Private Affair(69)
When Brian didn’t answer the question about the boys’ trip into Baltimore, Max pressed, “And Tommy didn’t tell you either?”
“No.”
Max nodded. “Okay, knowing they went down there is helpful.”
Brian shook his head. “It isn’t much.”
“It’s a lead.” He cleared his throat. “Claire’s death changes things.”
“Why?”
“Well, actually that started with Angela. Until then, the killer was stealthy. He made sure nobody knew the previous deaths were murders. Then he came out and strangled Angela. And last night he lured Claire to Olivia’s house so he could kill them both. With a gun. He’s not trying to conceal his moves.”
“But what’s his motive for killing class members?” Brian pressed. “I mean, we graduated ten years ago. Why now?”
“That’s the tricky part. It’s not like we can draw an arrow to any one motive—unless it’s directly related to Gary. Until we come up with more information, we can only speculate. And that makes him more dangerous. If you want some advice, I’d get out of town for a few days.”
“I was already thinking about that.”
“The guy who killed Claire is out of control. It’s like he’s trying to wipe the slate clean, and he’s getting reckless.”
“Yeah.”
“So get out of his way for a few days.”
“And you’ll have it cleared up by then?” Brian asked sarcastically. “When the cops are still standing around holding their…” He stopped and glanced at Olivia. “Sorry, I’m on edge.”
“We all are.”
“I think things are moving fast,” Max said. He looked at Olivia. “Come on, we’ve got something we can work with.”
They left the office, glancing at Ms. Holiday as they passed her desk. She gave them a questioning look.
“Bring your boss a glass of water,” Max said. “Or if he keeps liquor in the office, he might want something stronger.”
Before she could comment, they exited the office, neither one of them speaking again until they’d climbed into Max’s SUV and closed the doors.
“How does what he said about their going down to Baltimore help us?” she asked. “I mean, if they visited a prostitute, it could be anyone.”
“Yeah, but I used to work vice down there, and I have some contacts among the working girls. Some of them worked as informants for me.”
“Oh.”
“Let’s start by looking for some of my old contacts.”
“But like Brian said, whatever happened with Troy and Tommy was ten years ago.”
“Right. But it may be memorable enough to find out what happened.” He drummed his fingers on the wheel. “I told Brian he was in danger. Now I’m thinking I should leave you with Shane and Jack.”
“No,” she answered instantly.
“Why not?”
“Because I want to see this thing through. And I’m not going to be any safer with them than I am with you.”
“You’d be out of the action.”
“I was the one who called you in the first place. And I’m not going to hide in a closet while you’re out investigating.”
He sighed. “Okay, I get that. But we’re going into a rough neighborhood. Stay close to me and keep your head down.”
She expected him to pull out of the parking space. Instead he pulled out his phone and dialed. When someone answered, she could tell he was talking to his partners.
“Olivia and I have some new information. We’re going down to Baltimore to follow a lead.”
In answer to a question, he conveyed what Brian had said.
After listening to the reaction on the other end of the line, he said, “Olivia wants to go along, but I figured I’d better clue you in to our location.”
Again he listened, and she saw his expression change. “Good. Keep me posted.”
“What?” she asked when he’d hung up.
“The results came back on the DNA.”
She leaned toward him. “They know who it was who strung that barbed wire in the woods? Then we don’t have to go down to Baltimore after all.”
He sighed. “I wish it were that simple. The DNA from the blood on the shirt was good enough to type. But that doesn’t mean we know who the guy is.”
When she looked confused, he explained it to her. “It can be identified as one particular individual. Now Shane is hoping a friend of his in the Montgomery PD will do a search of the Maryland criminal database. But even if his friend will do it, the perp might not have a record. So we’ll stick to our original plan unless he calls back with a name we can take to the bank.”