“Melting flesh smells like barbecue, and then there’s no body. Win-win!”
I clench my jaw, willing the voice away.
“Let’s kill—”
“Why don’t we work together?” Ben asks.
“I’m really not interested in getting into the podcast game.”
“I don’t mean with the podcast. Not directly, anyway. I’m not going to pay you.”
“This offer sounds irresistible already.”
“Work with me to figure out who murdered Savannah.”
“Besides me, you mean.”
“Or you. Full disclosure, if you did it, I’m going to tell everyone.”
There’s that fucking superhero smile again. He’s one of the annoying ones. The type complaining that they can’t have a girlfriend because they care about her too much. Too tortured for a girlfriend. He’s that superhero.
“That’s fair,” I say.
“Let me interview you. And work with me on background.”
“What do you think I’m going to tell you?”
“You knew Savannah better than anyone. And in all this information, I barely have anything directly from you. Tell me your side. Tell me your theories. I have theories coming out my ears and I need to know how off base some of them are. Help me out here.”
Vince appears with my French toast and Ben’s sandwich. Vince frowns down at me, and then looks at Ben.
“Do you know who that is?” he asks him.
I roll my eyes. “Why would I be sitting with him if he didn’t know who I was?”
Vince’s frown deepens. He holds the steaming plate of French toast closer to his chest, like he’s not sure he wants me to have it.
“Thank you,” Ben says earnestly. “It all looks great.”
Vince relents, plunking the plate down in front of me and sending the glob of butter on top sliding down the side of the bread.
I watch as he walks away. “I don’t think he likes you anymore.” I grab the syrup from the end of the table. “This is what happens when you hang out with me, by the way. Get used to more of that.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me?”
I take a bite of the French toast. Ben was right, it’s very good. “Fine.”
He brightens. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Including an interview? On the record?”
“Yes.”
Now he’s positively delighted. “Seriously?” He picks up his phone and begins typing.
“Why do you look so surprised? My grandma planned an entire birthday party just to get me here for this. You didn’t think she’d convince me?”
“Honestly, no.”
“I’m going to tell her about your lack of faith. She won’t be pleased.”
“Too late, I’m already texting her.” He glances up briefly from his phone with a shit-eating grin.
“You’re texting my grandma?”
“We talk often.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Beverly loves me,” he says smugly.
“I’m well aware.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” He glances up at me. “You’re wrong, by the way.”
“About what?”
“New information. Kyle coughed up some.”
Listen for the Lie Podcast with Ben Owens EPISODE THREE—“MATT WAS TOO GOOD FOR HER”
Kyle Porter lives in Austin, and I meet him downtown, in the conference room of a trendy hotel. He’s on his way to get drinks with a colleague, and he looks like the main character of a sexy legal drama. Stylish, effortlessly cool.
Kyle:??????????????I think Lucy had been living in Plumpton for about a year when I met her? After she moved back as an adult, I mean. I was in Plumpton a lot for work, and I ran into her and Savvy at the bar one weekend. Lucy would hang out there sometimes during the day, when it was slow, and write.
Ben:???????????????Write?
Kyle:??????????????She was writing a book. She’d bring her laptop to the bar, which looked kind of funny. I saw her sitting there, typing away, so I just went over and said, “Are you drinking or working?” And she told me she was writing a book, which I thought was cool. We got to talking.
Ben:???????????????And then what happened?
Kyle:??????????????I think it was the third weekend I was in town. I could tell that third time that she’d been waiting for me, and she was just … looser. There’s a hotel next to that restaurant, and after a couple glasses of wine I took a chance and asked if she wanted to get a room.