Chapter 4 Chrystal

Chrystal had just turned 22 years old then was gone before her birthday was even over. She was healthy and as far as he knew she didn't have any issues with drugs or alcohol. She was a good girl, she didn't get into trouble in school, had good grades and was the town's sweetheart. Then out of the blue she just left. With no notice, Lane's baby sister packed her bags and left with the love of his life in the middle of the night. Had it not been for Susan's note no one would have had any idea where they had gone.

Lane's parents were left wondering why their baby girl would just leave like that, then not even call home for 3 years. They may never know.

The two girls had gotten their acceptance letters from Columbia university, and no one even knew about them. Susan revealed that they had decided to study social work. They had shared a dorm room for the first year then decided to get their own apartment close by. Susan said they couldn't study and be serious about their degrees and live on campus. There were just too many parties going on and distracting them.

Lane was brought out of his thoughts by his phone ringing. "Hi Mama...Yes, I've arrived...I'm almost there now...Yes, Mama I'll call as soon as I know something...I Love you too...Bye Ma."

Susan couldn't hear Katherine's part of the conversation but she could tell she was worried. "How is she coping?" She asked as she pulled into the hospital's parking garage.

"The best she can, I guess. But I feel like she already grieved my sister when the two of you disappeared three years ago." Lane stated blatantly, as he remembered his distraught mother the morning they had found out that their daughter had just left with no word.

Lane stood speechless as he gazed at his baby sister lying motionless on the metal table in the morgue. Only covered with a sheet folded to reveal her face and shoulders. He still couldn't believe that Chrystal was gone.

Susan walked up next to him and let out a gasp of surprise when she saw her best friends condition. "Oh Chrystal! How? What happened to you?" she exclaimed with a saddened tone.

The medical examiner held a file, " she was beaten and left for dead in Central Park. The officer on duty found her when he was patrolling the area. He noticed her shoe as he was passing the bushes where she was found. Cause of death was a blow to her left temple that caused excessive swelling. If she hadn't been left there she might have had a chance to be saved." She had a sad look on her face as she explained what she found. "The police are doing everything they can to find who did this."

It was Monday morning. Lane had received the call Friday night/Saturday morning at 2am. Lane decided that with the news of what happened to Chrystal, he would wait until he got home to give the devastating news to his mother. This was not something he wanted to tell her over the phone.

Susan didn't know her friend was missing. She left her friend at school with her boyfriend Brady. He was campus police and they had been dating for almost the whole 3 years they had been in NY. Susan had told the police that Chrystal and her boyfriend had dinner plans for her birthday after Brady was off duty after 5pm, so she hadn't expected her friend home until late. She had fallen asleep on their couch and was awakened by the phone call when they had found Chrystal in the Park.

There was still a lot that Lane didn't know about his sister and her adventures in NY but all he needed to know was who killed his sister and make sure that Susan wasn't in danger as well. The two girls did everything together so there was no reason not to think that she could be in danger as well.