Hollingwood University

Chapter 31

I wasn't quite sure how I was going to fix this, I'm not a detective. Hell, I'm not even 21 yet! But I needed a place to start, and I had to go on the best lead I had. Ethan and former girlfriend Margery Kent.

Ethan's bail was set at fifty thousand pounds, and I doubt that his parents were thrilled about having to pay it. He was now on house arrest with an ankle brace. After an hour long drive into the city, I came to their townhouse and knocked on the door. Gloria answered with a grim look.

"What do you want?" she asked. The bubbly, fun, sweet girl I met became cold and frigid.

"Is Ethan here?" I asked.

"He's not allowed to leave the house. Those are the rules," she replied.

"Well...can I see him?" I asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea. My father is furious, Ethan brought shame to the family reputation," she replied.

"I know I just...I don't care about that right now. I need to see him," I told her. Gloria sighed, then stepped outside and shut the door.

"I can sneak you in through the basement. But you have to be quiet. He's in his room, my dad's in his study. Probably taking Ethan out of his will," she said. I followed her around the house and she jammed open the basement window. We slid inside, then she put her finger to his lips as we went upstairs. On the main floor, all I could hear was silence, except for the faint noise of the radio in the kitchen. 

We ducked upstairs, and she pointed to his room. I thanked her, then went up to his door and knocked. There was no answer. "Ethan?" I called out quietly. Five seconds later, the door opened and I saw Ethan.

"What're you doing here?" he asked.

"I was worried," I replied, "Can I come in?" he nodded and let me in, shutting the door behind him.

"What's the word on campus?" he asked.

"Not good, Sami's parents are in town. The funeral is tomorrow," I replied.

"Lucy, I didn't hurt Sami. I would never hurt her," he said.

"I know, I wanted to ask you some questions though," I said.

"Sit down," he gestured to the bed. I sat down on the sheets, but he remained leaning against the wall, "What do you want to talk about?"

"Do you remember Margery Kent?" I asked. His eyes went wide.

"How did you hear about her?" he asked.

"It came up. Somebody told me you broke her wrist," I said. He sighed, "Did you?" I asked him.

"Lucy, please try to understand," he said.

"You did," I said, it pained me to admit it.

"It was an accident. She was screaming and I was trying to calm her down. I guess I gripped her a little too hard," he replied.

"That doesn't break someone's wrist," I said.

"She walked out, and then she called me from the hospital. She said she fell and landed on her wrist; but the doctor said if I hadn't grabbed her, it wouldn't haven't splintered," he replied.

"Why would you keep that a secret?" I asked him.

"I put it behind me, I figured it wasn't important," he replied.

"I told you about my family, you didn't tell me about her," I said.

"Because you were here, she didn't exist to me anymore. I only cared about you," he replied. I huffed.