Lucas promised to let Chrissy know if they found it, and they ended the call. Lizzy ran in. “Oh my God, Lucas, Nicole Bergamo is in the hospital. In a coma.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. Someone posted it on social media. Last night her roommate, Vicky Ryan, found her unconscious and not breathing. People are speculating an attempted suicide. Her parents are coming in from Washington, and Vicky is at the hospital with her.”
Suicide seemed unlikely. Regan asked Lizzy, “When you talked to her, did she say anything that made you think she was suicidal?”
“No. Nicole is one of the nicest, happiest people I know.”
That didn’t necessarily mean she didn’t have problems, and mental-health issues were sometimes not easy to identify.
Lizzy continued. “Nicole is the one who called in last night. I disguised her voice like I promised. What if she knows more? And she never identified the person who told her not to go to the police, who told her she was wrong about the truck.”
“Lucas, you and Lizzy start looking for the journal. I’m going to make a call.”
They left the room, and Regan called her dad. He hadn’t started his golf game yet.
“Dad, I need a favor.”
“Anything.”
“One of the Sigma Rho sorority girls is in the hospital, in a coma, found unconscious last night. She was the disguised voice on the podcast. I’m worried about her safety.”
“I’ll talk to the hospital, get security on the door, at least for twenty-four hours. Is that good?”
“Yes, thank you.” She ended the call.
Ten minutes later, as Regan was looking through the Payson history books, Lucas texted her.
I found it.
The three of them met back in the study room. Lucas had found Candace’s journal in the middle of a hollowed-out book about Fanny Durack, the first female Olympic swimming champion.
Heads together, they read through the journal, and Regan immediately identified the tipping point. It started with Lucas, but it ended with indifference.
From the Journal of Candace Swain
Kim and Taylor were laughing Friday night.
Kim is doing great. She has an amazing new job as media rep for a pharmaceutical company. Taylor always admired her. And all I could think about was that Adele wanted a future, too. That she wanted to be a nurse and help people. And she was dead. And her family hurt. And they should know the truth.
I thought about how I would feel if it were Chrissy. If she disappeared and I didn’t know what had happened to her. I don’t think I could function. I would demand that someone do something. I would search everywhere for her. I wouldn’t rest until I knew the truth. But if Chrissy were Adele? No one would find her body. And that was it. I would be lost. Broken. And at that moment, I knew what I had to do.
I went to Kim and Taylor and told them we had to tell the truth. We had to at least tell Adele’s family. If they didn’t want to go to the police, maybe an anonymous letter—tell them where she was buried. Kim said no, but then we talked, and she said she would consider it if we went to a lawyer first, to protect us. I didn’t care about that! But I wanted Kim on my side, so I agreed. Taylor wanted none of it, and then Rachel came over and Taylor told her everything we’d discussed. Rachel was livid, told us we would be in serious trouble but she would be the one in jail. And if we wanted her in prison, go ahead.
Then Kim faltered. We had to remain silent. No anonymous letter, no going to the police, no anything. It had been an accident, she didn’t want anyone to get in trouble, or worse.
I’d once admired Kim. I’d once loved Taylor like a sister. And they both turned on me, because of Rachel. For the first time I saw Rachel’s true face.
She gloated. I could see it in her expression, the way her eyes looked into mine silently saying, I won. She didn’t care about any of us. She only cared about herself. How could I have not seen the truth for the last three and a half years? How could I have trusted Rachel and not realized she is a monster?
I have to find answers.
But I’m scared, too.
I’m on my own.
No one wants to tell the truth.
I’m heartbroken.
I hate myself. I hate my sisters. What is loyalty when they want you to do the wrong thing?
I don’t blame Alexa. She was so out of it that night, and she has someone more important to worry about. She would have come with me to Payson if she weren’t so pregnant and throwing up every morning. She’s scared about the baby, about being a single mom, and I don’t want to add to that. None of this was her fault. She said when I had proof she would back me up. But how can she when she doesn’t remember anything that happened the night Adele died?