"[I] Hey...that creep on the site was posting pics of your friend, Maria. Better talk to her [/I]"

Lisa didn't even want to respond. She was too tired, like she hadn't slept in a month. Yesterday's classes were skipped, and today's would be as well. Her little dorm was a nest of lament and regret, the half closed blinds only let slivers of light drip through. Old memories from a happier time returned from the dead. Photos long forgotten scattered all over her laptop, photos she thought were all deleted. She looked through them all at least twice. Now that she had time to process everything, it hit her in the gut like a freight train. The cold knot in her gut wouldn't go away. But the worst part was the cliche about being too late. She and Mari didn't end their friendship on good terms. Now all was left was regret. 

She wanted to hibernate like a bear, lock herself away until time healed the wounds. But some detectives got a hold of her, they wanted to ask a few questions. Lisa didn't know anything. Nothing that would help. But she has seen enough cops shows to know the best thing to do is to cooperate. As stupid and pointless as their questions are, she'd answer them. They agreed to meet in a little diner near campus. Some hot food would do her some good. Lisa wasn't exactly looking like a beauty queen. She hadn't bothered to comb away the bedhead, contacts were pushed aside for chunky glasses, and she wore sweats out of laziness.

The sound of crackling bacon and smell of hot coffee made the engine in her belly rumble. She just started to dig in when two stiffs came in. They couldn't be more cop-like if they tried. Straight to business. They started with some simple things and she answered as best she could.

"Yeah she was a girl-scout, kept her nose clean. Even went to church on Sundays and part of some church groups. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't a dweeb or anything. She went to parties and whatever, a real social butterfly. Responsible, that's what she was. Drank but never too much. Partied but never too hard. Always knew when enough was enough. She watched my back, let me crash at her place more than once when I was too drunk to find my way home. We used to be friends, the best kind. Back then, we did everything together. But we had a falling out. I haven't spoken to her in months."

Like she expected the detectives pushed harder on the "falling out" part. The part she didn't want to talk about. She wasn't about lie, but she wasn't gonna tell the whole story either.

"Look, we got in a fight and never spoke again. I tried to reason with her, I really did. But that stupid old fashioned family, and idiot pastor had her brainwashed real good. I couldn't take it anymore, the constant lectures about the will of god and endless quotes from the bible... I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't be with someone who thinks I'm going to hell for no good reason. She forced me to go to a "religious healing" event once, more like indoctrination event.

About a week after we stopped talking she called me, several times. I ignored her. Tried to forget about her. Eventually she stopped. Guess she thought I wasn't worth the trouble. Wouldn't be surprised if she hated my guts. But the truth is I never hated her, I never could. Not Mari. I got into some trouble back then. Went to a lot of parties for free booze and hoping I might run into her. Eventually I just gave up. She'd never accept me after... I'm so stupid. Why didn't I just leave things the way they were? I dunno what she's been up to since then. There are a bunch of crazy rumors about her going around. But I know she's a good kid. 

She's not really the type to make enemies, I dunno who wanted her dead. My best guess, some creepy stalker. Mari was gorgeous and kind, she was always popular with the boys. I remember she always had some asshole ex trying to "win her back". As if she's a trophy to be won. Look, I'm not telling you how to do your job or anything, but you should talk to Reed Norman. He found some weird pictures of Mari on his forum. Maybe you should check that out."