Page 112 of Broken
“But I don’t want to upset you.”
“I can handle it.”
“Janey’s remains were found.”
Jacqueline’s heart broke while a shiver skirted through her. “Tell me what you know.”
“Hikers spotted remains off a less-traveled trail at Cascade Falls,” Addison explained.
“Aren’t the falls, like, ten or twenty miles from campus?”
“Yeah.”
“How’d you find out?” Jacqueline stabbed at an asparagus stalk.
Addison leaned forward. “I check for updates.”
“I do too, but I didn’t see that.”
“The results came in yesterday.” Addison studied her for a split second. “Are you okay?”
Trembling, she’d broken out in a cold sweat.
Tell her the truth.
“I wonder if he’s still out there, and I’m paranoid he’ll find me.”
Pain flashed in Addison’s eyes. “I’m so sorry. She reached across the table and held Jacqueline’s hand. “Ohgod, you’re shaking. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“I would have found out on my own. It’s better that we’re together.” Jacqueline wanted to scream, she wanted to curl into a ball and sob for hours, but she had to keep herself together. “How was she murdered?”
“Inconclusive. They found her skull and a few bones.”
A shot of adrenaline pounded through her, then a wave of nausea.
Addison slid her water goblet over. “Drink this.”
Jacqueline sipped, but her guts were in knots. “Thank you for telling me. I don’t want to talk—”
“I know,” Addison soothed. “Not another word about it.”
Needing a distraction, Jacqueline glanced over at her sister.
Leslie’s date set a small box on the table in front of her. After opening it, she pulled out a diamond necklace. Then, she pushed out of the booth, kissed him, and sat back down. As soon as she clasped on the necklace, she started snapping selfies.
Addison glanced over. “What’s going on with her?”
“Sorry, my sister is posing for more pics,” Jacqueline explained. “She’s changed a lot over the past several months and I miss the old Leslie.”
“People change, right?” Addison’s phone buzzed. “Damn, Brit can’t make it.”
“I was looking forward to seeing your sister. How’s she doing?”
“Good. She’s been busy with her art. You guys can catch up at the wedding.”
Jacqueline poked at the remainder of her salmon, but she couldn’t eat any more. Thinking about Janey unearthed the worst time in her life. While she’d never expected that her sorority sister had survived the kidnapping, she was still devastated by the news.
In Jacqueline’s dreams, Janey was alive and happy, and living her best life. Her heart ached for the loss of her close friend, but the anger she kept in check over the monster who killed her burbled to the surface.
