Stolen Daughters Carolyn Arnold (primary phonics books TXT) 📖

“Am I a suspect here?”

“Not at all,” Amanda assured him. “But Trent’s question is still valid.”

Justin grimaced, seemingly not soothed by her response. “I was getting ready for bed, if you must know. I have a habit of making sure my doors are all locked, and when I do, I look out the windows. It was when I was at the front door that I saw the three of them.”

It was probably a good time to ask the question Amanda had burning inside of her. “Why didn’t you call the police?”

“I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed.”

“But you knew the house was vacant, and he wasn’t the real estate agent. Then there’s the two young women appearing to be drunk off their feet. None of this seemed hinky to you?” she asked him, putting it out there as casually as possible.

“Honestly?” Justin sighed.

“That would be refreshing.” Amanda gave him an encouraging smile.

“I didn’t know what they were up to, and I didn’t want the police showing up and it being something innocent that I had misinterpreted, making me look like a fool. And if it was something, and they were up to no good and found out that I’d snitched… I just didn’t want to draw a target on my head.”

A target? He’d probably read the article about Fox’s mutilation. Her mind skipped to Malone’s idea of a tip line. Would anyone call? She needed to stress the importance of speaking up. “We’ll only grow stronger as a community if we look out for each other, Mr. Cooper.”

“I appreciate that, but—” he shook his head “—I didn’t want to get involved. As I said, I was tired and wanted to go to bed.”

She mulled over what he’d told them so far and what else he might know that could help them, then landed on something. “Did you see what direction they came from?” If he had, they could backtrack the trio’s steps and maybe get somewhere useful.

“Yeah. From that direction.” Justin pointed a finger and indicated the west.

Stashing that fact away, she pulled out her business card and got to her feet. She extended it to Justin, who asked that she put it on his side table.

“Germs,” he mumbled.

“May I suggest something, Mr. Cooper?” Amanda started. “Continue to lock your windows and doors, and if anyone comes to your door that you don’t know, talk to them through the door. Don’t let them in, no matter what. Even if they say they’re a reporter or a cop, you call me.”

Justin glanced at the card and then back to her. “Will do.”

“Thank you.” Amanda didn’t want to frighten him, but she felt it necessary to warn him to be diligent. The killer they were after was unpredictable and looking for a reason to kill. Exhibit A: Shannon Fox. She didn’t want to add Justin Cooper to the list of victims.

Thirty-Nine

After leaving Justin Cooper’s place, Amanda called Malone. He answered on the third ring. “Was just starting to wonder if you were going to answer.”

“What do you need?”

Malone’s sharp and pointed response surprised her. “Everything all right?” He seemed his normal self when she’d left him.

“Fine, but I’m really busy. You called me. What do you need?”

“Ah, Trent and I just finished talking to the eyewitness.” She paused, expecting him to inquire how it went and whether they obtained any good leads, but he said nothing. She updated him anyhow, then added, “I need you to reach out to a sergeant from the uniformed officers division. Canvassing officers need to know that the witness saw a man and two young women coming from the west around midnight. They might want to extend their reach a few blocks in that direction. Even branch out onto some side streets.”

“Sure. That all?”

What the heck is his issue?

“Detective?” he prompted.

She wanted to ask again if he was all right, but she knew better. “Ah, yeah. If the officers could submit their interviews to me and Trent as fast as possible, including the ones conducted with the people in the crowd, that would be great.”

“That all?”

She considered asking how he’d made out with the real estate agent but thought he would have said if he had anything. “Yeah, that’s—” And he hung up on her. She held out her phone to verify that, yes, he had, in fact, ended the call.

“What’s up?” Trent asked.

“Good question. Malone’s acting strange.” At least toward her. His reputation around the department was that he was a little gruff, all business, and matter-of-fact, but he’d never shown that side to her before now.

“He’s probably just coming to grips with the fact that Prince William County has a serial killer. Again.” Trent added the later bit, and it stamped home the sad reality. Their poor county seemed to be a ripe poaching ground for psychopaths. Then again, they were close to Washington. Politics. Politicians. She would have found her train of thought amusing if it weren’t for the fact two more people were dead, likely the young women Justin Cooper had seen.

She gestured for Trent to join her, and they started down the sidewalk, heading west. She didn’t even know what she was looking for and hoped if there was something noteworthy to the case, she’d be able to pick it out. But sometimes the relevance didn’t crystallize until later, once other factors entered in.

Her phone rang, and they stopped walking.

She expected caller ID to show Malone, that he was calling to explain why he’d been rather rude, but it showed as Unknown. “Detective Amanda Steele,” she answered.

“This is Dr. Jeffery from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.”

A quick look around confirmed no one else was within earshot. “One second. I’m going to put you on speaker.” Amanda pulled her phone back and could hear Jeffery talking as if she hadn’t heard Amanda. She clicked the button for speaker and then cut into Jeffery’s speech. “Can you start again, please?”

There was an audible sigh. “I heard