“What he look like?”
“Dark hair, average height, I dunno, maybe in his thirties. Ordinary guy.”
“He have a uniform, a logo, this ordinary guy?”
“Just jeans, a dark jacket.”
Kjel went into the kitchen and opened cupboards one after the other while Leo spoke. All empty. He looked under the sink for a garbage bin. Cleaned out. He opened the fridge—just an open box of baking soda and stains. He closed the door and started to move the fridge from out of its pocket between the cabinets.
“What’re you doing?” Leo said.
“People stick contact numbers, appointments, notes up on the fridge. At my house stuff always falls down between the sides of the fridge and the counters, or sometimes it goes underneath. Give me a hand here.” They shoved the fridge out while the landlord watched with mild interest.
A comb nestled in the thick layer of dust and grime beneath the fridge along with a scattering of old peanuts, a paper clip, and other unidentifiable bits of food. Plus a once-white, stained business card. Kjel fished the card out of the dust.
Dr.Jon Jacques. Cosmetic Dentistry.
“Bingo,” he whispered, wagging the card in Leo’s face. “I think we might have found us the dentist who fixed up Hocking’s nice new pearly whites.” He wagged the card in Leo’s face. “Follow the money, I always says. Bet she didn’t payhimin cash.”
Finding nothing else, Kjel and Leo left a contact card with the rental manager and rode down in the elevator. As they walked into the lobby, they saw a woman outside the glass entrance doors, pressing a button on the door panel.
Kjel cursed. “It’s her. That reporter.”
They exited the doors, and she glanced up sharply, then swallowed. She was ghost-pale, eyes like deep black holes. She looked a mess.
“Merry Winston,” Kjel said, eyeing her carefully.
She scanned the street, fear raw in her features. Something quickened in him. He moved to the intercom panel and saw that Faith Hocking’s name was displayed in the box. “You come to visit Faith often, then?” he said.
“Was it her?” she said, voice hoarse. “Was it Faith who was found in the Gorge?”
Kjel exchanged a fast glance with Leo. “What made you think this?” Leo said.
“Justtellme.” She was shaking now.
Kjel frowned, suspicion darkening inside him. “What brought you here to Faith Hocking’s address at this point in time?”
“Just ... following a lead.”
“And where’d you get this lead?” he said. “’Cause it ain’t from the scanner this time, is it, Winston?”
Silence. Kjel edged closer to her, towering his height over her. She took a step back. Leo watched. “Who told you about Faith Hocking? How’d you know wheres to find her? Who’s giving you all this information?”
“I’m a good reporter, okay? I do the legwork.”
“Obstruction of justice is a serious offense. If we find—”
“Then arrest me. Charge me.” She shot an involuntary glance back at the panel.
“You’re not going to find any Faith Hocking here, Winston,” Leo said. “She’s gone. Her stuff has been cleared out.”
Paling further, she took another step back. “I don’t believe you.”
Leo shrugged.
“Who cleared out her things?” she said.
“Oh, your source leave that bit out, then?” Kjel said.
