Page 42 of Random in Death

She took a deep breath. “I need to know if you’ve learned any more. I can filter that for Shane and Reed. And I can promise any information you give me won’t leave this house.”

“We know when and where your daughter was assaulted. We know she was injected with a lethal cocktail of drugs.”

“What drugs?” At Eve’s hesitation, Julia stood firm. “I’m a doctor. I’m her mother. I understand fully your need to keep information out of the media. Such as Jake Kincade’s involvement, which you didn’t tell us before.”

“Let me start with this. Heroin, ketamine, potassium chloride, Rohypnol. The needle was, we believe deliberately, tainted.”

“God.” Julia shut her eyes tight. “My poor girl.” She steadied. “You didn’t say she was sexually assaulted.”

“She wasn’t. I can’t tell you the purpose of the inclusion of Rohypnol, but Jenna wasn’t raped. She died within minutes of the injection. Jake Kincade’s involvement was limited to being in the alley when she came out, sick, confused, and as a medical, you’ll understand already dying.”

“But—”

“When she collapsed, he caught her. He tried to help her, called for an ambulance, attempted to revive her with CPR—as was witnessed by Nadine Furst, who came out shortly after, and the medicals when they arrived, again, shortly after.”

“He really was with her? He stayed with her?”

“Yes. All of this is verified, conclusively, by the security feed from the door cam.”

“I want to see that.”

“No.”

“I have a right to—”

“No, you don’t. She wasn’t alone in those last minutes, and that’s what you need to know. I’m going to ask you again, was there anyone who bothered her, made her uncomfortable, that she dismissed? Or anyone you noticed paying too much attention to her? Most likely a male between fifteen and twenty.”

“No. I swear I’d tell you. And I’m sure she’d have told me. But if not me, she’d have told Chelsea and Leelee. You could ask them.”

“We have. They say no.”

“Then it’s no. Jenna wasn’t a secret keeper. I’m not saying she told me everything. Girls that age don’t share everything with Mom. But they do, girls like Jenna, with their best friends.”

“Okay. Chelsea, Leelee, and their families would like to see you or speak with you, when you’re ready.”

“Yes. Tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Jenna made a demo she hoped to give to Jake Kincade. He’s asked if he could hear it.”

Tears flooded her eyes, spilled from them. “That was her dream.”

Armed with tissues, Louise walked over, slid an arm around Julia’s waist.

“You said he was a good man.”

“Yes. He is,” Louise assured her.

“He stayed with her. He stayed with Jenna?”

“Dr. Harbough, she died in his arms. He held her, he called for help, then he tried to revive her. He never left her.”

“He held my little girl when I couldn’t. He stayed with her. Yes, of course he can hear her demo. She made it for him, after all. I need to go. They’ve been waiting too long.”

Eve waited until Louise led her out, then let her shoulders relax.

“Neither of you could’ve handled that any better than you did. I don’t know how you do it,” Charles added. “I won’t get in your way, but if I can help, I’m here.”

“First help? Where’s her room?”

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