Andi’s pulse spiked. Maybe this guy was actually taking them seriously this time.
He turned to his computer, fingers moving faster now, the earlier dismissiveness gone. The hum of the station seemed to fade as Andi watched his reaction.
A few seconds passed.
Then his brows drew together. “That’s . . . interesting.”
He turned the screen slightly, eyes flicking up to meet Andi’s then Duke’s.
“Van’s registered to a Colin Hoffman,” he said. “Local address. Day trader.”
The blood drained from Andi’s face.
Colin.
The room seemed to tilt, everything they’d uncovered snapping into grim alignment—the garage, the phone call, the fear, the van.
“Colin is Gina’s ex-boyfriend,” Andi told him. “Gina accused him of stalking her. Plus, he has a record for assault.”
The detective’s eyes flickered with surprise. “We’ll look into him.”
Some of the tension left her chest.
But there was more. “There’s one other thing.”
She told him about the Fake Pam.
Detective Hawkins leaned back in his chair, studying them with a touch of admiration in his gaze. “Well, looks like we need to open this case after all.”
Duke sat back against the hard plastic chair outside the interrogation rooms and studied the scuffed floor like it might tell him something useful.
Colin had mentioned something about a van to Duke when they’d talked. He said he’d seen the van in the parking lot. That he’d seen the van outside Gina’s place.
What he hadn’t mentioned was that the van belonged to him.
What kind of game was he playing?
Hawkins had surprised Duke by letting them stay. Two patrol officers had gone to pick up Colin.
“You’ve earned the right to hear it,” Hawkins had said gruffly, as if that admission were painful.
Duke hadn’t argued.
As they waited, Ranger called. He’d gone to Gina’s apartment. None of the neighbors had seen or heard anything. He’d also gone to the Public Works office to ask questions. No one recognized Fake Pam. Apparently, her job was just a cover story also. It wasn’t entirely surprising.
What about the woman was real? Where was she now? What was her role in all this?
The door down the hall finally opened.
Colin Hoffman shuffled in between two officers, his eyes darting with the frantic alertness of a man who knew the ground beneath him was giving way.
He looked smaller than Duke remembered, less sure of himself.
Good.
As they headed toward the interrogation room, the cops led Colin past Duke and Andi. His gaze flicked up—and just as quickly dropped to the floor, his shoulders rounding as if he were trying to make himself smaller.
He didn’t slow or speak, just kept walking, jaw tight, like a man ashamed to be seen.
