“Okay. That’s useful to know.” Evie studied the information on the board. “So this is the life of an infatuated fan.”
“Pretty much,” David confirmed, “but one we haven’t considered to be of particular concern, and nowhere near our most-dangerous list. The next circle over from obsessed is groupies, those who do have the freedom, with time and money to travel to every show. They’re not always as passionate between shows, but will know the music just as deeply. Lynne’s not a groupie, even though she appears to be an all-things-Maggie trivia buff, or a stalker, not even an overly obsessed fan—those want to marry Maggie or ask if they can have her trash. The requests get a bit strange.”
Evie smiled. “The things I’m learning about the music world astonish me. So Lynne’s an obsessed fan, but a normal one.”
“Basically.”
“Does her social media show a current boyfriend? Links to other bands?”
“There’s no boyfriend she’s highlighting in current pictures or mentions spending time with. She steadily puts up posts about bands appearing at the Music Hall, but she’s loyal to Triple M and Maggie. Other music is ‘good’ or ‘I liked this’ or ‘this singer is promising.’ But it’s not the gushing you get about Maggie, what Lynne thinks of her newest songs.”
“How early do you think we can talk with Lynne?” Evie asked.
David weighed the question. “She’s accustomed to working nights, so I doubt she’s an early riser. The Music Hall opens its doors at five p.m., staff probably start work around three p.m. for sound checks, four for concession prep. If she’s working the dressing room, let’s split the difference—she works an eight-hour shift, three-thirty to eleven-thirty p.m., with a half-hour dinner break. That matches up with the recent paychecks.
“We can sit on her house early, probably see her parents get the newspaper, leave for work, and wait for Lynne to appear. Or we can deliberately ring the doorbell to wake her up once we think she’s alone, catch her off-balance. Low-key would be to stop by the house at noon, one p.m., figuring she’s either up by then or getting up. ‘We have a few more questions about the Music Hall. We would have called, but we were in the area and thought we’d see if you’re home.’ Or we can deliberately approach her at work, then it’s routine. ‘We’re making sure we didn’t miss anyone last time, and oh, did you say when you spoke to Ann that you were friends with Jenna?’”
Evie could see advantages to all three options. “At the house is the most promising, though I think it’s better to have her parents out of the picture when we make the approach. Lynne sees you, she’s going to enter orbit—Maggie’s boyfriend is here at my house talking to me. We can use that if it makes sense to do so or keep you in reserve.”
“Use it. She’s going to get an adrenaline spike, and if I’m the one asking the questions, she’s going to find it very difficult to lie or be that careful in choosing her words. With something to hide, the most revealing moment is when they’re talking without a lot of time to think.”
“I’d be feeling guilty with you taking the lead, knowing how she’ll react, if I didn’t need that utter honesty from her on every fact she has about the night Jenna went missing. But I’m rather relieved to know we’ll get the truth in one conversation. We can figure out if we should be looking at Lynne or clear her of any involvement.”
David studied the whiteboard. “Lynne’s local, has lived in that neighborhood all her life. She would know where to hide a body so it doesn’t get found. She’s got a personality that can lock on to things and make them bigger than what they really are. She gets asked by a cop about the college student who disappeared and doesn’t remember they were friends?” He shook his head. “She over-anticipated how to handle the question because she has something to hide. She could have had a falling-out with Jenna that night, lashed out, and her friend is dead. You may have found your answer to Jenna, but unless we can confirm Lynne is making road trips that aren’t obvious from this first look, it probably doesn’t answer the three smothered victims. But let’s go see Lynne.”
Evie nodded. “Let’s try for casual, noon or one p.m. at her house, before she goes to work. We were in the area, a question came up about the Music Hall, you work in the dressing room area, likely know the answer, can you help us out? If she hasn’t already recognized you, then it’s, ‘Oh, by the way, this is Maggie’s David. We heard you’re a fan of the band Triple M—”