I pulled up a video of a press conference she’d given a couple years earlier and pressed Play.
She talked about what the police knew about the girl’s last known whereabouts and what to do if someone watching had information. She was pretty enough, although well past her prime. Probably one of those career woman who went home to an empty apartment and ten cats.
I hit pause when she handed the press conference off to a spokesperson for the department, a young guy in a suit who’s job it was to make sure the Blackwell PD didn’t look incompetent because they couldn’t seem to figure out why local girls kept going missing.
I stared at Detective Rodriguez’s face, an idea forming in my mind, one that would muddy the waters, take the heat off me if the Butchers decided to take my phone to the cops.
One that would give me some cover to leave the country again.
I needed to get out of this fucking place, hole up in a one of the hideouts I’d created for exactly this kind of situation.
I hesitated, then picked up the burner phone I’d bought before I’d checked into the Marriott with my fake passport.
The phone rang twice before a male voice answered. “Blackwell PD, how can we help you?”
“I’d like to talk to Detective Rodriguez.” I sat back in the desk chair, feeling more in control. “It’s about the missing girls. I think I know who’s been taking them.”
45
REMY
I finished my morning workout,slugged back some electrolytes, and headed for the kitchen. I expected everyone to still be asleep — we’d stayed up late in Maeve’s bed cuddling, because Maeve was on her period and feeling crampy — but I almost crashed into Bram as I was leaving the gym.
I knew something was up right away. Bram usually woke up like a bear just coming out of hibernation, but now his expression was stony, his stride purposeful.
“What’s up?” I asked, following him into the living room.
“Aloha’s in.” Bram headed for the stairs.
“He’s… in?” It took me a second to realize what he was talking about. “He cracked the phone?”
“Yeah.”
“And where are you going exactly?”
“To the warehouse,” Bram said, like I was an idiot. “Aloha said it would be easier to show us everything on his equipment.”
“Riiiight… and you’re going to go without Maeve?”
He froze. “She’s not feeling well. I figured I’d get the info and bring it back.”
“You’re going to leave Maeve here while you hear what Aloha found on Todd’s phone?” I mean, I didn’t want to spell it out for him but…
“She’ll be pissed,” he said, like it was just occurring to him.
I snapped and pointed at him. “Now you’re catching on.”
He turned around and headed away from the stairs toward the kitchen.
Smart man.
“I’ll make her some toast and a cup of tea,” he said.
I threw together my smoothie and went to wake up Poe and Maeve. They were out cold, Ray curled up at their feet, but Maeve shot up like a rocket when I nudged her and asked if she wanted to go with us to Aloha’s warehouse to hear what he’d found on Todd’s phone.
“Give me five minutes,” she said, throwing back the covers.
I laughed. “There’s no rush, killer. Bram’s making you something to eat.”
