A Deadly Sorority (Book #1 Sorority Horrors)

|-50-|

"Detective Sterling!" I exclaimed, my voice pierced through the phone like a tornado rushing through a storm, "I've been trying to reach you." My fingers twitched nervously as I held the phone. His husky breath, breathing through the line like a slithering snake hissing into my ear.

"Kayla, we've been swamped," he replied, his tone weary. "A lot is going on."

"Was Steve murdered?" I blurted out, my words tumbling out like milk spilling from an upturned carton.

"Steve?" Sterling asked, his tone puzzled. "I haven't heard anything about Steve being murdered."

"Steve Gregory," I clarified. "He was a student at Irvine with me. Patricia told me he was murdered."

Sterling let out a long, heavy sigh. "Patricia," he repeated, his voice implying caution. "She's not a reliable source. If I were you, I'd keep my distance from her."

"Why?" I asked, tugging the phone closer to my ear, "What's going on? Is Patricia alright?"

"As a detective with over thirty years of experience, I can tell when someone is up to no good or has bad intentions," Sterling said firmly. "Take my word for it. Stay far away from her."

My heart pounded as his words settled over me. Deep down, I knew he was right. Patricia was bad news—my intuition had screamed it all along, though I'd desperately tried to suppress it, like forcing a reluctant groundhog back into its burrow.

"Well, do you know what happened to Steve?" I asked, my voice trembling. "When I left Irvine, Steve and Karin—our sorority sister—were both missing."

"You didn't hear?" Sterling said, his tone shifting to one of concern and sympathy.

My chest tightened as dread coursed through me. "Hear what?"

"I'm sorry to have to be the one to deliver this heart-shattering news," he revealed, his voice low and heavy. "They found Karin at the bottom of Donovan Lake."

I gasped, unable to process the news. My mind spun in endless circles with the images of the Crimson Lake Killer grabbing hold of Karin's neck and strangling her. I pinched my eyes shut and shook my head, "No!"

Lorena's eyes widened, and she rushed from the couch to comfort me. "Kayla, are you alright?" Her eyes glossy and filled with compassion. Sam sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone, and Alejandro went outside to enjoy a cigarette. Lorena was the only one attuned to the dire distress I was in.

I shook my head, "No."

"Kayla, do you need help?" Sterling asked, concern evident in his tone, "I can get a few officers in Sedona to come visit you if need be."

"I'm fine, detective. I'm just trying to process this horrific news." I replied, "Are the other sorority girls aware."

"Yes, they were all informed."

Why didn't Patricia tell me? Why had she lied and said Steve was murdered when, in reality, it was Karin who was murdered?

A heatwave of anger rose within my chest at the thought, "Are you guys any closer to capturing him?"

Sterling sighed heavily, "Kayla, we've got some leads, and we're still conducting our investigation. That's all the information I can provide at this time."

"So I guess that means you're not really any closer to capturing him than you were when I lived in Irvine." I scoffed, frustration hugging each word, "And what happened to Detective Johnson?"

"The Irvine Police Department is operating locally, taking care of other issues, such as traffic stops and other issues within the community. However, the FBI has been tasked with investigation and searching for the Crimson Lake Killer."

"Detective Johnson was a great detective." I told him, my voice rising, "It's unfortunate that he's been thrown off the case."

Sterling was dismissive, ignoring my jab entirely.

"We'll keep you informed of any more updates," Sterling promised, shifting my thoughts back to reality. "Stay safe out there in Sedona, and I'll talk to you soon."

"Thanks, detective." I hung up the phone and quickly scrolled my call log. Patricia's name appeared, and I immediately hit the call button. I pressed the phone to my ear.

"Is everything ok, Kayla?" Lorena asked again, "What's going on? You don't look so good." Her gaze locked on me.

"I'll tell you in a minute." I promised, "I have to call Patricia first."

I anxiously waited for her to pick up, but the call surfed to voicemail instead.

"Hey, this is Patricia. You know what to do after the tone."

I hung up without leaving a message. I needed to talk to Patricia. I needed to get the truth out of her.

Why had she lied? Why couldn't she be honest with me about Karin's death?

The front door opened, and Alejandro stepped back into the house, "So, what's the plan, guys?"

I sat down on the couch, my mouth agape, still digesting the news.

"Kayla, what happened?!" Lorena asked again, this time more frustrated and concerned than the last time she inquired.

"I just discovered Karin was found murdered by the Crimson Lake Killer."

Lorena let out a long gasp, just like I did, "Oh my God!" She cried, "That is terrible." She planted her face in her hands while shaking her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. I had so much hope they would find her." Lorena hung her head low and cried.

"CLK murdered someone else?" Sam asked, eyes wide and intrigued.

I nodded, my voice monotone as if detached from the oppressive weight of reality, "Yeah." I nodded robotically, "One of our sorority sisters in Irvine." I paused briefly, disbelief coursing through my mind, "They found her at the bottom of Donovan Lake. Her name was... Karin."

The shock clung to me, heavy and suffocating, like an ant crushed under the press of a thumb.

"I'm so sorry." Sam offered her condolences.

"Thank you, Sam." I pinched my lips and lowered my head, "We have to get this killer off the streets."

"We need a plan!" Alejandro insisted, "We need to come up with something."

"Our idea," I began, "was to use Sam's journalism major as our cover. She'd contact the Arizona State Penitentiary, posing as a student working on a project. Lorena and I would tag along, pretending to be her assistant journalism students."

Alejandro nodded, a sly grin spreading across his face as he lowered his head, like he'd just heard the most brilliant idea in the world.

Sam initially appeared confused, her eyebrows furrowing as she tapped her finger against her chin. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "That would work! I can even mark up an assignment with my professor's name and title it, Interview with Albert Schiff. How does that sound?"

A smile spread across my face, and I nodded.

Lorena lifted her head, her eyes red. "Let's do it!"