Murder.
I hadn’t let Amanda see what she had done to me. Even someone with a big open heart can close it off when pride demands it. But now the full, earthshaking reality of what had happened was sinking in.
I went to the Chapter Advisor’s apartment and left the bad-ass black leather jacket on the floor. I kicked off the boots and ripped off my Delta Beta tee. I dug a plain gray tank top and a black Juicy hoodie out of my suitcase and put those on instead. Anything with Greek letters was a painful reminder. Even my busy bee slippers hurt my heart. I put fuzzy socks on instead, wrapped my arms around a pillow and let the tears come.
It would probably sound idiotic to most people that my heart was broken by Amanda’s betrayal. She wasn’t a relative; we shared no genes or family. But in my heart, she was still my sister. I talked to her like a sister and held her in my heart as close as any sibling. She obviously hadn’t felt the same and I was devastated. My loss was real, acute and would stay with me for the rest of my days.
Minutes later (or hours, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed at that point), there was a soft knock at my door. I ignored it, knowing I was in no shape to advise or console or admonish anyone. I was no Chapter Advisor today.
The door opened anyway and in walked Casey, then Aubrey, then Callie, Asha, Cheyenne, Jane and more faces that I had to come to know and love over the past ten days.
Aubrey sat on my bedside, her beautiful face creased with concern. ‘Casey came back and told us what happened. What can we do for you?’
My face crumpled again. I had let them all down. I was supposed to be helping them. I couldn’t be the one who needed help. I was the worst Chapter Advisor ever. ‘I’m sorry,’ I sobbed to the women that were in my charge. ‘I should have known what she was doing.’
‘Even the police didn’t know,’ Casey said as he crawled onto the bed next to me. ‘Why should you have known?’
Because I was the one in charge. ‘Because she was my big sis,’ I said.
‘So?’ Aubrey and Casey said in unison.
‘I feel like …’
‘She dumped you,’ Casey suggested.
‘She cheated on you,’ Aubrey said.
That wasn’t it. ‘I feel like it didn’t matter as much to her as it did to me.’
Casey and the rest of the girls nodded. They knew what it was. Friendship, loyalty, sisterhood, the whole ball of wax. The things that were important to me turned out to be of little value to Amanda after all.
‘She’s the loser, then,’ Callie said.
‘Yeah, she’s missing out.’
‘She doesn’t know what’s important in life.’
The young ladies around me all indicated their agreement. I knew they were right. My heart might be broken but, in the end, at least my heart was in the right place. Here in Delta Beta, with friends. Amanda would never have that again.
‘Thank you.’ I smiled shakily.
Asha pushed a stuffed Busy Bee into my arms ‘Here. It always makes me feel better when I hug one of these.’ I took it gratefully and held it tight.
‘Speaking of which …’ Cheyenne looked meaningfully at her sisters gathered around, in the small bedroom. ‘We wanted to ask you something.’
I steeled myself. I didn’t know if I could answer any more difficult questions about murderous sorority bitches.
‘You told the pledges that you never had a little sis,’ Cheyenne continued.
It was another cut of a knife, joined with all the other ones from the day. ‘I just never got matched up,’ I said sadly. ‘It was probably for the best.’ Considering what happened when I had a big sis and all.
Jane cleared her throat. ‘We wanted to know if you would be our honorary big sister.’
I looked up, expecting to see that this was some kind of cruel joke. But the faces around me were sincere, warm and open. ‘Really?’ I asked, my heart opening up like a flower at the thought.
Asha nodded at the Busy Bee. ‘You’ve been the best big sister to all of us, even though we know it hasn’t been the best of times for the chapter.’
Aubrey chimed in. ‘You’ve looked after us.’
‘And helped us through tough times,’ Cheyenne said.
‘And listened,’ Callie added. ‘Most of the time.’
‘That sounds like an awesome big sister, to me,’ Casey said, reaching out and putting his arms around the nearest Debs.
I squeezed the Busy Bee to my chest, feeling the Delta Beta love warming me completely. ‘Thank you. I accept.’
