He handed Mia her driver’s license. “Thanks for your cooperation. You’ll hear from usagain.”
They’re going to check out yourstory.
The thought startled her. She’d told them the truth, but what if they couldn’t corroborate it? What if there were no street cams? What if no one at Tacos Azteca rememberedher?
“Is there any way I can get mysunglasses?”
Wu turned toward the front door. “You guys find a pair of women’sshades?”
A man wearing white forensic coveralls stepped outside and held up a plastic evidence bag with a gloved hand. “Is this what you’re lookingfor?”
Inside the bag were Mia’s sunglasses, but they weresmashed.
She took a step forward, reached forthem.
Wu shook his head. “Sorry, Ms. Starr, but the sunglasses areevidence.”
Mia supposed it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be wearing them again. “When will you know whether Andyis…?”
She couldn’t bring herself to sayit.
“We won’t know anything for certain until we find him alive—or find hisbody.”
“God. Right.” She swallowed. “Am I free togo?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Wu answered. “Please don’t discuss this case or anything you might have heard or seen here with themedia.”
Asif.
“Noproblem.”
“I’m sorry about yourfriend.”
“Thanks.” Mia turned and, ignoring people’s stares, crossed the lawn, ducked under the tape, and walked back to her car, a dull ache settling in herchest.
Damn it,Andy!
Who had done this? Whoever they were, they must have arrived right after she’d left. She hadn’t been gone that long—an hourtops.
“Ms. Starr, hey, are you okay to drive?” The photographer had followed her, camera bag slung over his shoulder. “If there’s someone I can call or if you need alift…”
She clicked the fob that unlocked her Mazda and opened the door. She was used to taking care of herself. “I’ll befine.”
She climbed into her vehicle, shut the door, and slid her key into the ignition, but it was a good five minutes before she droveaway.
* * *
Fuck,it wascold.
Huddled in his down parka, he watched from a safe distance while the cops finished up and turned the mess he’d made over to a crime scene cleanup crew. “Poor Andy. You never saw itcoming.”
He chuckled to himself, ignoring the pain in his skull. It had been more exhilarating than he’d imagined, and this was just thebeginning.
One by one, he would get themall.
If he’d planned this better, he might have been able to pin it on Mia. It was clear the police considered the bitch a suspect. Oh, it would be sweet to see Mia Starr locked up forever. The stupid cunt. She more than deservedit.
Needles jabbed against his temples, his eyes, the inside of hisskull.