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“Are you suggesting the killer we’re looking for could be an artist?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking . . . maybe a painter. It might be wise to zero in on the art world in general. He might be a curator or an art dealer.”
“This is good, Lizzy. I’ll talk to Mitchell.”
“Get your things packed and get back here so we can find this guy.”
“Will do,” Jessica said, “but there’s one more thing.”
Lizzy waited.
“Did you hear about the missing girl?”
“I believe so. Claire Kerley?”
“That’s right. Seventeen-year-old girl missing for quite a while now.”
“You’re thinking there’s some co
“I think it’s a possibility, though Mitchell has his doubts. As far as we know, the Strangler’s never hid his victims before, and there’s no trace of this girl. Just based on the last three homicides, it’s clear the killer is acting randomly, but what if that’s his plan? To make it look random and throw everyone off the track with all the recent killings so he can grab a girl and keep her for a while before he kills her? He’s escalating all along, and that could be the next level.”
“He must know with all the budget cuts there aren’t enough investigators to go around.”
“Exactly. He’s spreading us thin investigating the rash of killings, which is why they called me in to help in the first place.”
“Anything I can do?”
“Just be careful, OK? If Jared was close to naming this guy, you could already be in his line of fire.”
“I haven’t noticed anyone watching me,” Lizzy said. “No hang-up phone calls.”
“If the Sacramento Strangler is the same guy who took the girl, then he’s not going to be hiding behind trees watching you.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“No,” Jessica said. “It’s not. This killer is getting increasingly brazen. He wouldn’t be hiding at all. He would be watching you up close and personal. Just be careful. That’s all I’m asking.”
“I always am,” Lizzy said, although she didn’t like what she was hearing. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lizzy disco
Hayley was sitting on the curb, smoking a cigarette.
Lizzy got out of the car and headed that way. “I thought you were quitting.”
“I am.” She took another drag off the cigarette and then stamped it out in the gutter.
Lizzy took a seat next to her, and they both stared out into the woods across the street.
“Life is so fucked up.”
“It’s hell,” Lizzy agreed.
“People are stupid and selfish.”
“I hate people.”
“Sometimes I don’t know why I even bother getting out of bed.”
“Wasted energy, for sure.”
Hayley sighed. “Salma is back.”
“I heard.”
“What are we going to do with her?”
“It’s Kitally’s house. I guess it’s her problem.”
“Good point.”
“Has she named the baby yet?”
“No. I don’t think she’s going to, either. Is it a law?” Hayley asked. “Does everyone have to have a given name?”
“No idea.”
“I can’t imagine they would lock her up for not naming her kid.”
Lizzy shrugged. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”
Hayley snorted. “You are so right. They would lock Salma up, but not one of the many rapists ru
Kitally drove up and pulled her car into the driveway next to Lizzy’s. She exited the car, hit the lock, and then joined them on the curb.
Kitally didn’t say a word, which was unusual. She looked worn-out.
Through an open window, they heard the sound of a baby’s cry.
It was going to be another long night.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Do
“Who is it?” the woman asked.
“Lizzy Gardner and Hayley Hansen. We’re investigating the Wayne Be
The woman unlatched the chain and opened the door. “Get in here before anyone sees you.”
They both stepped inside and then watched as the woman locked the door and hooked the chain back in place. The place was dark. It smelled like old socks and rotted food. It was times like this that Lizzy was glad she carried a gun.
The woman pointed a crooked finger at Lizzy. “I’m going to get Do
“To talk to your daughter?” Hayley asked, confused.
This wasn’t the first time Lizzy had been asked to pay to get answers. She reached into her purse. “I have sixty-two dollars.”
The woman snatched the money out of her hand and then looked at Hayley. “We have to eat, and you want information. Pay or get out.”
“I never keep more than a twenty on me, but you can have it.” Hayley reached into her back pocket and handed the woman a folded twenty-dollar bill.
The woman took it and then disappeared.
Lizzy and Hayley stepped from the entryway and found a small, well-populated living room. A young girl, about thirteen, stood off to the side, leaning against the wall and watching them warily. She looked just like her eighteen-year-old sister, Do
“Here she is. Your time starts now.”
The girl didn’t look anything like the young woman they had seen on the video. She was badly bruised. Her left eye was nearly swollen shut, and her lip was purple and yellow.
“I’m sorry this happened to you,” Lizzy said. “It’s terrible.”
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do it.”
“Because he’s not in prison where he belongs.”
“What do you want?”
“Will you testify against Wayne Be
The girl shook her head, but she didn’t deny that was the man who did this to her. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Kobi Millard is a good friend of mine. In case you haven’t heard, shortly after you talked to her in the parking lot, Kobi came home to find her ten-year-old daughter missing. Guess where her daughter was?”
Lizzy exchanged looks with Hayley and said nothing. Waited.
“At the neighborhood park with Mr. Be
Do
Hayley stepped in front of Lizzy. “Before you continue on with that holier-than-thou tone, maybe you should stop and think about what you’re saying and who you’re saying it to. Lizzy isn’t getting paid to spend her days on the street, doing everything she can to see that fucker Be