*
Early the next day, I called Aubrey and Callie into the Chapter Advisor’s apartment.
‘Ladies,’ I began. ‘A lot of information has come out about your behaviour in the past week and a half. And I think you both knew what the other was up to.’ Aubrey and Callie exchanged cautious looks underneath their lashes.
I held up two pieces of paper. ‘These are your S&M reports.’
Both of the girls’ perfectly shaped eyebrows shot straight up. ‘Delta Beta procedures mandate that I write you both up for your violations. Of which there have been many, some of which were recorded on film.’ I let that sink in and then dropped the papers.
‘But I’m willing to bend the rules this time.’ They relaxed until I said, ‘On one condition.’
‘What?’ Callie said quickly.
‘Anything,’ Aubrey said soon after.
‘You mend your fences. Forgive each other. Start fresh. I know you’ve probably never been close. But Bid Day was long ago and you two are both leaders in this chapter. You have both learned so much and I just think you shouldn’t waste the opportunity to have a true friend.’
They both seemed unsure, looking tentatively both at me and each other.
‘So you’ll ignore everything if we just agree to be friends?’ Aubrey asked.
‘And you agree to never ever have phone sex for money again,’ I said pointedly. Then I gave Callie the same glare. ‘And you agree to never ever molest another house brother on my desk.’
Aubrey gasped and then tried to cover it up with a cough.
‘What if he quits the house brother position?’ Callie asked.
‘No, not on my desk!’ Honestly. Did I really have to say that twice?
Aubrey bit back a giggle and then Callie had to smile, too.
‘Thank you,’ Callie said softly.
Aubrey nodded in agreement. I could only smile back at both of them. My heart was too far up my throat to say anything.
Casey dropped in at the house not long after that. He had checked out of the hotel and was headed back to Atlanta.
‘So, what’s the status of the Charlotte reporter?’
Casey rolled his eyes. ‘Journalists are such a pain the rear. They’re all “the public has a right to know.”’ He made little quote marks with his fingers and sighed. ‘But it’s actually been a positive that Amanda was the Panhellenic Advisor.’
‘Really?’ I couldn’t imagine how Amanda helped anyone with anything.
‘She wasn’t allowed to tell people her sorority. No one knew what she was.’ Casey smiled. ‘And I’m not telling. The reporter agreed with me that the Botox murder was a much better angle than the phone sex so we’ll see.’ He shrugged. ‘The good news is, I heard you’ll be here as Chapter Advisor.’
I avoided his eyes. I had indeed called Mabel after leaving Amanda at the police station, giving her a very detached and calm statement about the events of the day. And she, after calling Amanda a few choice names that were not Mary Gerald-and Leticia-approved, bluntly assessed the situation as being totally [redacted to protect the dignity of a Delta Beta national officer] up. ‘We need you there, Margot, more than ever. Please consider staying on as Chapter Advisor,’ she said.
I had just heard my big sister confess to murder after trying to frame me for it. I wasn’t in the best mindset to consider any permanent job offer, much less one at the Sutton chapter. There were too many memories. Too many ghosts.
&nb
sp; ‘I told Mabel I’d think about it,’ I said.
‘Someone has to bring this place together again.’
I hated the feeling that swept over me when he said that. ‘Or maybe I’m the one that tore it apart.’
Casey grabbed my hand and yanked it. ‘Don’t ever say that, Margot. You were the one who put these women first, every single time. No one else had their best interests at heart. Not Liza, not Amanda, not the police. You. And they know that. And maybe you just stay for a month or so. Just knowing you’re here is going to be the best thing in the world for these Debs. They’ll see a real woman in charge. A woman who’s strong enough to put others first.’
Then he hugged me, smelling deliciously expensive, like the way anything Gucci should smell.
‘I’ll miss you,’ I said into his sweater vest. Casey was one of the few men on planet Earth who could pull off a sweater vest.
‘I’ll miss you too.’ Casey smoothed my hair. ‘Now wash your face. You don’t want these women to have a role model who looks like she can’t properly apply eyeliner.’
