“That’s good,” Kylie replied.She looked at Faith, and the softness vanished.“I was taking classes at Baltimore City Community College during both murders.”
Faith blinked.She wasn’t used to people anticipating her questions.“I didn’t say we were here to—”
“But you are, and I’m innocent, and I have an alibi, and you can follow up on it.I was in class from one in the afternoon to ten at night two days ago and seven in the morning until three in the afternoon the next morning.Call the college, and you’ll see me on camera.”She smiled sweetly.“I’m studying to be a journalist.”
I’ll bet you are.“We’ll look into that.In the meantime, we’d still like to ask you a few questions.”
“I’d like to make out with Chappell Roan,” Kylie fired back.“Neither of us are gonna get what we want.”
“Why are you being so hostile?”Jessica asked.“We haven’t accused you of anything.”
“Because you guys are just like every other fucking asshole who thinks they can throw their weight around and hurt innocent people.Let me ask you something,Agent.You think Craig Daniels is the first person whose life got fucked up because you cared more about your job than people?”
Faith rubbed her eyes.“You know what?We don’t have time for this.”
“Of course not.And when you’re done with me, you won’t have time for me ever again.But my neighbors are going to know that the fucking FBI visited me.Think they’ll care that I effortlessly proved my innocence?Honestly, whatdoyou think happens to the people you talk to?”
“I think two people were murdered in their own homes,” Faith replied.“I think I’m going to advocate for them.We’ll follow up on your alibi here.On your doorstep.Special Agent Torres?”
“On it,” Jessica replied.
“While she’s doing that,” Faith said.“Tell me why you think Jackson Entwhistle and Raelynn Hayes died.”
“Because they’re fucking pricks.They deserved it.”
“Why?”
“Because they blamed everyone else fortheirmistakes.”
Interesting.That could indicate a revenge motive for their killer.“You’re saying that Jackson Entwhistle and Raelynn Hayes were responsible for the disaster at Thurgood Marshall?”
“Yeah.It’s fucking obvious to anyone who can think.”
Faith was starting to get sick of Kylie’s attitude.“Hey, good for you.You know the F word.Do you know any words that might help me find the serial murderer?”
Kylie scoffed and looked over Faith’s shoulder.Turk snorted, not a growl but a stern enough sound that Kylie’s brusqueness softened a little.“Sandra was a good woman.She was kind and sweet and funny and…”
Moisture came to her eyes, and Faith realized that Kylie had lost more than just a coworker.“And you blamed Entwhistle and Hayes for that?”
“All of them.The whole damned administration.They just threw her under the bus.They needed someone to blame, and she was the person least able to defend herself.You know why her dog missed that bomb?Because she was on hour seventeen of a twenty-hour shift.”
Faith’s surprise must have shown on her face because Kylie continued, “Yeah.That’s the kind of shit they did.I’m sure they still do.”She ran a hand over her eyes and flung the tears angrily to the floor.“I didn’t kill anyone, and I’m guessing your friend is about to tell you that because she looks pissed.But I’m not sorry they’re dead.When I heard Jackson was stabbed through the neck, I poured a glass of wine to celebrate and drank it next to my picture of Sandra.”She leaned forward.“Good fucking riddance.”
Her eyes dared Faith to call her out again for her language.Her eyes blazed with grief and anger and triumph.Faith wondered if the killer knew they were a hero to at least one grieving resident of Baltimore.She wondered if that made it easier for them to know that they were monsters to other grieving residents.She suspected he didn't much care either way.This was about the message to him.
“She’s clean,” Jessica said.“Security cameras have her moving in between classrooms at the campus.”
Kylie smiled.It reminded Faith uncomfortably of Bridgette’s toothy grin.“Aww, wittle agent didn’t get her kiwwer?”
Faith ignored her and led Jessica and Turk away.Kylie’s mocking laughter followed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I’m not sure what you expect to learn from me.He was barely here during the last six months of his life.”
David smiled sheepishly at Dr.Abigail Wilkerson.Faith called it his “aw, shucks” grin and said it made him look gentle and harmless, like a plushie in the shape of a smiling donut.
David didn’t think of it that way, but he knew the practiced smile was excellent at calming nervous patients and their oftentimes even more nervous humans.He hoped it would predispose Dr.Wilkerson to share some bit of information that he could use in his investigation into the 93rd.