“So, in layman’s terms, she was drugged?” James asked the PI, who had been telling them about Katherine’s blood test from the night in question.

Before the guy had a chance to answer, John cut in. “Drugged? how do you know she didn’t do that to herself? Jesus Christ, how gullible are you?”

“For fuck sakes, John. He just told us it was a concoction that could result in severe hallucinations and paranoia,” James said.

“That doesn’t mean she didn’t take it herself.” John folded his arms over his chest.

James resisted the urge to punch his friend right in the nose, and turned to the PI. “Let’s go through it, what exactly happened?”

“All right,” the guy pulled out a map of the college campus and began. “Campus security caught her on camera here,” he pointed on a map, “here, and here.”

Pointing back to the first spot, he said, “Here, we have her stumbling down the street alone. This is right after she bumped into a parked car, and broke off the side mirror. I’ll get back to that.”

He pointed on the second spot on the map. “Here, we see her turn down this street, towards the building that houses campus security. Around here,” he tapped on the map, “she trips and falls backwards into some bushes. She struggles to get up, but her shirt appears to get caught on the branches. She panics and tears off the shirt to free herself. She then runs down the street to this building here,” he indicated the spot on the map, “just beside campus security, which might be where she actually intended to go. The building was in the process of being emptied out for construction, but for some reason the door wasn’t locked. She runs inside. Not long after, the security alarm is triggered and moments later, security find her passed out in a pile of books and knocked over bookcases.”

John had been standing with his arms crossed looking bored while the PI spoke. “I don’t know what you’re paying this guy, but there is nothing new here.”

“Fine, but I already cleared this up. That door being unlocked was on them, and there was no evidence that she was the one who knocked over those bookcases. The nurse checked her out and found nothing to suggest that she had been assaulted. She was severely intoxicated, anyone could see that, but blood tests take time to process. That might have been to our benefit. No one had reason to assume that we weren’t talking about plain old alcohol here. Nothing illegal. Case closed. But you dragging up the results of this blood test, revealing possible illegal drug use that she more than likely engaged in of her own free volition, isn’t going to work in her favor.”

“But you can’t be sure there wasn’t anyone else involved,” James retorted.

John huffed in exasperation. “I haven’t seen anything that suggests that either. Come on man, can’t you see that this was in all probability a failed attempt at looking like a victim? People have been known to do that to get out of something. And guess what, she had a commitment the day after.”

“Related to the internship, I know,” James said.

“Yeah, and maybe she wasn’t as prepared as she’s been saying. Maybe this was a ploy to buy more time.”

“Even if that were the case, there are easier ways of doing that. She could have asked for an extension.”

“She could have, but where’s the drama in that. I’m telling you, she is turning into her mother. This is exactly the kind of irresponsible shit she would pull—”

“John,” James cut him off, before he got into a full-blown rant. “It is completely beside the point. I’ve heard her presentation. It was solid. Would have hired her myself if she’d let me.”

“Well, then maybe she just didn’t want it, or any at all. I Just found out, from a reliable source, that she’d been offered a different, but no less relevant, internship at The Westmore Group, and she turned it down. Are you seeing the pattern?” he asked but didn’t wait for an answer. “She just wants to wander through life without any responsibility, just like her mother. I’m losing her, man. I thought we were in such a good place, then she does all this shit, and now this thing with you…” he trailed off, looking down and shaking his head.

“Good God, John. That is just not true. And for fuck sakes, she isn’t deliberately trying to hurt you. Enough of this ridiculousness,” James said and changed the subject. “About this other internship, did you ever think maybe she wanted to earn it? and this reliable source of yours, was it Paul by any chance?”

“He’s been trying to help her,” John said.

“Excuse me,” the PI cut in, “is this Paul Westmore you’re talking about?”

“Yes, and my future son-in-law if this guy hadn’t swooped in.” He pointed at James.

They eyed each other, both ready to launch into another argument when the PI spoke up. “Gentlemen, may I finish,” he said in an irritated tone.

“Please.” James gestured for him to continue.

“As I mentioned, she bumped into a parked car—”

“Yeah,” John interrupted, “that was a damn expensive side mirror, but I already paid for the damages. They’re not coming after us for that.” John clearly had a mind to go on, but seeing the look on the PI’s face, decided against it. “Sorry,” he said. “Continue.”

“Thank you,” the PI said, clearly annoyed at constantly being interrupted. “But yes, this was no rust bucket. The car was equipped with hidden security cameras that were activated the moment your girl bumped into the car. I convinced the owner to let me have a look at the recording. And it turns out, she wasn’t alone at that point. There was a guy there, and it appeared he was trying to persuade her to go with him, but she wasn’t having any of it. He kept looking around himself and finally, just left her there and took off in the opposite direction. Probably worried about the attention the car alarm was drawing. I was able to identify the guy as Paul Westmore. Here.” He held up his phone, showing a picture of a man with a panicky expression on his face. The picture was grainy, but there was no mistake, it was Paul.

“The fuck?” John bit out. “He told me he wasn’t anywhere near her that night.”

“Really? Well she remembered him being at the house. I swear, if that little shit…” James trailed off as he saw the expression on John’s face. “What?”

“I invited him.” He looked a James with horror in his eyes, his face pale as a sheet. “He’s with her right now.”

“Jesus Christ!”

“Call security,” John barked.

James was already on his way out the door, phone to his ear.