Page 30 of What They'll Say About Us

"Second thoughts because you thought maybe Paige had slept with him?"

"I really don't see how she could have done that. She respected his talent and his position, but she also thought he was really critical and judgmental. I got the impression he was an egotistical ass and seeing him again brought back memories of her and those terrible days, so working with him was not my first choice. But I do like your aunt, and I love that she's brought this theater back to life. So, I stay away from him, and, frankly, I don't think he even knows I was with Paige. We've never spoken about it."

"So, Paige did say some negative things about Hale?"

"Sure. You had issues with him, too, right?"

"Yes. I thought he made the wrong choice when he picked Paige as the lead, and I shared that opinion with far too many people." I paused. "Let's go back to what you said about Paige needing to talk to you about something that weekend. What do you think that was about?"

"I have no idea. She was very stressed. She'd keep it together during the day, when she was in the theater, but afterward, she would snap at everyone close to her: me, Sloane, Carrie, her other friends at the theater. We all thought it was because she was worried about the play, the pressure of being the lead. But maybe there was another reason. I don't know if you've talked to Sloane, but she spent as much time with Paige as I did."

"I haven't spoken to her yet, but I'm going to."

"Sloane thought Paige was acting out, too. She said she'd gotten really secretive about her phone." Nate ran a hand through his hair. "The more I think about it all, the more I realize how little I knew about her actions, who she was with, what she was doing. I trusted her not to be cheating on me, but maybe she was. Maybe I was a fool not to consider that."

"Did you ever ask Sloane if she thought there might be another guy?"

"I did. She was vague. She didn't give me a definitive no, and maybe that's because she didn't want to hurt me. Or she didn't want to betray Paige."

I thought about Liam and the text messages he'd shared with Paige and wondered if Liam was the one Sloane and Nate didn't know about. He'd probably hear about those texts at some point now that we were investigating, but I didn't want to bring it up now.

"Do you have any idea if she was talking to someone else?" Nate asked.

"No, I don't." I couldn't put Liam's name out there, not without more evidence. I couldn't do that to him.

"Well, maybe someone will come forward now that you're talking about Paige's death and looking for leads. I saw your last post. There were a lot of comments, but it looked like mostly internet trolls trying to drum up drama."

"There's always some of that, but sometimes we get an actual clue." I paused. "I just spoke to Professor Hale and also Carrie. They were both hostile toward me, and I can't figure out where that's coming from. If it was an accident, what does anyone have to worry about it? And if it wasn't, then the fact that they don't want anyone looking at the case makes me wonder why. You know both of them better than I do. What have they been saying?"

"Hale said he never liked you, that you were always a troublemaker, and whatever you're doing is only for your own gain. Carrie agreed you never did anything unless there was something in it for you," he said. "Sorry, if that's too harsh, but you asked."

"I did ask. I wouldn't have opened all this up if it hadn't been for Alina. She's the one who pushed for this."

"But it is creating interest in your podcast. So, you do get a benefit."

"I won't deny that. But Alina persuaded me that Paige's death should be looked at again, and if I can help her make that happen, then I'm going to do it. I was Paige's friend at one point. I know we were not that friendly when she died, but that doesn't negate our entire relationship."

"She was hurt when you decided you were rivals and not friends. She was a sensitive girl, more sensitive than people realized, because she was a good actress. Sometimes, I wonder if any of us really knew her, me included. Or did we just see the girl she wanted us to see?"

"I don't know."

"Neither do I. Look, I would love to see you get answers, figure it all out, so that I can stop thinking about it every year when the anniversary of her death comes around."

"I appreciate your willingness to talk to me."

"I have nothing to hide. But I do have a job here. I also have a girlfriend, who probably won't be thrilled to have me be a part of any of this. However, as someone who once cared very much about Paige, I would like to know why she was on that path that night and whether or not she was alone. I will try to help if I can, but I hope you have better sources than me, because I don't know anything."

"You were Paige's boyfriend. If you didn't know much, I'm not sure who did."

"Someone did. She wasn't talking a lot to me that week, but she was talking to someone." He paused. "I think she went to McGee's a few times that week. Have you talked to Liam about her? He was bartending there most nights."

"I did speak to him briefly. He's not interested in going down that road, especially with me. We haven't seen each other since graduation, and things didn't end well."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Do you see him at all?"

"No. I heard he has a bar in the West Loop, but I haven't been there." He pushed back his stool. "I need to get to work."