. None of us do right now. We’re so busy with school. Plus, she works weird hours. She’s got her CNA license.”
Gus hit pause, then rewound. He played back part of Simmons’s statement.
“But Ellie didn’t really have much of a social life.” He hit pause again.
“He’s talking about her in the past tense,” I said. “You interviewed him before you found Ellie’s body?”
“I interviewed everyone before we found Ellie’s body,” he said. “I should have caught that.”
Sam reached for the keyboard and pressed play. A second later, Simmons said, “She works weird hours. She’s got her CNA license.”
“I wouldn’t have caught that,” Sam said. “He talks about her in the present tense right after.”
“Jamie,” Gus said on the tape. “What was Ellie’s mood like in class the last time you saw her?”
“Her mood? I don’t know. She was … she’s just Ellie. She’s a serious girl, you know? Pays attention in class. She’s there to learn. She’s not … frivolous. There’s no drama with her.”
“Gotcha,” Gus said. “So nothing seemed unusual? She wasn’t acting any different from what you observed?”
“No. I mean, she didn’t seem upset. Or distracted. Nothing like that. Nothing that would have made me ask her what’s wrong. Not that I’d really be the one she’d tell something like that to. We’re friends, but not close, close friends.”
“I see. Did you talk to her after class on Thursday?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Jamie, do you know if she was dating anyone?”
Jamie put his hands flat on the table. “I don’t know. Not that she told me about.”
“Would she have?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I would probably have heard about it. Everybody’s friends in our cohort. If Ellie hadn’t mentioned it herself, I think I would have heard if she was going out with somebody. As far as I know, she wasn’t. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t. You know? Like if she had somebody she wanted to keep secret.”
“Would that have been odd? Her keeping a secret like that from your group?”
“Kinda. I guess. Gosh. I’m really sorry if I’m being vague. I’m not trying to be. I just mean if she was starting to date somebody new and didn’t want to tell anyone yet. I’m just saying I wouldn’t have found that odd. But I’m really just speculating. I have no reason to think Ellie was dating anybody new. I’m sorry. I’m really trying to help in any way I can.”
“I appreciate that,” Gus said. “And you are. What about enemies? Do you know of anyone who maybe had a beef with Ellie? Anyone she didn’t get along with at school?”
“No, sir. Not that I know of. It’s like I told you. Ellie’s just … Ellie. She doesn’t cause drama. She’s serious. She’s … she’s like an old soul. She’s the one people go to when they need advice. She’s like everybody’s school mom, you know?”
“I appreciate that. It’s helpful. We’re almost done. I promise. Jamie, did Ellie ever talk about any drama at home?”
“What, like with her parents? Not that I remember. No.”
“Any other family members?”
Jamie pursed his lips and shook his head. “Not that … hmmm … I’m not sure. I’m trying to think. She gets along with her folks, I think. She has a brother, maybe?”
“Just a sister,” Gus said. “Has she mentioned a cousin to you?”
