Kiss Me, Kill Me by Allison Brennan Read Free Book Online Page A

her the only good-paying job she could get was here in Virginia. But Kirsten found letters in her mother’s desk that proved she’d been offered positions in Los Angeles, but she’d turned them down. Kirsten never wanted to leave L.A., and she confronted Mrs. Benton. I don’t know what happened, but I think the first time she ran away was right after that.”
    Patrick said, “Mrs. Benton hasn’t told the police that she and Kirsten had a fight.”
    “Big surprise. She’s all about image. She wanted everyone to think she and Kirsten were so happy, but Kirsten was sick of her mother whining about Mr. Benton cheating on her.”
    “Do you know where Kirsten went?”
    Trey shook his head. “I swear I’d tell you if I knew. I’m worried sick about her. She is so wrapped up in that stupid website, her grades are slipping—she flunked a big test in December. And then she told me she wasn’t going to play softball this year. She could get a scholarship, she’s that good, but she said she didn’t care anymore and was even thinking about not going to college.”
    Sean frowned. All this information about her changing behavior did not bode well. He barely remembered his oldest sister, Molly—she was a drug addict by the time she was eighteen, and committed suicide when Sean was five—but from everything Duke had told him about her, she’d run hot and cold and was seriously depressed the three months before she offed herself. Their parents had tried to force Molly into rehab, but she wouldn’t go.
    They hadn’t found evidence of drugs in Kirsten’s room, but Sean asked, “Was Kirsten using drugs?”
    Trey shrugged. “No. I mean, we smoked pot a couple times, but that’s it. But you can’t say anything—if my coach found out I’d be cut.”
    “When was the last time you saw her, or talked to her for any length of time? How did she seem then?”
    Trey took a minute to think about it. “Friday in English class, right before lunch. It’s the only class we have together. She was all distracted, into her own head, and the teacher called on her a couple times and she didn’t know the answer. I asked her if everything was okay, and she said she just had to get away for a while.”
    Sean asked quietly, “Did she seem depressed? Suicidal?”
    “Kirsten wouldn’t kill herself, no way.”
    “If she were doing drugs, that might contribute to depression.”
    “I don’t know.” Trey bit his lip.
    Patrick asked, “Is there anyone you know outside of the school who Kirsten might go to to ‘get away,’ as you said?”
    Trey shook his head. “Only her dad in California. She missed him a lot, but she also blamed him for her mom being so bitter. But she said that no matter what, when she graduated on June fifth, she was moving back to L.A.”
    That explained the June 5 circled on her calendar.
    Patrick still didn’t look satisfied. Sean said to his partner, “What are you thinking?”
    He shook his head. “I don’t know. This isn’t adding up.”
    Sean disagreed. He felt that he was getting a clear picture of Kirsten Benton. Her parents were split, her mom lied to her, her dad started it by having multiple affairs—he could see her running away. But what didn’t make sense was her involvement in the Party Girl website. Why post naked pictures? Why post the sex video with Trey? Did her disappearance have anything to do with the website, or was it something completely different?
    “I really don’t know where Kirsten is!” Trey insisted.
    Patrick asked, “Do you know if Kirsten ever hooked up in person with someone she’d met online?”
    “No, never,” Trey said emphatically.
    “Are you sure about that? Because it happens all the time, even with smart girls who should know better.”
    Sean glanced at Patrick. His face was tight, and Sean knew he was thinking about Lucy. This case was getting to him—a missing high school senior was too close to what had happened to Lucy nearly seven years ago. But it was