Page 35 of The Killer You Know

The quad is flanked by the school’s athletic field, where the vibrant green grass contrasts sharply with the crimson track that encircles it. Both areas are buzzing with activity as the teams practice under the watchful supervision of their coaches.

Next to that, there’s an outdoor amphitheater with stone seating and a stage that has hosted more school assemblies and open-air concerts than I care to remember.

“She’s in room 212,” I say. “I checked a map of the school last night. It’s this way. I spoke to the attendance office this morning and they assured me she was here today.”

“Let’s hope we catch her before she ditches the premises,” Fallon says as I speed us to the outdoor corridor that leads to the English department.

The left side of the corridor is flanked by a wall with an outline of a mural as a handful of students meticulously paint various pieces of it. From this vantage point, I can’t quite make out the picture, outside the fact it looks to be a nature scene of some sort.

A tall brunette with a heart-shaped face steps out before us. Her curly hair dips past her shoulders, she’s dressed in a denim dress with a yellow belt, and she’s cradling an overstuffed tote bag in her arms. She turns to head in the opposite direction and I jump forward.

“Alicia?” I call out and she turns my way. The look of surprise on her face grows and it’s clear she has no idea who I am.

And she has no idea what’s about to transpire.

23

Special Agent Jack Stone

“Can I help you?” Alicia Adams sheds an easy smile, the same easy smile I remember right here on the holy grounds of Aspen Heights High.

I probably should have clarified to Fallon that Alicia and I didn’t date, but she probably wouldn’t believe me.

“Hey, it’s me, Jack Stone. Not sure if you remember me but?—”

“Jackie,” she howls as she puts down her bag on the bench lining the wall next to her, and before I know it, I’m engulfed in a rocking embrace. “Oh my word, you look exactly the same.” She leans back and shakes her head as she inspects me. “Well, maybe with the exception of this.” She laughs as she gives my facial scruff a quick scratch. “So what brings you here? Do you have a student coming this way in the fall?” She looks at Fallon and gasps. “Is this your wife?” She laughs with glee at the thought. “Alicia Adams, so nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well,” Fallon says but leaves the formal intros to me.

“Actually”—I wince. “She’s a coworker.”

“Oh? So you’re still single?” She laughs again before looking at Fallon. “You had better snatch this one up quick. Our reunion is just days away, and once those witches find out he’s on the market, there’s going to be a turf war all over again.” She bites down on her lip as she inspects me one more time. “Can you believe it’s been twenty years?”

“It seems like forever ago and yesterday all at once,” I say. “I miss those days, especially when all we had to worry about was pop quizzes and football games.”

“And you were an ace at both,” she says. “It really does feel like just yesterday we were planning our senior prank.”

“Oh?” Fallon perks up. “Do tell.”

“We filled all of the administrative offices with balloons—and those balloons were loaded with confetti,” she says with a laugh. “Nothing illegal and it was all in good fun.”

“That’s right,” I say. “In fact, I’m still keeping it on the straight and narrow when it comes to the law.” I flash my badge her way. “I’m with the FBI now.”

Her expression darkens a notch. “Oh wow.” She leans in. “I guess you heard the news about Robin and Brittney.”

“We have,” Fallon says. “I’m Special Agent Fallon Baxter.”

“I see.” Alicia’s voice grows in amusement. “What exactly are you doing here?”

“Actually, I was hoping to speak with you,” I say softly before turning to Fallon. “Alicia was our class president. She knew everything about this place back in the day, and I’m assuming the same holds true now.” I turn back her way. “And you’re also in charge of the reunion. That’s quite the undertaking. Thank you for the effort.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” She gives a little laugh. “And I have a small army helping me out behind the scenes. And look at you, from high school prankster to FBI agent, huh? I always knew you’d end up somewhere interesting, Jackie. So what’s going on with Brittney? Have you found her? What about the nutcase that killed Robin?” Her eyes enlarge as she awaits an answer.

“We don’t know where Brittney is and we don’t know who killed Robin. It’s a mess,” I tell her. “But any insight you have on Brittney or Robin, anything at all, could really help us out. And that’s exactly what I’m hoping for today.”

“Oh geez.” She rocks back on her heels as she glances to the sky. “They were both pretty active in our Facebook group. We’ve met up every couple of years as a group, too. Not everyone comes to those things, but they did. I remember Robin had just gotten married a few years back. She was so happy. And Brittney was always between men.”

“Do you know who she dated recently?” Fallon asks.

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