“We’re given twelve hours from the time we open the email to finding the item. Then we’re supposed email a picture of ourselves with the item. And the next clue would come in a new email. When we got the map of Phinizy Swamp, Ray started thinking it was someone in our class. We knew we needed to go to the bridge because there was a red X over it on the map.”
“Interesting,” Aidan muttered, rubbing the nape of his neck.
Rachel narrowed her eyes. “Why? Did I say something helpful?”
“Maybe,” Aidan muttered. “When was the first time Ray started getting the emails?”
Rachel was silent for a few minutes before she frowned with a shrug. “I don’t know. Two weeks? Three…it’s a blur. I’m sorry.”
“And neither you or Leon received the emails?”
“No.”
So, Ray was no doubt the target, Aidan decided.
“Did you find the final prize at the bridge?” he asked.
Rachel nodded. “Leon found it. It was a photo of some guy. That’s when I heard the gunshot. I turned around and saw Ray falling into the swamp.”
She paused, her bottom lip quivering again.
“It’s okay,” Aidan assured her. “Take your time.”
She began to cry. Aidan had to strain to understand her near unintelligible words.
“I remember…screaming. I remember…Leon…he…he froze, then he started to run. But he…he tripped and hit his head. I-I tried to get him to move, but he was…wouldn’t. Ray, too. They weren’t moving, so I ran. I-I-I left them.”
Tears came full force and Aidan left his corner of the treehouse to go to her. He wrapped his arms around her and allowed Rachel to let loose the tears.
When she was able, Rachel pushed herself away and turned to look at him, blinking back tears the best she could.
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to kill us,” she whimpered. “We never hurt anyone. It doesn’t make sense. Do you think the killer will come after me?”
“No,” Aidan promised. “I don’t think he will.”
Of that, he was certain.
Rachel wiped her eyes with the heel of her hands.
“Can you answer a few more questions for me?” Aidan asked her. When she nodded, he said, “Have you ever seen the guy in the photo before?”
Rachel shook her head.
“Can you describe what he looked like?”
“I-I-I don’t remember,” Rachel said. “Light brown hair…maybe blonde? I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I don’t want you to force your memory. It may come back to you later. You can let me know then. You’re doing good, honey.”
Rachel wiped her tear-stained face with her hands.
“Tell me a little about Ray,” Aidan suggested. “Did he get into a lot of trouble?”
Rachel shook her head. “He’d never been in trouble before. Ray doesn’t really talk to anyone except me and Leon.”
“What about Leon? Does he ever make trouble?”
Rachel shrugged carelessly. “I guess he was more outspoken than either of us. He thought the emails Ray got were exciting. At first, Ray didn’t want to bother with the last prize because we were supposed to stay with our class, but…”
“But what?”
“But like Leon, Ray wanted to try to earn the big prize.”
“Do you know what the big prize was?”
“No. Leon thought it might be money. I kinda thought the whole thing was weird, but we played Pokémon Go many times, so I didn’t think too much about it.”
“Think back on the day you and your friends were on your class trip,” Aidan began, “Do you remember if anyone spoke to you before parting from your class? Or afterward?”
Rachel considered the question. “I don’t think so. I’m sorry.”
Aidan reached over and gently squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t be sorry. Be glad you’re okay.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again. Ray’s dead. And Leon…they said he might not live.”
“Rachel, I promise we’ll do all in our power to find out who did this to you and your friends. Okay?” Aidan hesitated a beat. “I have one last thing I need to ask you. We heard you’ve been having some trouble at school, with a kid named Mitchell Garvey.”
She nodded, wiping her eyes with the heel of her wrists. “He’s a jerk. No one cares that he’s been bothering me. At least not until Ray and Leon got involved.”
“Have you had issues with him since the altercation at school?”
“No. Not really.”
“Do you believe he has a reason for picking on you?”
“I went on a date with him once,” Rachel explained. “It wasn’t really a date, though. We went to the movies with some other couples. He tried to get me to sleep with him, but I said no. I wanted to save myself. He got rough. I never told Ray and Leon about that part.” Rachel paused, drawing in a long, shaky breath. “But ever since, he started spreading rumors that we got hot and heavy and that he taped us. It was all lies, but the kids in school believed it and called me a slut.”
“And a few days before your field trip, Garvey cornered you in the locker room?”
Rachel nodded. “He started touching me while his friends watched and laughed. I kneed him and got away. Ray and Leon saw me and asked what was wrong. I told them then.”
“And they defended you?”
She nodded. “I didn’t know they’d gang up on him. I didn’t want Ray and Leon to get into trouble. But Mitchell was getting worse. He scares me sometimes. I couldn’t face school the next day.”
“All right,” Aidan said with a smile. “That’s useful information. What do you say we go down now? Talk to your parents? I’d also like you to look at a photo. See if you recognize someone. Maybe you saw her at school, or someplace else.”
“Okay.”
Aidan
