“Oh.” Dani was again astounded at the whole idea. It was practically an arranged marriage. She’d had no clue that sort of thing still happened.
“Believe me. Vance didn’t want Regina back in his life.”
When Bliss didn’t continue, Dani asked softly, “So what did he want? He seemed extremely anxious to talk to her at the luau.”
“That’s one of the things that we were arguing about at dinner.” Bliss wrapped her arms around her waist and rocked back and forth on the couch. “He won’t tell me exactly what was going on that night. He just says that Regina had some things of his she wouldn’t return.”
“Other than his persistence in attempting to have a conversation with Regina, was Vance’s behavior different than usual at the party?”
“He drank more.” Bliss stopped rocking and started nibbling on her thumbnail. “I mean, although he always has liked his beer, he usually stops before he gets totally wasted.”
“But not that night?” Dani recalled Vance’s staggering walk and glassy eyes.
“And ever since.” Bliss twisted the gold signet ring on her pinkie.
Dani saw that it bore the letters of her sorority. Evidently, when Regina was kicked out and she made Bliss leave the house too, Bliss hadn’t entirely disavowed her affiliation.
Before Dani could think about that significance of that fact, Bliss said, “Our fight started when I tried to get him to slow down on the booze.” She shook her head. “His coach was glaring at him and some of the boosters were starting to notice.”
“So you quarreled about his drinking and about his refusal to give you details about why he wanted to talk to Regina.” Dani leaned forward. “Was that it?”
“Yes.” Bliss closed her eyes. “I should have just done what he wanted.”
“I doubt that would have been a good idea.” Dani recalled what Spencer had said about the football player’s sexual preferences. “It’s almost always best to go with your gut in those situations.”
“Maybe.” Bliss sighed. “But I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out.”
“If he pressures you to do something you don’t want to, he’s not the guy for you.” Dani wondered how she’d gone from interrogator to pseudo-parent. “You’re a smart, beautiful girl. You don’t need him.”
“I really do.” Bliss stared at the ceiling. “I’m graduating this year in the most useless major ever created. The only job I’ll be able to get with a B.A. in fashion design is retail sales.” She sucked in a lungful of air. “The plan has always been to find the right husband, and Vance is perfect. He’s good-looking, his family owns a successful religious supply company he’s being groomed to take over, and he needs a wife for the position.”
“Still…” Dani paused, gathering her thoughts. “You want to be with someone because you love them, not because you feel trapped.”
Bliss ignored Dani’s words and said, “All I have to do to get that diamond on my left hand is to let him into my dead best friend’s house, allow him to paw through her stuff, and then look the other way when he removes whatever he’s afraid someone will find there.” Bliss’s pretty face twisted, showing her struggle with the intimate facts she’d just revealed. Then, in a bitter voice, she added, “Oh, and not ask any questions.”
Chapter 19
“Wow!” Dani wasn’t precisely sure what Vance wanted from Regina’s house, but she had a pretty good idea about what he wanted to keep secret. However, before she said anything, she needed to get some more information from Bliss. “I can see why you’d be reluctant to give in to your boyfriend’s demands.”
“Exactly.”
They sat in silence until the sound of a toilet flushing made them both jump.
Bliss clutched her chest. “I thought we were the only ones in here.”
“Me too.” Dani got up and checked the stalls. “They’re all empty. The automatic flush mechanism must be out of whack.”
At least, Dani hoped that was the explanation because the last thing she needed was a ghost popping into her life. Thinking that they both needed a breather, Dani walked to the bathroom’s entrance and opened the door.
Miraculously, the hallway was empty and all she could hear was the rattle of cutlery and, over the PA system, the guest speaker. He was an alumnus who had gone on to play professional football and was droning on and on about his illustrious career as a defensive linebacker for the Louisville Lions.
She’d have bet money that by now someone would have come to use the facilities, but so far, so good. While providence was smiling on her, Dani hastily returned to where she’d left her suspect and sat down.
“I’m confused. How are you supposed to let Vance into Regina’s house?” Dani figured she might as well start with the easier questions.
“I have a key to her place,” Bliss answered. “Regina wasn’t the most organized person. A lot of times she’d forget something she needed for class and send me over to pick it up.”
“That was nice of you.” Dani tucked away the fact that Bliss had just admitted that she had access to Regina’s food and could be the killer.
“Not so much nice as a requirement.” Bliss tugged at her necklace.
“What a pretty pendant.” Dani noted that the Greek letters were from Vance’s fraternity. If she understood the process correctly, wearing a guy’s lavalier was something akin to being pre-engaged.
“Thanks!” Bliss touched the tiny ruby at the end of the epsilon. “Vance gave it to me when he picked me up tonight. I can’t wait to show my sorority sisters and have my candle ceremony.”
“Congratulations.” Dani’s smile was skeptical. Vance’s timing was sure convenient. Bliss yearned for a fiancé and her boyfriend
