Chapter 7 "Dead Ends"
DETECTIVE SARAH MONROE
The conference room at Ravencrest University smelled like stale coffee and anxiety.
Sarah sat across from Dean Patricia Holloway, a woman in her late fifties with steel grey hair and an expression that suggested she'd rather be anywhere else.
"Detective Monroe, I understand you have a job to do, but I need to express my concern about disrupting our students' education during what is already a traumatic time," the Dean said, her fingers steepled on the table between them.
Sarah kept her expression neutral. "I appreciate your concern, Dean Holloway. However, Tyler Brett died under suspicious circumstances after attending a party on your campus. I need to interview students who were present that night. The sooner we can establish a timeline and identify any potential witnesses, the sooner we can provide answers to his family."
"Suspicious circumstances?" The Dean's eyebrows rose. "I was told it was likely a medical emergency. Heart failure or an undiagnosed condition."
"The medical examiner hasn't determined cause of death yet," Sarah said carefully. "Until we know more, we're treating this as an unexplained death, which requires investigation."
The Dean sighed, rubbing her temple. "Fine. But I want campus security present during all interviews, and I want to review your list of students. We have finals approaching, Detective. I can't have you pulling students out of class indiscriminately."
"I'll be as efficient as possible."
Twenty minutes later, Sarah had her approval and a list of twelve students who'd been identified through social media posts, witness statements, and Tyler's own phone records as having been at the Delta Sigma party Friday night.
Officer Chen joined her in a smaller room the university had provided for interviews. "Ready?" he asked.
"Let's start with the roommate who hosted. Jason Turner."
JASON TURNER
Jason had barely slept since finding Tyler's body. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his roommate on the floor, that horrible mark on his forehead, those glassy, staring eyes.
Now he sat across from Detective Monroe, his leg bouncing nervously under the table.
"Jason, thanks for coming in," Monroe said, her voice kind but professional. "I know you already gave a statement Saturday morning, but I need to go over the events of Friday night in more detail. Can you walk me through the party?"
Jason nodded. "We started setting up around eight. Tyler was in a good mood, joking around, helping move furniture. The party started around nine-thirty. It was pretty packed by ten probably a hundred people in and out throughout the night."
"Did you notice Tyler talking to anyone in particular?"
"He was all over the place. Talking to his teammates, some girls from his econ class, random people. Tyler was social, you know? He knew everyone."
"Anyone who seemed interested in him? Or anyone he seemed particularly interested in?"
Jason thought for a moment. "There was this girl I don't know her name. Dark hair, really pretty. Tyler was talking to her in the kitchen for a while. But I don't think anything came of it. She left with her friends."
Sarah made a note. "What time did the party end?"
"Most people cleared out by two. I left around two-thirty to go to my girlfriend's place. Tyler was in his room, on his phone. He seemed totally fine."
"And when you came back?"
Jason's face went pale. "Around four-fifteen. I heard this sound like gasping, choking. I ran in and he was on the floor. I tried CPR, called 911, but..." His voice broke. "He was already gone."
Sarah let him compose himself. "Did Tyler do drugs, Jason? Even recreationally?"
"No. Never. He was serious about basketball. Random drug tests and all that. He barely even drank."
"What about his mental health? Any depression, stress, relationship problems?"
"Nothing. He was happy. Looking forward to the season. Talking about trying to go pro after graduation." Jason's hands clenched into fists. "Whatever happened to him, it wasn't suicide or drugs. Tyler had everything going for him."
Sarah nodded slowly. That matched everything else she'd heard about Tyler Brett. Which made his sudden death even more inexplicable.
SIENNA DAVIES
The girl with purple hair sat with her arms crossed, looking more annoyed than concerned.
"I already posted everything I know on Instagram," Sienna said. "I don't know what else you want me to say."
"Just walk me through your interactions with Tyler that night," Sarah said patiently.
Sienna shrugged. "I saw him around. We weren't friends or anything. He was just there, being Tyler. Popular guy, you know the type."
"Did you see him leave with anyone?"
"No."
"Did you give anyone drinks that night?"
Sienna's eyes narrowed. "What kind of question is that?"
"A standard one. Were you serving drinks, mixing punch, anything like that?"
"I helped fill the punch bowl a couple times. And I gave a cup to this girl who looked totally lost. She was hovering by the door like she'd never been to a party before." Sienna's expression softened slightly. "I felt bad for her."
Sarah leaned forward. "Can you describe her?"
"Um, pale, strawberry blonde hair, wearing this oversized cardigan. Super shy. She thanked me like five times for one drink."
"Do you know her name?"
"No. Never seen her before that night."
"Did you see where she went after you gave her the drink?"
