The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped aboard.
JD continued. “If Riley went over there last night, and Richard killed her, where’s the body?”
I had a good idea where she might be.
We left the building and plunged down the steps to the parking lot.
A black sedan with tinted windows pulled out of a space and turned toward us instead of exiting the lot.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood tall. I drew my pistol and held it at the ready as the sedan approached.
28
The sedan slow-rolled by, then took off.
I holstered my pistol, and my heart beat easier. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was just hyper-paranoid.
We hopped into the van, and I fired up the engine. JD and I cruised across the island to find Zoe. I called Denise on the way over.
“I was just about to call you. I found some interesting information about Zoe. I’ve been reading articles, court reports, you name it. She had some drama in Pineapple Bay.”
“I’m listening.”
"Zoe made allegations against a cop.” She let it hang there for a moment. “IA investigated it but found no evidence of wrongdoing. This was before her DUI.”
"Tell me about the allegations.”
"She claimed to have witnessed a cop murder someone.”
I lifted a surprised brow.
"Said he strangled her in a squad car. Here's where it gets interesting. The cop she made the allegations against is the same cop who arrested her for DUI.”
"That's a hell of a coincidence.”
"I know how you feel about coincidences.” Then she added, "That same cop has multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. All of them investigated and dismissed.”
If there was one thing none of us could stand, it was dirty cops. They gave us all a bad name.
"What's the cop’s name?”
“Matt Howell with the Pineapple Bay PD,” Denise said.
"Is there anything else I should know about her?”
"With her history, I'm surprised she came forward. She’s had a bad experience with cops. It must have taken a lot for her to call and report another crime. It didn't work out so well for her before.”
“Or she fabricated both incidents,” I said, playing devil’s advocate.
“Maybe. But I think she saw something.”
“Proving it is another story.”
I thanked Denise and ended the call.
We cruised to Zoe‘s apartment and pulled into the lot. She lived in the Sapphire Crown. It was a nice building with a fountain out front, a 24-hour valet, and secure under-building parking.
I drove to the valet, hopped out, and handed the kid a few bills. I told him to keep it upfront. We wouldn’t be long.
