“Three days?”
“Yeah, they have her ID, purse, and stuff. They’ve had no luck finding next of kin. When the BOLO I put out on her came across the desk at the sheriff’s office, they put two and two together.”
Lainie was speechless.
“You still there?”
“Three days ago, Crystal Benton should have been in Hawaii.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Lainie. They have her ID, credit cards. And some other weird details.”
“This whole case is weird. What else?”
“Two men in the car were both killed in the crash. Neither of them wore seat belts, so they were ejected. Benton was strapped in. Herhands and feet were also bound with duct tape. Being so immobilized saved her life.”
“What?” Her pulse pounded; her face grew hot.
“Yep. The driver was a known MS-13 gang member, wanted in several counties for a lot of violent crimes. The other guy was not wanted, but he was one of Stan’s car wash employees. What do you make of that?”
“I don’t know what to make of it. Give me a minute.” She set the phone down at her side, trying to process everything she’d just been told. After a minute, she found her voice. “It removes Benton as the suspect in the murder of Taylor Abbott, doesn’t it? No way she could have done that if she’s been in the hospital for three days.”
“I realize that.”
“Are you going to San Bernardino?”
“Yes,” Shea said. “I suppose you want to come?”
“I do.”
“Well, before you hop in a car, the docs aren’t certain when she’ll wake up. Head trauma. The coma was induced because of swelling on her brain. They’ve been trying to find the next of kin for three days. She’s breathing on her own, and they are guardedly optimistic. They wanted family apprised in the event she crashes.”
“I still need to go, Bobby. This woman was involved with my brother-in-law. I need to see her.”
“St. Bernardine. We’re heading out in about an hour. It’ll be a late night.”
Lainie ended the call and tapped her palm with the phone. Sara walked into the office.
“Who was that?” Sara asked, and Lainie told her.
“Maybe Isaacs was wrong. Maybe Benton wasn’t in Hawaii,” Sara said when Lainie finished.
Lainie shrugged. “If he was wrong, does that mean there was a shark attack?” She shook her head and answered her own question. “Ifeel with every fiber of my soul that there was no shark attack. Crystal Benton had to have been in Hawaii. What Ben postulated is the only thing that makes sense. Especially with what we found in the car wash. Do you think he is finished in the ER yet?”
“Depends on how many were ahead of him.”
“I think I’ll go check on him, at least call and make sure he’s okay.”
“And I’ve got a long report to file.” Sara patted Lainie on the shoulder. “You’ll have to file something about your weapon discharge.”
“I’ll get to it.”
“All right, be careful.”
They left the office together. Sara headed for her black-and-white and Lainie to her car. She called Ben as she started her car, but he probably wouldn’t answer. She was prepared to leave a message.
He answered, sounding tired and worn out.
“How many stitches?”
