She glanced at the laptop in his backpack. “I’ve got a printer.”
“That’s a friend’s laptop from school. I lent her mine so she could copy my notes and I took hers so she wouldn’t have to lug both around.”
He’s got an answer for everything.
“All right, then, I’m good with the story if Nikki okayed it.”
He glanced at his watch. “Yikes, I’ve gotta get to class.”
She walked him out and stood on her front porch as he took off on foot, disappearing around the corner. She closed the door behind her and followed. Lyle hurried toward the convenience store at the corner. There were several cars in the lot and she couldn’t see which car was Lyle’s.Dammit.
The heat of the midday sun burned down on her as she made her way back home.He’s got the same slim build and appears to be the same height, but he looks nothing like Casey. And they’ve got different walks. We’ve gotta pull Casey in for questioning tonight.
Once inside, she called Nikki. “Did Lyle stop by and show you his story?”
“If he did, I missed him.”
“He said he left it with you.”
“It could be on my desk. I’ve been running around.”
“If you put a blond wig, and a beard and mustache on him, do you think he could be Casey Quinn?”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t trust anyone.”
She has a point.
“Casey is cunning and manipulative, smooth, too,” Nikki said. “Lyle seems—I don’t know—like a sweet guy, maybe even a little naïve. I don’t see it. Okay, I’m back in Homicide. There’s no story on my desk. Hold on, let me see if someone saw him.” A few seconds later, she said, “No one did. Did you get me on the list for tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll meet you on the first floor. Casey usually ponies up to the bar.”
“Got it,” Nikki said. “What time?”
“Around nine and I’ll be wearing a brown wig,” Emerson said. “Do you need a mask?”
“I’ve got one from a party I can use. See you tonight.”
Emerson set her phone down and stared at the pictures of Casey Quinn.
Casey didn’t wear jewelry, but Lyle wore a watch on his left wrist. Lyle wore glasses, Casey didn’t.Casey could wear contacts or Lyle’s glasses could be fake.
Lyle was right handed, but Casey was handing the woman a business card with his left. She studied the pictures of him at the bar. He held the wine glass in his left hand. Despite their obvious differences, Emerson couldn’t shake the thought.
Have I been working with the killer this entire time?
“You better show up tonight, Casey Quinn,” Emerson said. “I’ve run out of time.”
* * *
Stryker walked into the pet store and down the cat toy aisle. Too many options. He picked out a catnip mouse, a fishing pole toy, a tower of tracks, and a mountain house with scratching posts.
Stryker had no idea what he was getting himself into with demon kitty, but he loved Emerson, and Pima was part of the package. With the items in his cart, he wheeled his way over to the dry food.
What the—
