Riley rubbed her arm where it hurt a little.
Officer Frisbie said, Sorry to get rough there. Were in kind of a hurry. First of all, whats your name?
Riley Sweeney.
Ive seen you around town. What year are you in college?
A senior.
The womans stern expression softened a little.
Well, first of all, I want to apologize for how Officer Steele talked to you just now. Poor guy, he really cant help it. Its just that hes whats the word my daughter would use? Oh, yeah. A dick.
Riley was too startled too laugh. Anyway, Officer Frisbie wasnt smiling.
She said, I pride myself on having pretty reliable gut instinctsbetter than the good old boys Im stuck working with, anyway. And right now my gut is saying that youre the one person around here who might be able to tell me exactly what I need to know.
Riley felt another wave of panic as the unsmiling woman took out a notepad and got ready to write.
She said, Officer Frisbie, I really have no idea
The woman interrupted her.
You might be surprised. Just go aheadtell me about what your nights been like.
Riley was puzzled.
What my nights been like?
What did that have to do with anything?
From the beginning, Frisbie said.
Riley replied slowly, Well, I was sitting in my room trying to study, because Ive got a class tomorrow morning, but my roommate, Trudy, and my friend Rhea
Riley suddenly fell silent.
My friend Rhea.
She remembered sitting on her bed while Trudy and Rhea had been across the room doing their nails and playing Gloria Estefan too loud and generally making nuisances of themselves, trying to get Riley to go out with them. Rhea had been so livelylaughing and mischievous.
No more.
Shed never hear Rheas laugh or see her smile again.
For the first time since this horrible thing had happened, Riley felt close to tears. She sagged against the wall.
Not now, she told herself sternly.
She straightened up and took a deep breath and continued.
Trudy and Rhea talked me into going to the Centaurs Den.
Officer Frisbie gave Riley an encouraging nod and said, About what time was this?
Around nine-thirty, I think.
And was it just the three of you who went out?
No, Riley said. Trudy and Rhea got some other girls to come. There were six of us all together.
Officer Frisbie was jotting down notes quickly now.
Tell me their names, she said.
Riley didnt have to stop to think.
There was meand Trudy Lanier and Rhea, of course. And Cassie DeBord, and Gina Formaro, and Rheas roommate, Heather Glover.
She stood there silently for a moment.
There must be more, she thought. Surely she could remember something more to tell the police. But her brain seemed stuck on her immediate groupand on the image of her friend dead in that room.
Riley was about to explain that she hadnt spent much time with the others at the Centaurs Den. But before she could say anything else, Officer Frisbie abruptly put her pencil and notebook back in her pocket.
Well done, she said, sounding very businesslike. Thats exactly what I needed to know. Come on.
As Officer Frisbie led her back into the hallway, Riley wondered
Well done?
What did I even do?
The situation in the hall was the same as before, with a small mob of stunned and horrified students standing around while Officer White looked on. But there were two new arrivals.
One was Dean Angus Trusler, a finicky and easily agitated man who was mingling among the students, getting some of them to tell him what was going on despite their orders not to talk.
The other newcomer was a tall, vigorous-looking older man wearing a uniform. Riley recognized him at once. He was Lantons police chief, Allan Hintz. Riley noticed that Officer Frisbie didnt look surprised to see himbut she didnt look at all pleased, either.
Standing arms akimbo, he said to Frisbie, Mind telling us why youre keeping us waiting, Frisbie?
Officer Frisbie tossed him a look of barely disguised disdain. It was obvious to Riley that their working relationship was strained at best.
Im glad to see someone got you out of bed, sir, Officer Frisbie said.
Chief Hintz frowned.
Trying his best to look as authoritative as the police chief, Dean Trusler stepped forward and spoke to Hintz sharply.
Allan, I dont like the way you and your people are handling this. These poor kids are terrorized enough without being bossed around. Whats this all abouttelling them to stay put and stay quiet, with no explanations? Some of them just want to go back to their rooms and try to get some sleep. Some want to get out of Lanton altogether and go home to their families for a whileand who can blame them? Some even wonder if they need to hire lawyers. Its time you told them what you want from them. Surely none of our students are suspects.
As the dean kept ranting, Riley wondered how he could be so sure that the murderer wasnt right here in the hallway. She found it hard to imagine any of the girls committing such a horrible crime. But what about the guys? What about a big tough jock like Harry Rampling? Neither he nor any of the other guys looked like theyd just slashed a girls throat. But maybe after a shower and a quick change of clothes ?
Steady, Riley told herself. Dont let your imagination run away with you.
But if it wasnt a student, then who could have been in Rheas room?
She struggled again to remember if she had seen anyone else with Rhea at the Centaurs Den. Had Rhea danced with any guy? Had a drink with someone? But Riley still came up with nothing.
Anyway, questions like that didnt seem to matter. Chief Hintz wasnt listening to a word Dean Trusler was saying. Officer Frisbie was whispering to him and showing him the notes shed taken while talking to Riley.
When she finished, Hintz said to the group, OK, listen up. I want five of you to come to the common room.
He rattled off the names Riley had given to Officer Frisbie, including her own.
Then he said, The rest of you, go to your rooms. Guys, that means go back to your floor. Everybody stay put for the night. Dont go outside this building until youre notified otherwise. And dont plan on leaving the campus anytime soon. Were likely to have questions for many of you.
He turned to the dean and said, Make sure all the students in the building get the same message.
The deans mouth was hanging open with dismay now, but he managed to nod his assent. The hall was filled with murmurs of confused dissatisfaction as the girls obediently dispersed to their rooms and the guys headed back upstairs.
Chief Hintz and Officers Frisbie and White led Riley and her four friends down the hall. Along the way, Riley couldnt help but glance into Rheas room. She glimpsed Officer Steele probing around inside. She couldnt see the bed where she had found Rhea, but she was sure that the body was still there.
It didnt seem right somehow.
How long till they take her away? she wondered. She hoped they had at least covered her up, hidden the horrible slashed throat and open eyes from view. But she supposed the investigators had more important things to attend to. And maybe they were all used to such sights anyhow.