“We were talking about it afterwards, and Lindsay asked what I’d do if I was in that situation. How I’d kill myself,” he said. “I know it’s a totally weird, morbid conversation to have, but it wasn’t serious. We just had that sort of relationship where we talked about literally everything.”
“I get it,” I said, reaching over to pat his hand.
“I said I’d probably find the nearest cliff and jump off. Lindsay laughed at me. She said that was too long and painful, and if I was smart like her, I’d go into Dad’s safe in his study and get his gun.” He paused and motioned to a spot directly beneath the tip of his nose. “She said if it happened to her, she’d get the gun and shoot herself. Apparently if you aim right here, it goes through to the brain stem and destroys it, killing you instantly. So it’s a quick and painless way to die.”
“Right.”
He let out another deep sigh. “I know it sounds dumb, because it was just a stupid movie discussion. But still… when they told me she committed suicide by letting herself fall backwards off our roof, all I could think was—” He stopped abruptly, jaw trembling as his eyes shimmered with tears.
“Why didn’t she shoot herself?” Trina finished for him in a low voice.
He nodded. “Exactly.”
Trina leaned back, exhaling loudly. “Shit. That’s heavy.”
“Yeah.” Adam twisted his hands on the table, eyes focused on the napkin he wrote on a moment ago. “So that’s it. That’s why I was suspicious when it first happened. But like I said before, I thought I was just going insane, so I stayed quiet and did my best to accept it and move on.”
“I’m so sorry,” Trina said, rubbing his back again. “I really wish I knew so I could’ve done something to help you.”
Adam gave her a faint smile of gratitude. Then he turned his attention to me. “I wish Hunter had talked to me about it,” he said. “I could’ve helped him. He could’ve helped me.”
“Hold on,” Trina cut in, forehead wrinkling. “Sorry to derail the conversation, but what does any of this have to do with you being on the blacklist, Laney?”
I clasped my hands on the table and leaned forward, lowering my voice to a whisper. “He thought I did it.”
“Did what?” Trina asked. Before I could reply, her hand flew to her chest. “Wait… he thought you pushed Lindsay?”
“Yes.”
Adam’s eyes widened. “Why would he think that? You didn’t even know her.”
I quickly explained the part of the story about my online friendship with Lindsay, and how it seemed as if I might’ve been the last person to see her that night.
When I was done, Adam tilted his head to one side. “So you really never knew it was Lindsay you were chatting to?”
“No. Hunter thought we might’ve met through my mom, seeing as she works for your family, but it was just a total coincidence,” I said. “I honestly had no idea it was her. I just knew her as xxLNZxx from the forum we met on. That’s all.”
“Right.”
“There’s more,” I said, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I scrolled through my camera reel to find a picture of me wearing the necklace. “Do either of you remember my necklace?”
Adam frowned. “What necklace?”
“The silver chain with the pendant. I used to wear it every day.”
“I’m like, the least observant person ever,” Trina said. “I never noticed a necklace.”
“I think I remember seeing a silver chain around your neck a few times,” Adam said. “But I didn’t see a pendant.”
“It was usually tucked under my uniform so I wouldn’t get in trouble, and it’s been really cold lately, so I’ve been wearing a lot of scarves too. So I guess it makes sense that you didn’t notice it,” I said. “Anyway… here it is.”
I held up my phone, showing them a selfie I took with my mom several months ago. I was wearing a thin white tank top, and the diamond and emerald pendant was fully visible, dangling over my décolletage.
Adam’s eyes widened again. “That’s Lindsay’s necklace!”
“I know.”
“Why the hell did you have it?” he asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.