CHAPTER FOUR
A few minutes later, May and Owen pulled up outside a one-story, wooden home where Lillie Simpson lived. This home was located near the center of town, a few blocks away from the school.
Lights were on in the home. May was sure that after this news, all of Savannah's friends would still be awake as they processed the tragedy. Even so, it was getting late. It was now after nine p.m., and she knew there would be a limit to how much they could still do tonight.
May hurried up to the front door and knocked, her palms sweating. She was feeling under pressure. It was heartbreaking to be around such devastated people, with no clear answers to offer them as yet. She was starting to realize how emotionally tough a murder case could be. All these people trusted her now, to find the killer and to give them the closure they were desperate for.
Would she be able to live up to their expectations? May felt sick with nerves at the thought she might fail them.
The door was opened by a young girl, around Savannah's age. She was petite and delicate, with streaky blonde hair, and her face was red and tear stained.
Behind her, an older woman who looked to be her mother, hovered nervously.
"Deputy Sheriff May Moore and Owen Lovell," May said, showing her badge. "May we speak to Lillie in connection with Savannah's murder?"
Their eyes widened in shock.
"Of - of course," the mother said, sounding uncertain, as if she'd never thought she'd be questioned by police.
They walked into the pretty home, with gleaming wooden floors and high ceilings.
"Have you already spoken to Savannah's parents?" the mother said, her eyes full of concern.
"Yes," May said. "Just now."
"How are they holding up?"
"They're extremely shocked."
"I can imagine. I hope we can help in some way."
"We need to ask Lillie some questions. I'd like to speak to her alone," May said firmly.
"Of - of course."
The mother retreated outside the door. Sure that she would try to listen in, May glanced at Owen. Reading her mind, the tall deputy got up and closed it.
Lillie slumped down onto the couch, sighing, and pushing her hair away from her blotchy face.
"I'm so sorry this has happened," May said.
"I can't believe it. She was supposed to come here for a sleepover, but she wasn't at school on Friday."
"Did you message her?"
"Yes, of course. I called and messaged. I thought she must be sick. Then I got worried and called her parents that night."
"When did you last see her?"
"On Thursday. In class. That's the last time." Lillie shook her head
"Was there anything else happening in her life?" May asked, hoping for some details that she didn’t yet know.
Lillie blinked and glanced down.
"No. Well, maybe. She had said to me she was upset. That her parents were being strict about her going out at night."
"Do you know what she meant by that?"
"She said she couldn't go out as much as she wanted."
That didn’t sound like a serious issue. Was she missing something? May wondered.
“Any problems in her life? Any rivalries or fights with anyone that you knew of?”
“Nothing like that at all.” Lillie shook her head.
May thought of another angle. "Did she have a boyfriend?"
"No. No boyfriend." Lillie's eyes were wide now as she stared at May.
Those eyes were a little too wide, May decided. That stare was a little too innocent. May felt sure there was more to be discovered here.
But perhaps it would not be a good idea to pressure Lillie about this fact, but rather to come in from another angle and ask someone else.
"Who was her best friend? Her closest friend?"
"That would be Ursula. She lives two houses down from me, at number thirty," Lillie said. "Ursula was also coming to me for the sleepover, but when we couldn't get hold of Savannah, we canceled it."
"Okay. Thank you."
May stood up. She and Owen walked to the door. When they were outside, Owen gave a deep sigh.
"Well, that didn't go as planned. We didn't get much information at all."
But May thought differently.
"I think we got quite a lot of information."
"More what she didn't say, perhaps?" Owen questioned with a quirk of his eyebrows.
May felt surprised and impressed by his perception.
"That's exactly right. I didn’t want to put too much pressure on Lillie, but now that we have her version, let's see if Ursula can fill in the gaps."
She headed out of the house, and walked two houses down to number thirty, with Owen by her side. As she walked, May decided she was going to use a different approach this time.
She needed the truth, and they didn’t have time to be lied to.
The lights were on in number thirty. When she knocked on the door, a tall, brown-haired man answered.
"Deputy Sheriff May Moore and Owen Lovell," May said, showing her badge. "May we speak to Ursula in connection with Savannah's murder?"
"Sure. I'm her dad. Come in. She's pretty torn up about it but I'm sure she'll do her best."
May followed Owen in. Ursula's father led them into a cozy living room. There, a pretty, young brunette was hunched on the sofa, texting on her phone.
She stared up at them, looking appalled and devastated.
"I'm so sorry about your friend's death. What a shocking thing to have happened," May sympathized.
Ursula's father hovered at the door for a moment, and then left.