Brantley noticed the subtle shift in Dugan’s posture. His shoulders squared, his chin lifted only slightly. It was like he was getting more confident in his answers. A strange reaction to this conversation.
“Do you know if Lauren spent her time with anyone?” Reese asked. “I mean, more time than usual?”
“Corinne Greenwood,” William answered, holding Reese’s gaze now. “They were close. I believe they were neighbors.”
“They were,” Brantley confirmed. “Did she have any other close friends?”
William shook his head in that relaxed way that said he really didn’t know. “Like I said, I didn’t know her all that well. Besides Corinne, I couldn’t really tell you who she hung around with.”
“What about boyfriends? Did she have any?”
William watched them as though he was thinking back. “Not that I remember. There were some couples we encountered all the time.” He smiled, his eyes flashing with what Brantley assumed was amusement. “The ones who were a bit too touchy-feely in the hallway. But I don’t recall Lauren having a boyfriend. Then again, I didn’t know most of them all that well. Have you had a chance to talk to Corinne?”
Guy seemed rather adamant he didn’t know them well.
“Not yet,” Brantley admitted, still gauging his reactions. “We’re gonna meet up with her soon.”
William nodded. “If anyone knows what Lauren was up to at the time, it would be Corinne.”
“We’re hopin’ she’ll give us some insight,” Reese said.
William’s forehead wrinkled. “Now that I think about it, there was this one boy Lauren was spending time with. I recall seeing them talking in the hallway from time to time.”
Really? The guy was going to pull an about-face now?
Brantley waited for him to continue.
“Jason … Jason Montgomery. Yes. He was a senior. Took a real liking to Lauren.”
Interesting. A minute ago, the good professor said he hadn’t known his student body that well. Now he was offering up gossip?
William’s eyes widened as he glanced between Brantley and Reese. “I heard Jason was arrested a couple of years after he graduated. Assault, I think. On a woman.”
Brantley fought the urge to look at Reese. Last thing he wanted was for William Dugan to think he was suspicious, although he most definitely was. But not of Jason Montgomery. Well, not only of Jason Montgomery.
“Definitely worth lookin’ into,” Reese noted. “We appreciate you agreein’ to meet with us, Professor Dugan. If you happen to remember anything else, please give us a call.”
“Absolutely.” William’s dark eyes held a hint of concern. “I do hope you can get some answers. This tragedy has plagued that town for far too long.”
“Was that as weird for you as it was for me?” Reese asked as Brantley drove back to his house.
“There was definitely somethin’ up with that guy.”
“I can’t help but think we’re stirrin’ up a hornet’s nest.”
Brantley was inclined to agree.
William Dugan was the last of the people they’d talked to this week, with more lined up for next week. Friends, family, teachers, neighbors. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, those who’d been closest to Lauren remembered that day clearly. At least what they were doing after she went missing. Interesting how people tended to notice what was going on around them after something horrific happened rather than before.
But one thing that stood out, no one remembered seeing Lauren leave the school that day. Not even Rachel Conway, formerly Jenkins, the English teacher Dugan had referred to. Because Brantley had already spoken with her, he gave her a call to confirm what Dugan had said. And though Mrs. Conway wouldn’t swear to it, she was almost positive whatever project Lauren had been working on hadn’t pertained to her class because she very rarely kept kids after school. Dugan hadn’t specified that it had, but he’d certainly alluded to it, which was why Brantley had inquired.
“At least for the rest of the night, we won’t be talkin’ about this case,” Reese said, pulling Brantley from his thoughts.
He glanced over. “We won’t?”
“No.”
“You have somethin’ better to do?”
“I’m takin’ you out, remember?”
Brantley’s eyes cut back to the road. “Oh, shit. It’s Friday.”
“It’s Friday.”
“Where’re you takin’ me?”
“It’s true, I haven’t been on a date in a while, and I’ve never been on a date with a man, but I know how to seduce with the best of ’em, Navy boy. Tonight’s not for you to worry about.”
He smiled as he pulled into his driveway. “Well, heavens to Betsy, what ever will I wear if I don’t know where we’re goin’?”
Reese laughed, as Brantley’d meant for him to.
“Nothin’ too fancy but not too casual,” Reese said. “Jeans and a T-shirt’ll do.”
Brantley frowned, feigning indignation. “Jeans and a T-shirt? That’s what I’ve got to look forward to for our first date?” He glanced over. “More importantly, you consider that not too casual?”
The smile Reese shot at him was filled with promise. “Not all you have to look forward to.”
