Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 114820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
This was why it was important to look at where a victim lived, to learn more about her.
Her apartment showed which way that swung.
He could see the money she spent here. She cared about décor. She cared about quality. He couldn’t say anything was top of the line, but nothing was cheap.
But she took care of what she had.
No dishes left in the sink. Toss pillows on the couch carefully fluffed and arranged. Fresh vacuum marks on the rug.
She also liked Keyleigh, and what looked to be Keyleigh’s boyfriend, Declan. They had good times together if the framed pictures told the tale. And she had fun backstage at what had to be the burlesque. She also had friends there. Lots of bright smiles. Lots of horsing around. She cared about her friends, she surrounded herself with them even when they weren’t around.
And Madden, Lucinda’s daughter, was adorable. There was no mistaking the parentage of the dark-haired, maybe six, seven-year-old girl with a missing front tooth who was hugging Brittanie and giving a peace sign to whoever took the photo.
Big sister, little sister.
Undeniable.
Rus moved from the photos to the bedroom.
There was a little mess there. She didn’t bother putting away clothes she took off, but she didn’t let them sit forever and pile others on.
The last thing she wore before she dressed to go to the motel was on the floor in front of the closet.
Jeans, a sweater, a pink bra, socks with little unicorn heads on them, and high heel booties.
He’d seen the pictures of her home, McGill had brought them to his suite last night.
But being there…
Smelling hints of her perfume mingled with whatever was wafting off those wood reeds women set in scented oil, he got insight into the Brittanie Iverson who left the hovel she grew up in and got in money trouble to give herself better than what she’d had.
Not only that, it meant something to her.
She’d earned it.
It mattered.
That boulder he was carrying got heavier.
They both took their time in her space. They could find no letters, journals, notes, or anything that could give them deeper insight into Brittanie’s life or relationships, just as the first team had come up empty on these things.
They were ready to leave at the same time.
Moran started the cruiser, but he didn’t put it in gear.
“Fuck,” he said.
“Yeah,” Rus agreed.
“She had unicorns on her socks.”
Rus turned to Moran. “Suck it up, man. We got work to do.”
Moran did what he was told, audibly through his nose.
“Let’s hit the brother,” Rus said.
Moran put the cruiser in gear.
“I don’t know where he is. I don’t care where he is,” the manager of the local big-box home improvement store told him. “I’m just glad he’s no longer here.”
“Was he let go?” Rus asked.
“Well, yeah. After half the time he doesn’t show for his shifts, and then he gets caught loading three chainsaws he didn’t buy in the trunk of his car in broad daylight, like working here is a free ride to a storewide salad bar, he was let go,” the manager replied.
“When was this?”
“We’ve had three weeks and two days Dakota-free, and you’d be right about how bad it was that I’m still counting that shit.”
“Why didn’t you call me on the chainsaws, Rob?” Moran asked on a sigh.
“Because this kid is bad news, Harry,” Rob answered. “I don’t need him pissed at me even if I don’t want him stealing from me. I don’t want to put up with him showing sometimes, not showing others. Having to ride his ass when he does show. Having to keep an eye on him, or have my assistant manager keep an eye on him, so we don’t have to deal with a sexual harassment complaint. I mean, the chicks that work here, they can take care of themselves. But we all got our limits, you know what I’m sayin’? And corporate way frowns on that shit. And since I know these women, I frown on it a whole lot more.”
“Yeah, Rob. I know what you’re saying,” Moran affirmed.
“His customer service was a nightmare,” Rob carried on. “So I put him on stock. He’s on break out front, hanging on the patio furniture eating a taco, and a female customer walking in, he calls her fat. While wearing a goddamn store smock. I have to tell you, I was thrilled he tried to steal those chainsaws. It gave me clearcut reason even he couldn’t mess with to let him go. I tried with the fat thing, but he raised a ruckus that, shit you not, had me checking all the cameras I got on my house.”
“He threatened you?” Moran asked.
“He’s bad news, Harry,” Rob repeated. “You know the Iversons. Only good one of the lot was the girl, and now…” He shook his head, looking sad.