I used the back of my pinky to wipe under my eyes. Casey was right. Leticia and Mary Gerald would not approve of me looking a fright.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
It was nearly midnight and gray wisps of clouds covered the moon and cast shadows over the trees surrounding the sorority house. I opened the front door very slowly, slipping out into the night in a black LL Bean fleece and dark rinse skinny jeans. I looked around. No one was around and sorority row was deserted.
Silently, I crossed the grass and sat in the old swing hanging from the oak, the one with the brass plaques and all of the memories attached.
I waited, watching the play of moonlight and wind dance with the shadows on the still-green grass. It was October and there would be a frost soon, even in North Carolina, and that grass would fade to brown. After four years at Sutton College, I remember the change of seasons well. They had been a revelation for a Florida girl like myself.
With the sounds of the wind in the leaves above me, I didn’t hear his approach until it was too late. I didn’t say anything, still relishing the near-silence. When he sat down on the swing next to me, it sank on his end with his weight. There in the moonlight, Ty Hatfield was a calming, strong presence, as steadying as the tree that we hung from. He smelled like laundry detergent and something sweet, like maybe he’d just stopped by a fall carnival and indulged in a caramel apple or some cotton candy.
‘Did I call 911 and not remember?’ I finally asked, deciding to lead off with a joke.
‘Nope.’ He pushed off the ground with his feet, pushing us against the wind.
‘So what’s new?’ The question was casual, like I hadn’t been a murder suspect in the past forty-eight hours.
‘Just thought I’d come by, make sure everything was okay here.’
‘Well, that’s ridiculous,’ I snorted. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’
‘Yeah, well, I’m a worrywart.’
‘If everything wasn’t okay, I’m sure I could handle it by myself.’
‘I’m sure you could.’
The words made me feel happy and warm inside. I liked to think I was a fairly competent person and it was nice when someone who wasn’t in my sorority agreed.
We rocked back and forth, thanks to Ty’s boots levering toe to heel as he pushed us. A gust of cool air blew through my hair and I took a deep breath, savouring the scent of fall in the wind.
‘Fatfield,’ I said, my voice barely rising above a whisper.
Ty paused, turning his head to look at me.
‘I remember you.’ It all came back to me. ‘I didn’t recognise you because you look so different now.’
Ty sniffed. ‘Amazing what losing fifty pounds can do.’
I shook my head. ‘It’s not just that. You’re older, more mature, more …’ Manly. Hot. Experienced. Pick one. But I didn’t say that aloud. ‘The girls were calling you Fatfield.’ I remembered them. Lilah DuBrow, Jenna Gallo, Alicia Allen. Bitches, yes. And sisters, unfortunately. ‘I just did what any Delta Beta would do.’
Ty half-laughed, shaking his head. ‘You’re going to still do that, now? After all this?’
‘Do what?’ I asked, confused.
‘Act like there’s something magical about your sorority that makes the world perfect? All your little perfect princesses, spreading peace, love and rainbows.’
Yes, he was mocking Delta Beta, but I could see his point. The fact that I saw where he was coming from disturbed me. A lot. But getting arrested and blamed for murders and assaults you didn’t commit changed the way you saw the world, I guessed.
‘I don’t see anything wrong with seeing the good in people,’ I said softly.
‘Even with everything that’s gone down?’ Ty shook his head in disbelief.
I nodded. ‘Even with everything that’s gone down.’ My echo of his words was quiet but little more affirmative.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ It was one of my favourite phrases. Only the best people used it.
I pushed back the tears that had been threatening since I left Amanda in the police station. At some point, I’d deal with the big bad feelings. ‘I’ll be okay,’ I said. I had gotten pretty tough. Jail could do that to a person.
We sat on the swing, our feet pushing back and forth in unison, the only sound the creak of the chains tied to the big oak’s branch.
‘So, what’s next for Margot Blythe?’ His questions were often statements but I heard the inquiry in those words just the same.
It was a good question.
