Before she could warn Frannie, the reporter yelled, “Eureka! There’s a pledge named Abigail Goodman.”
Dani glanced at the girl at the window. She stood frozen, guilt and trepidation warred for prominence in her haunted blue eyes.
Continuing to stare at her phone, Frannie said, “I’ll bet she’s our murderer.”
Abby let out a whimper. Her gaze flickering between Dani and Frannie, then she backed away from the window and slid to the ground. Dani rushed out the back door and saw the girl huddled on the sidewalk, clasping her legs to her chest with her head on her knees.
Rocking back and forth, Abby sobbed, “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.”
Dani knelt down beside the young woman and put her arms around her. She smelled of baby powder and strawberries, and the innocent aroma brought a lump to Dani’s throat. How had this girl, barely out of her teens, come to this?
Drawing Abby to her feet, Dani guided her inside. After settling her in a chair at the table, Dani grabbed the kettle to make some tea.
The girl sat mute and unblinking. She was clearly retreating further and further into her own world, and if something wasn’t done soon, she’d become totally unresponsive.
Returning with a steaming cup of Earl Grey, Dani asked, “Abby, are you diabetic?” The tearful girl nodded and Dani said, “Can I add sugar to help with the shock or will that be bad for you?”
“It’s okay,” Abby whispered. “When I was younger, I had a lot of trouble keeping my numbers good, but since I got on the pump my senior year in high school, it’s a lot better.” She slumped. “I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”
“No problem.” Dani waited until the girl drank some of the tea, then said, “You’ll probably feel a lot better if you tell us what happened.”
“I don’t know if I should.” Abby rubbed her eyes. “I probably should talk to a lawyer or something. Right?”
“We’re not the police,” Dani reassured her, then gestured across the table. “This is my friend Frannie, and she’s a writer like you.”
“But it’s probably dumb to say anything more.” Abby’s tone was wishful, but she pressed her lips together and remained silent.
Dani searched her mind for a way to get the girl talking, then said, “It seems to me that what you’ve always wanted was for your story to be told.” When Abby gave a little nod, Dani continued. “Frannie is a reporter and her paper is doing a series of articles on Regina.”
“Of course they are.” Abby clenched her jaw. “Even dead it’s all about her.”
“Exactly,” Dani agreed. “But if you were to tell Frannie your side, it could be about you. Your story would be what people remember.”
“I could make sure of it,” Frannie agreed. “What’s more memorable? A spoiled, rich girl whose evilness got her killed, or the young woman she wronged taking matters into her own hands to get justice?”
After a few seconds, Abby said, “It’s not what it looks like.”
“Oh?” Dani shot Frannie a quick glance and mouthed, Record this.
“I was just getting over what Regina did to me.” Abby sighed. “It took quite a while, but I was finally writing again.”
“What happened?” Frannie asked. “Was it the news of Regina’s new book?”
“You mean her first book?” Abby looked at Frannie as if the reporter had slapped her. “The other book was mine. It was never hers! Never!”
“Sorry,” Dani said quickly. “Of course the book was never Regina’s.”
“Definitely not!” Frannie shook her head emphatically. “I misspoke and I apologize.”
“Right.” Abby’s tone conveyed her skepticism. “Anyway, I was finally shaking my depression, and then I got the email from Regina’s agent.” Abby inhaled sharply and snarled, “She had an agent that she got because of my work, but all my queries have gotten me zilch.”
“So you didn’t know before that email that Regina was writing a novel about what happened between you two?” Frannie asked.
“No.” Abby rubbed her upper arms as if she were cold, then demanded, “Why would she do that? Hadn’t she taken enough from me already?”
“I doubt Regina saw it that way,” Dani said regretfully. “She was too narcissistic to even consider how you might feel about it.”
“Is that when you decided to kill her?” Frannie asked. “When you realized that once again, she was getting the book deal you deserved?”
“I…” Abby stuttered, a look of confusion on her face. “I never meant to kill her. It just sort of happened.”
“Okay,” Dani said thoughtfully. “Let me see if I have the timing straight. Eighteen months ago, Regina steals your book. You find out and stop her from getting it published, but because of the dispute about the rights, no editor will touch it.”
“Four years of work down the drain.” Pain etched lines around Abby’s mouth.
“Regina is kicked out of the sorority, but you still left. Why?” Frannie asked.
“I was afraid the sisters would blame me for losing such a rich, beautiful girl for our chapter.” Abby twisted a lock of her hair. “My therapist says that I was wrong not to give them a chance.”
“I overheard some alumni talking and I think your therapist was right.” Dani tilted her head. “Since the whole debacle, have you had any contact with Regina or her friends?”
“Not until after I got the email from her agent.” Abby’s nostrils flared. “Once I found out about the book, I confronted her.”
“When was that?” Frannie looked up from her notes and Dani noticed the reporter was constructing a timeline.
“Maybe a month ago.” Abby’s voice rose as she said, “I explained my objections and she told me to go eff myself!”
“Is that when you decided to kill her?” Dani’s tone was sympathetic.
“No!” Abby yelled. “I told you. I never meant to kill her.”
“So what happened?” Dani said soothingly. “Did you decide to take matters into your own hands? Do
