Page 26 of Claimed By the Deputies

“It is, but it’s a murder scene,” I reply with a shrug, doing my best to seem detached. “I guess I should try to get used to it.”

“You never get used to it. You learn to stomach it better, but that’s about it. It still haunts you.”

Looking around, I see the typical home of a young woman, much like me. Not as tidy or organized, but then again, I never fell into the well of drug abuse. I do my best to empathize, to try and understand what Dina was about.

“You said you have a gift for perception,” Mitch comes into the room. “How does that work, exactly?”

“I’m just really observant, beyond the norm. My IQ is well above average, and from a young age, I began to notice everything.”I chuckle with self-deprecation. “And I meaneverything. Every sign, every detail, every subtle change in body language.”

“Growing up in the foster system, I’m guessing you had your fair share of unpleasant living situations,” Tyler mutters from the bathroom. “You had to pay attention to everything in order to avoid trouble, to survive.”

“That’s right.” I sigh deeply. “It made me sharp, though. I can’t say I regret it.”

“Okay, so what can you tell us about Dina, then?” Mitch asks.

“Have you scrubbed her phone yet?” I reply with a question of my own.

Lucas smiles broadly, and I love the way it makes me feel. As if I’m the only girl in the world, regardless of where we are or what we’re doing. “Our techs went through her emails, banking app, photos, texts. She was getting her oxy prescription filled at another drugstore, the only Walgreens in town. Then, as of autumn last year, she became a regular at this Hamilton spot.”

“And Tanya?”

“Pretty much the same story except she was getting her prescriptions initially filled at the Hamilton drugstore on Pembury Road before moving to the same one as Dina.”

“What about their social media activity?”

“On the money again,” Mitch laughs. “Tassia, you are on a roll today. Both befriended William Jade on social media, right around the same time they started getting their prescriptions filled at his drugstore.”

I turn my attention to the bedroom. I look through her drawers, closet, bathroom cabinet, nightstand, and every other nook and cranny in sight. By the time I’m done, I feel as though I’ve known Dina my whole life.

“Dina was a vegan before this all started. She was against animal cruelty and she made monthly donations to PETA,” I announce. Before Lucas can ask me how I figured that out, I show him the rubber imprinted bracelets hanging by her vanity mirror. “Those are sent as gifts for monthly donations. Tokens of gratitude, each with a message about what PETA stands for.”

“Animals deserve better,” he reads one of the token messages aloud. “Okay. Animal lover and vegan. What else?”

“Dina was into Nu Metal, which is kind of rare, given her age. She listens to the kind of music you guys probably grew up with, as evidenced by the Linkin Park mini posters on the side of her dresser.”

“Ouch,” Tyler groans. “Did you just call us old?”

I give him a perky smile and a playful wink. “Just well-seasoned. It’s a good thing.”

He gives me a look that causes butterflies to dance in my stomach. I struggle to focus on the rest of my findings regarding Dina’s life and personality. I look around again to find a point of anchor.

“I’m pretty sure the oxy took over her life completely. The addiction damn near destroyed her. Look at the vanity table. The dust settled on her makeup. The fancy clothes forgotten on their hangers. The dried-up nail polish. She stuck to the basics. We’re looking at a woman who more or less let herself go but was still sexually active.”

“How do you—” Mitch starts to question me, but I politely cut him off.

“Condoms in the bedside drawer, plus a couple of torn wrappers by the foot of the bed. I’ll bet money she was screwing William Jade in exchange for drugs.”

By the time we’re done at Dina’s townhouse, Lucas and the guys are stoked at what I found.

“We’ve got some fresh leads to follow here,” Lucas says. “We’ll interview William Jade next. I suggest we each take turns.”

“Good idea. And we’ll need talking points for each time one of us goes at him,” Tyler replies. “I’ll drill him about Dina.”

“I’ll drill him about Tanya,” Mitch offers.

“And I’ll try to get him to give us something useful regarding the drugs he was dealing. I already spoke to the DA; he’s willing to offer a deal for a reduced sentence if he cooperates,” Lucas says.

I scoff, bile rising in my throat. “A reduced sentence after he murdered two women in cold blood?”

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