I needed to call Mabel to tell her I’d stay in Sutton until a new, reliable, moral, non-advantage-taking Chapter Advisor was hired. ‘I’ll probably stay here, for the time being.’
Stay. Here. Time. Those were words I hadn’t really used since … well, ever. Even as an adolescent, I felt restless, ready to go, explore, adventure. Being a Sisterhood Mentor allowed me to keep moving, keep travelling. But if the last ten days had proved anything, they had proved that adventure could come even when you stayed in one place.
That was kind of deep. Even for a philosophy major.
‘Oh,’ was all Ty Hatfield said.
Of course, I had to comment. ‘That’s it? No snarky retort? No snide implications about hoping your overtime gets paid or setting up extra staff to deal with sorority girls?’
Ty’s head bobbed. ‘Nope. Think you got it.’
Oh, him. I elbowed his flannel covered side and wondered if he was always that warm and cozy or if it was just tonight.
‘I think you’ll be good for this place,’ Ty said after ten swings back and forth had passed.
‘What? Delta Beta?’
Ty’s shoulder rubbed against mine when he shrugged. ‘Here. Sutton. The college.’
That was nicer than I expected, but I didn’t understand the comment. ‘Why would I be good for the college?’
Ty spent longer than I would like thinking about his answer. ‘Goats. You’re pretty good with goats.’
I smiled as if he’d given me a huge compliment. It probably was. Not many women could say they were good with goats. It seemed like something that would define a woman’s character. I thought Leticia and Mary Gerald would approve.
We sat and swung and five minutes later, a group of Debs walked down the front steps, dressed all in black. They sat down on the steps and talked quietly among themselves. Another group noiselessly walked down the street and convened on the sidewalk. They too were in dark clothes and sneakers, their hair pulled back into ponytails and tucked under hats and headbands.
At nearly half past midnight, I estimated there were almost fifty young women loitering in the front yard of the Delta Beta house, all of whom were in black or gray clothing. I reached into the pocket of my fleece and pulled on a black ski mask.
I heard Ty’s tortured sigh next to me. ‘Blythe …’ he groaned under his breath. I had to turn my head all the way to see him because the ski mask severely lim
ited my peripheral vision. In one moment, his face was shadowed by tree branches and in the next, the clouds parted and he was illuminated. Those normally guarded blue eyes were full of suspicion and … could it be? Humour?
‘There’s no law against wearing a ski mask, Lieutenant Hatfield.’ I picked up the super soaker that had been resting next to me on the swing. Now Ty groaned louder.
‘Do I want to know?’ he asked in resignation.
‘Nope,’ I said, mimicking his single word intonation. ‘I plead the fifth.’
‘The fifth?’
‘The fifth amendment. I don’t want to incriminate myself.’ I stood and the swing sank lower on his end, with my weight lifted.
Turning back to the house, I saw fifty women were picking up assorted shapes and sizes of water guns, settling hats and masks and bandannas around their faces. Nothing to see here, officer, all completely innocent. There isn’t anything illegal about a bunch of sorority sisters playing with water guns, dressed in all black in the dead of an October night. Move along.
With a signal, we started jogging down sorority row, cutting through the Epsilon Eta Chi yard and following an alley towards fraternity row. As we dipped out of sight, I was pretty sure the Law was still watching me.
Jane had looked up the average date of first frost in Sutton and compared it to the Farmer’s Almanac predictions for the year. In about two weeks, Mother Nature would do her thing and leaves that were now green would turn yellow and brown. After a full winter, spring would hit Sutton in March, but even then, it would take another six weeks or so for the grass to grow back completely. By then, it would be nearly the end of the school year, with graduation looming. All of Fraternity and Sorority Row would be gearing up for another rush, another batch of fresh pledges, eager to be taught the lessons of their new secret societies.
By then, they would know.
But tonight, no one would have proof of any wrongdoing, any mischief, any ill intent.
Yes, fifty sorority women in all-black gear spraying water guns at the lawns of fraternity houses might look a little funny. But as I told the girls, there was nothing illegal about any of it. And I should know. I was practically the expert on the North Carolina criminal code by this point.
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