Ellie walked in with a tray and looked down at her guests, "It’s not much from the outside, I know, but its home.  We put a lot of work in it."  Ellie sat down and sipped her tea.

"We?"  Bette questioned.

"My roommate and I.," Ellie’s face turned a light shade of pink.  "You said you had some questions?"

Bette suspected the roommate was anything but, however she decided to push that question at a later time, "You knew Katherine since grade school, correct?"

"Yes.  She moved into our neighborhhood the summer before 5^th grade."

"You must have been close."

"Eleven years," Ellie stared at the contents of her cup, "We were best friends.  We did everything together."

"Was there anything going on in the few weeks before her murder?  If you guys were close she would have told you, right?"

"I can’t think of anything."

"She had a boyfriend though, didn’t she?"  Bette paged through her notes, "Andrew Wills?"

"He wasn’t her boyfriend!"  The abrupt tone did not go unnoticed by Kennard.

"I read some of the old reports.  A Detective Michaels had noted that Andrew and Katherine had dated for a short time."

"Like one date.  That was it.  The three of us were friends throughout high-school.  He was interested in her but she wasn’t interested in him.  She dated him because she felt bad for him.  He told everyone they were dating.  They weren’t"

"Did Katherine ever call him out on it?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It was easier to just leave it alone."

Bette stared at the woman who was clearly still grieving.  Ellie loved Katherine. There was no doubt about it.  There also wasn’t a doubt how much she hated Andrew Wills.

Tina placed her cup of tea on the table and leaned forward, "You didn’t like him.  I can tell by your face when you mention his name.  Why is that?"

"No reason.  You know, I think I already answered all of your questions years ago, I don’t understand why you’re back here."

"You know what I don’t understand," Tina started, her voice steady and low, "Wills was with you the night Katherine disappeared.  If you disliked him then as much as you do now, why would you have been with him?  Were you guys fooling around behind Katherine’s back?

"Get out now!  I’m not going to answer anymore questions."

"Ellie, please."  Bette reached out to her but the irate woman pulled her arm away.

"Please, just go.  Just leave."

Porter and Kennard followed Ellie to the door, but when Tina made her way out and to the car, Bette hung back, producing a business card,

"Ellie.  I can see how much you cared for her.  Katherine.  You can tell me you were just friends.  But I don’t believe it for a second.  You loved her.  Every time we mention her name I can see how it affects you."

Ellie started to cry, "Please, just go.  I can’t…."

"I’m not asking for anything other than the truth.  I know what it’s like.  To be in love with someone.  To have to keep it a secret because you’re afraid your friends or family will find out who you are.  I understand what it’s like to live a lie.  I’m not asking you to march in a pride parade, I just need you to acknowledge Katherine – what she was to you.  Don’t you owe her that much?"  Bette stared at her intently, "Take my card.  If you think of anything, call me, okay?  Anything."  Bette shoved her business card in Ellie’s hand and turned toward her car.

"Agent Porter, wait."

Bette turned and focused her attention in on the crying woman who looked much older than her years,

"Wills wasn’t her boyfriend, but you should talk to him.  He’s in town, inherited his aunts place last year.  It’s about an hour from here.  I’ll get you the address."