Page 14 of Random in Death

“Jesus, no.” Charles dragged a hand through his hair. “Goddamn it, she’s just a kid. And it can’t be an accident if you’re here.”

“Should I go over to Julia?” Louise set the wine down before she walked forward.

“Maybe check tomorrow. Can we sit a minute?”

“Of course. Did something happen at the club?” Louise asked as they went into the living area. “I know Jenna was going to Club Rock It with a couple of her friends tonight. Avenue A does an under-twenty-one night there in the summer.”

Wineglasses stood on the coffee table, along with the remains of a cheese board. The pillows on the sofa showed signs of weight.

An experienced investigator, Eve deduced there’d been recent sexual activity.

Louise fluffed at the pillows before they sat.

“God, this is horrible. Jenna was all in on tonight. She ran over to have me approve her outfit.” Squeezing her eyes shut, Louise reached for Charles’s hand. “Apparently, she considered me a better fashion consultant than her mother.”

“You’re friendly with the family?”

“Almost from the minute Charles bought the house.”

“And Louise talked Julia into volunteering at the clinic twice a month,” Charles added. “What happened to Jenna?”

“OD.”

“That can’t be.” Gray eyes clear and direct, Louise shook her head. “She didn’t use.”

“You’re sure of that?”

“Absolutely.” Louise looked at Charles, who nodded. “There’s no way that girl used illegals. First, Julia’s a damn good doctor and would’ve seen the signs. She’s also a good, involved mother. They’re a tight family. Very solid. And I’d have seen the signs, Charles would have.”

“It only takes once,” Eve pointed out.

“Not Jenna,” Charles insisted. “Especially tonight, when she’s been angling to go to this thing for months. And she’s basically a rule follower. The last thing she’d do is try illegals on a night she’s been looking forward to the way she was tonight.”

“I take it Morris hasn’t done the autopsy yet. It won’t be an OD.”

“It will,” Eve corrected. “But it’s looking as though it wasn’t self-induced.”

“Someone drugged her?”

“Injection, needle syringe.”

“She’d never have used a needle. And yes, I’m sure about that, too,” Louise said. “Jenna was scared of needles. Someone did this to her, Dallas. Someone did this to that sweet, young girl.”

“Do you know if she had any trouble with anyone?”

“No, I don’t.” As she thought it through, Louise pressed her fingers to her temple. “She dated some, but casually. Her big love? Music. When I told her we’d actually met Avenue A, and that Jake was involved with a friend of ours, she practically fell at my feet. Then there’s the Mavis connection. She literally lost the power of speech.”

“I know she made a demo and hoped to get it to Jake tonight,” Charles put in. “Just like I know if she didn’t manage it, she planned to talk us into giving it to him.”

“Yeah,” Louise agreed. “I knew that was coming. Dallas, she was a really sweet, interesting kid. She had a truly lovely voice, and though I’m no expert, a talent for songwriting. She had a good, stable home life, good friends, did well in school. I don’t know why anyone would hurt her.”

“Okay, that helps. I have to get back to it.”

“Can you keep us informed?” Louise asked as they rose. “I know there are limits, but whatever you can share? And if there’s anything we can do.”

“They’re going to need someone to lean on,” Roarke said.

“We’ll be there for them,” Charles assured him.

---