Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“So I heard.”
He scowled. “How?”
“An online source. Someone I know who happens to know people. He did some digging, too. But corroboration is good. What else?”
“I swung by the mall and checked out the area near the food court. I don’t like anything about the way that alcove was constructed. The lighting is almost nonexistent, and unless you happen to be standing directly in the hallway, you can’t see what’s happening near the women’s room.”
“You’re right. And I’m confused. If Mr. Benedict can pay for extra cameras and security guards, why didn’t he pay for better lighting. At least maybe victims could see their assailants coming and have a fighting chance.”
“Oh, there are light fixtures. Someone removed the bulbs. I checked—before I got caught by one of the maintenance staff, who threatened to call the mall cops on me.” He grinned. “I shut his ass up by threatening to have the police drag him to the station for questioning as a suspect in the abductions.”
Haisley gaped. “For real? What did he do?”
“Sputter. He claimed he removed the light bulbs after they went out, and he swears he hasn’t replaced them yet because they’re on backorder due to the holidays and supply-chain issues. I asked to see the purchase order for the replacement bulbs. Shockingly, he couldn’t put his finger on it.”
“In other words, he either didn’t bother replacing the bulbs or didn’t bother ordering them in the first place.”
“That’s what I think. He promised to follow up today. Of course that was after he threatened to call Mr. Benedict. I encouraged him to do just that. He was less ballsy after I pointed out the man had hired me to investigate.”
“Naturally.” But that got her thinking. Did Mr. Benedict have any idea how the Oakfield Mall actually functioned day-to-day? That people over there weren’t doing their jobs? That the area by that restroom was almost pitch black? “I’ll speak to my boss, get his take.”
“Yeah. I’d love to know his thoughts. I suspect that if I ask him, he’ll see it as some sort of interrogation or threat, and I’ll get nothing but bluster.”
“I don’t know Mr. Benedict well, but I agree.” She dropped her voice so the accounting folks a few rows over couldn’t hear. “Obviously, I just started working here, but I don’t think my boss takes ‘helpful’ suggestions from others well.”
“He’s the sort of man who wants to be right all the time, and when he’s not, he finds a way to pretend that he was right all along and every good idea was his.”
“Which means he’ll take credit for anything good I do while I’m here.” Haisley sighed. “My boss in LA was a lot like that. It’s exhausting.”
Nash looked like he had something to say, but he merely sipped his coffee and swallowed it down.
Yesterday, she would have sworn he wanted anything she would give him—time, information, attention—and most of all, sex. Today he seemed purely professional…and not at all interested in her personally. That was what she asked for. What she’d said she wanted. What she’d demanded, even.
So why was it bothering her? Why did she feel an irrational pang of disappointment at his sudden aloofness?
“What’s your next move?” she asked as she booted up her laptop and tried to act like his about-face wasn’t flustering her at all.
“This morning, I’m going to see if I can speak to the mother of the victim abducted on Christmas Eve. The girl’s father, when I talked to him last night, was a mess. He wants to help, but he wasn’t there, so he can’t add anything. Instead, he’s going to do his best to bolster his wife so she can tell me everything she remembers.”
Haisley’s heart hurt for the woman. “I’m sure she’s beating herself up for not stopping the kidnapping. Just like I’m sure the police grilled her, and every time she has to answer questions, she relives the tragedy.”
“Exactly. And there’s no way to be gentle.”
Not when they needed cold, hard facts and time was of the essence. “Unfortunately.”
“I’m also going to talk to two of the girls who managed to escape, see how closely their stories match and make sure Detective Dipshit didn’t overlook something crucial. The other one who got away is still out for the holidays. Then this evening, I’ll head back to the mall. Two of the teenagers who work at the food court’s pastry shop will be working. I have permission from their manager to ask them questions. She’s very concerned about the situation over there and has refused to let any of her female employees go to that restroom without an escort.”
“Good for her.”
“Sad it has to come to that, but yes.”
“Anything else you need from me?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Haisley wished she could snatch them back. She’d left herself wide open for one of Nash’s flirty suggestions that would be so tempting and damn near impossible to refuse.