"No, I went to dance. Why? You think she had something to do with Tyler?"
"I'm just gathering information," Sarah said. "If you remember anything else about her or if you see her around campus I'd appreciate a call."
She slid her card across the table. Sienna pocketed it with a shrug.
MARCUS MILLER
Marcus, one of the guys who'd been talking to Maya in the kitchen, had very little to offer.
"I was pretty drunk," he admitted. "I remember talking to some girls, playing beer pong, the usual party stuff. Tyler was around, but I didn't really interact with him."
"Do you remember a girl named Maya Rodriguez?"
"The hot one with the black hair? Yeah, she was cool. She was with her roommate for a bit."
"Her roommate?"
"Yeah, quiet girl. Looked uncomfortable as hell. Maya introduced her but I don't remember her name. Something with an E, maybe?"
Sarah made a note. "Did you see the roommate later in the night?"
"Nope. She disappeared pretty quick. Maya hung out for a while though."
Another dead end.
MAYA RODRIGUEZ
Maya had been dreading this all day.
She sat in the interview room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, trying to look calm. But her mind was racing. Should she mention Ember? Would that make Ember a suspect? But if she didn't mention her and they found out later...
"Maya, thanks for coming in," Detective Monroe said, offering a small smile. "I know this must be difficult. You were friends with Tyler?"
"No," Maya said quickly. "I mean, I knew who he was, but we weren't friends. I was just at the party."
"Can you walk me through your night?"
Maya took a breath. "My roommate and I got there around nine-thirty. I kind of dragged her she's not really a party person. We hung out for a bit, I was talking to some guys in the kitchen, and then..." She paused. "I lost track of her."
"Your roommate?"
"Yeah. Ember. Ember Winters. She's really shy, and I felt bad because I was supposed to stay with her, but I got distracted. When I went to find her, she wasn't in the kitchen anymore."
"What time was this?"
"Maybe eleven? Eleven-thirty? I looked around for her, and eventually I found her in the hallway upstairs. She looked really out of it drunk, disoriented. So I took her home."
"Did she say where she'd been?"
"No. She could barely talk. I think she just had too much to drink. It was her first real party." Maya's voice was defensive now. "She's not used to alcohol."
"Did you see her interact with Tyler at any point?"
Maya's heart skipped. "No. I don't think so. She doesn't really talk to people she doesn't know."
Sarah studied Maya's face for a long moment. "And you left around what time?"
"Midnight, maybe? We walked back to our dorm. Ember went straight to bed."
"How was she the next day?"
"Hungover. Embarrassed. Normal, I guess, for someone who drank too much." Maya hesitated. "Why are you asking about Ember? She didn't have anything to do with Tyler."
"I'm just trying to establish who was where and when," Sarah said evenly. "Tyler died sometime between three and four AM. I need to know everyone's movements."
Maya relaxed slightly. If Tyler died after they'd left, then Ember couldn't possibly be involved.
"Is there anything else you remember? Anything unusual?"
Maya shook her head. "No. Just a normal party. Well, normal until..." She trailed off.
"Until Tyler died," Sarah finished. "Thank you, Maya. If you think of anything else, please call me."
She handed over her card. Maya took it, her hand trembling slightly.
DETECTIVE SARAH MONROE
By the time Sarah finished interviewing all twelve students, it was past six PM and she had nothing.
No one had seen Tyler leave with anyone. No one had witnessed any arguments or suspicious behavior. No one had seen him take drugs or even drink excessively. Multiple witnesses confirmed he'd been alive and well at 2 AM when the party ended.
And then, less than two hours later, he was dead.
Sarah sat in her car outside the university, reviewing her notes. One name kept appearing: the quiet girl with strawberry-blonde hair. Ember Winters.
Multiple people had noticed her because she'd looked so out of place. Sienna had given her a drink. Maya had brought her and later found her disoriented.
But no one, not a single person had seen her interact with Tyler.
Sarah pulled up Ember's student records on her laptop. Ember Grace Winters, nineteen, sophomore by credits, literature major. Home address listed as her grandmother's house in Portland. Clean record. Dean's list last semester.
Nothing suspicious.
Sarah closed the laptop with a sigh. She was grasping at straws. A shy college girl who got drunk at her first party had nothing to do with Tyler Brett's mysterious death.
Her phone buzzed. Officer Chen.
"Monroe."
"Detective, we've got a situation. Another body just found. Adult male, twenty-eight, at his apartment on Maple Street. Landlord called it in after noticing the smell."
Sarah's blood ran cold. "How long has he been dead?"
"ME esti
mates two to three days. But Detective" Chen's voice dropped. "He's got the same mark. That rose thing on his forehead. Exactly the same."
Sarah's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I'm on my way."