Page 42 of Wicked and Claimed

RedHotSavvySleuth: True. And if I were doing this, I’d use some sort of industrial vehicle that looks like a delivery van or trash truck—something most people would never question.

JasperThePrivateDick: Yes. That would also explain why some of these abductions have been in broad daylight during very busy times, but no one saw anything.

RedHotSavvySleuth: Exactly. Did the cop say he’d talked to any of the regular food-court employees?

JasperThePrivateDick: It’s not actually his case, but he hears things… I’ll add that to my list. I’m sure they have but who or what was asked, I don’t know.

RedHotSavvySleuth: If we could get our hands on that information, it might be really helpful.

They filled the message screen for another ten minutes before realizing they’d hit something of a dead end with the information they currently shared. Questions had few or no answers, and they could speculate themselves in circles, but that helped no one, least of all those poor women who had been abducted and had now been missing anywhere from eighteen months to ten days.

JasperThePrivateDick: I wish we knew more.

RedHotSavvySleuth: Me, too. I feel helpless. I really want to drive out there and poke around. They don’t close for another couple of hours. Maybe I can find some security guards or restaurant employees to ask our questions.

JasperThePrivateDick: No! It’s too dangerous. For all we know, the assailants are watching and waiting for either another opportunity or anyone who could thwart them. I’ve gathered from your profile that you’re female, and I’m going to guess that you fit into the victims’ age range. Am I right, Red?

RedHotSavvySleuth: Yes, but I can take care of myself.

JasperThePrivateDick: Do you think there’s ever been a victim of such a crime who didn’t feel the same way?

RedHotSavvySleuth: Point taken. You sound a lot like my ex. He forbade me to do anything even slightly dangerous.

JasperThePrivateDick: I don’t know if I like being lumped in with someone stupid enough to let you get away. And before you read that as any sort of flirtation, I promise you my heart is too broken to pursue anyone else. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m here to fill my time, and if I find a friend…I’m happy about that. If we just solve a case, I’ll be happy about that, too. All that said, I think your ex might be onto something. Besides, you may only get one opportunity to interview these people. You want to do it when you have enough facts to ask the right questions. Not on a Monday night when you’ll be rushed and you’re still grappling to understand what’s going on. Not to mention the fact you don’t know whether they’re working today. Or hell, if they’re working there anymore at all.

RedHotSavvySleuth: You have valid points. Sometimes, I’m impulsive and it gets me into trouble. When I see something that needs to be done, I tend to want to do it right this minute and cross it off my list, you know? Or am I the only crazy one like that?

JasperThePrivateDick: I’m all for getting things done, but I tend to be somewhat measured. But maybe that’s age. I seem to recall a few years ago—well, maybe more than a few—that I was fairly gung ho, too. But I do agree with your ex on one thing. You need to stay safe. You can’t do anyone any good if you’re hurt—or worse.

He wasn’t wrong, Haisley supposed. She wasn’t trained for interrogation, much less combat. If someone needed a boost to their Instagram, she was the woman for the job. Sure, she liked investigating murders…from the safety of her living room. She wasn’t afraid of life, but she wasn’t stupid, either. She knew her limitations.

RedHotSavvySleuth: Point taken. I’ll stay in tonight. It’s not like I don’t have a lot to think about.

JasperThePrivateDick: Got your ex on your mind?

RedHotSavvySleuth: Yeah. I mean, I’m thinking about this case, too, but I haven’t seen him in a couple of years. All of a sudden, he’s popped up twice in the last few days. I wasn’t braced to see him either time.

JasperThePrivateDick: You in love with him?

RedHotSavvySleuth: It’s complicated. And pointless to dissect now. I was just a fun convenience for him.

JasperThePrivateDick: Are you sure it wasn’t more?

RedHotSavvySleuth: Positive. The feelings were all one-sided, but whatever. When he figures out I won’t be his anything with benefits again, he’ll give up…and that will be that.

JasperThePrivateDick: From where I sit, you deserve more than to be someone’s occasional toy. Are you sure he’s not more serious about you?

RedHotSavvySleuth: Trust me. But the good news is, we’re both dedicated to solving these abductions, so we’ll work well together. Thanks for listening.

Now if I can just figure out how to keep my feelings out of it…

JasperThePrivateDick: Anytime. But one piece of advice? Don’t write him off yet. Take it from someone who would give everything to spend even another moment with his beloved. Cherish every day. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

CHAPTER TEN

The next morning, Haisley hustled into the office—latte in one hand, briefcase in the other—with a lot on her mind.

Her conversation with Jasper played on repeat in her head. She’d almost called Nash last night to fill him in on everything she had learned, but setting a precedent where they talked after work hours, even about work, seemed…risky. Heaven forbid, he wanted to chat about personal stuff or persuaded her to get together to examine some clue she found in the future. Where he was concerned, she was already weak. Relying on her restraint was a recipe for disaster.

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