Sight Unseen(66)
“A couple people looked in on her, and she just appeared to be ill,” Metcalf said.
“The last thing most people want to do is tangle with someone who looks like they’re puking their guts out,” Kendra said. “And I guess she was bleeding out from her slashed throat into the toilet?”
“Yes. No one had any idea. She’d probably been dead an hour before anyone realized.”
“San Diego PD realized it was patterned on the Phoenix case?” Lynch asked.
“The homicide detectives knew it right away,” Metcalf said. “We briefed them a few days ago, so they’re on the lookout for any cases that match.”
Lynch glanced around the club, which was empty except for the cops and club employees. “Did anyone see who was in there with her?”
Metcalf shook his head. “Not so far. And the only security cameras are in the offices upstairs.” He gestured toward the bathroom. “You want to take a look?”
Kendra stared at the open door, through which she’d seen half a dozen crime-scene investigators come and go since her arrival. She braced herself. “Yeah. Let’s get this over with.”
They entered the large men’s bathroom, where in front of the last of six stalls, the woman’s corpse was stretched out on the floor. She was on her back, surrounded by a photographer and two crime-scene investigators.
Griffin was standing near the door. “They’ll be done with her in a minute.”
“Who did she come to the club with?” Lynch asked.
“No one. She was a regular, and she always came by herself. A couple of the bartenders knew her. She had a disabled kid at home, and she used to come here to blow off steam.”
Kendra turned toward him. “Disabled how?”
“I don’t know. Whatever it was, she was almost never able to leave the house with her, and this was her only release.”
Kendra turned back toward the corpse. Don’t let it be true. Please, please, please …
She pushed past Griffin and moved quickly toward the back of the bathroom.
One of the crime-scene investigators tried to stop her. “Ma’am, if I can ask you to stand clear while we—”
“No! Get out of my way.” She stared at the dead woman’s face. “No. Oh, shit, no.”
“Kendra?” Lynch and the two FBI agents were suddenly beside her.
Kendra felt her legs weaken, and she fell to her knees. She suddenly realized she was crying. “I know this woman … I know her.”
Lynch knelt beside her, holding her. “Who is she?”
Kendra couldn’t take her eyes off the woman’s once-vibrant face. “Her name is Danica Beale.”
Lynch glanced back at Griffin, who nodded his confirmation.
Kendra wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’ve been to her house. Her daughter is a client of mine. They live with Danica’s parents. The little girl is agoraphobic, and I was trying to help her. My God…” She looked up at Lynch. “You saw her on the embarcadero the other day.”
Lynch nodded.
“That poor woman. And that little girl…” Kendra felt a sudden surge of panic. “This is because of me.”
Lynch turned her to face him and looked her in the eye. “No. I can see how that would be your first reaction. But this atrocity is because there’s a psycho out there. No other reason.”
Kendra shook her head. “He’s upping his game. If it weren’t for me, Danica would still be alive and home with her daughter by now.”
“Maybe. And we’d still be standing over someone else who didn’t deserve to die. This isn’t your fault, Kendra. Not in any way, shape, or form.”
Griffin shook his head. “Maybe the mother of a disabled little girl shouldn’t have been out partying at two in the morning.”
Kendra whirled on him. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” she said fiercely. “She gave her daughter everything she had. And more.”
“I’m just saying…”
“Just stop, Griffin. The more you talk, the more of an ass you make of yourself.”
Griffin motioned toward the door. “Take her outside, Lynch. Let her get some air.”
Kendra pulled away from Lynch. “Let me alone. I’m not going anywhere.”
Griffin frowned. “Under the circumstances I believe—”
“I said I’m not going anywhere.” She looked down at Danica’s face. “Not until I’ve done what I can for her.”
Lynch asked quietly, “Are you really up for this?”
She drew a deep breath. “Give me a minute.”
Kendra closed her eyes for a long moment to clear her head.