Page 10 of The Lost Bones
“I went to school with her.”
Clint nodded, understanding, and turned back to the computer. “How’s post-documentary life treating you?”
She paused. Clint was never one to make small talk. “You know.”
“Sorry?”
“About the body in my car.”
He shrugged. “People talk. How’ve you been doing?”
“Peachy,” she muttered. Her mind wandered to what Nick and Anthony were talking about, whether there was some clue in her car.
“GPS is off. It was active last night at close to six in the evening. Triangulation gives the area, which I’m sending to you now.”
“This is good. She left work just after five. This will give us something.” She opened her email. “Thanks, Clint.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it?” Clint said, tapping a pen against the table and narrowing his eyes at her.
“What is?”
“First the body in your car, and now your friend from school is missing. Two overlapping cases, and the only common element is you.” He turned back to his computer, already losing interest in what he’d said.
But as Mackenzie walked away, goosebumps dotted her arms.
SEVEN
Mackenzie was never comforted by sunny days. She lowered the sun visor to shield herself from the blazing light intent on burning her corneas. The Lakemore PD had given her a squad car temporarily to get around. It was too conspicuous and something she wasn’t used to anymore. She threaded through the small lanes of the town, avoiding taking any highways or main streets. She liked to drive past little corners, to discover a pond or a small patch of lonely woods. With Lakemore, she felt like she was always scratching the surface, trying to find something redeeming and good underneath the crusty film of destitution and violence.
She brought the car to a halt at a stop sign. On her side there was a park where some kids were playing on the monkey bars. They deserved better. It was only a matter of time before they would see what she saw every day. She had always had faith in Lakemore, staunchly defending it to critics. But it was ironic that during the most peaceful time there, her faith had begun to waver.
She pulled in next to an office building close to the Plaza, where Courtney’s phone had last been active. It was a law office. Beeker and Associates. There was a small parking lot with many cars. Courtney drove a red Toyota Prius. It was still here.
She made a quick call to Peterson. She was used to having Justin Armstrong assisting her, the military-like junior detective, but he had recently earned a well-deserved promotion and become partners with Austin.
“Peterson, I found Courtney Montenegro’s car. I’m sending you the address; bring a team here to go through it,” she said. “Also, did you call her bank and flag her credit and debit cards?”
“Yes, they haven’t been used yet.”
“Have you heard anything about the other case?” she asked on impulse, and immediately regretted it. She didn’t share the same level of comfort with Peterson she had with Justin.
“Uh, no… I haven’t.”
She hung up, embarrassed. Sophie had planted herself like a seed in her mind. Shrugging it off, she headed inside the swanky law office. The reception had a skylight and a row of fake plants with shiny plastic leaves in the front. The man sitting behind the desk with a headset didn’t even blink when she showed her credentials. A law office was probably used to having visits from the police.
“Do you know this woman?” She handed him a picture.
He took his time and then nodded. “Yeah, I think she was here yesterday in a meeting with Mr. Beeker.”
“She’s missing. I need to talk to him.”
He checked something on his tablet. “You can go right ahead.”
She followed his directions to a room with the door already open. It was a corner office with wood-paneled walls. A large man with a goatee was seated at the desk with a phone tucked under his ear. When he saw Mackenzie, he frowned. But when she showed her badge, his face fell.
“I’m going to have to call you back.” He hung up. “How can I help?”
Mackenzie took a seat. “I’m investigating the disappearance of Courtney Montenegro. She didn’t return home last night.”
