Page 29 of Three Girls Gone
THIRTEEN
Amanda watched Katherine’s Mercedes following them in the side mirror as Trent drove them back to Central. The plan was they’d set Katherine up in the conference room while they filled Malone in and petitioned for Katherine’s collaboration. The conversation wasn’t one Amanda looked forward to, but necessary. If there was even a slim chance Katherine’s knowledge could help bring this person down, they needed her on the team.
On the way, Amanda called CSI Blair and got a number for CSIs Vanessa Stuart and Ruth Keller, who were assigned to the Tanner residence. She tried Keller first and landed in her voicemail. Next, she punched in Stuart’s digits. Another recorded greeting, but she left a message there, exasperated. “Investigator Stuart, this is Detective Steele. Please call me with an update on the Tanner residence.” She hung up and turned to Trent, shook her head. “Neither of them is answering.”
“They could still be working.”
“Taking their sweet time then.” She added their names and numbers to her contacts, so she’d identify them when they called back.
“Better thorough than speedy.”
“Somewhere in the middle would be ideal.”
They went into the station, escorted Katherine to the conference room, and carried on to Malone’s office. Amanda knocked on the doorframe, and he looked up from his desk and flipped his readers off his nose.
Amanda sat down.So here goes…She laid everything out, the note in the hem, the connection to the Gilbert case and Katherine, stopping short of requesting that Katherine be brought in to help.
Malone’s cheeks flamed red. “What the heck is she thinking?”
For him,heckwas the equivalent of the F-word. “It’s clear this person wants someone to blame, Sarge.” Amanda stepped up to Katherine’s defense. “Whether it was her or another detective poking around, we’d likely be in the same place.”
“Except you can’t know that. She’s a civilian. This is an NYPD case from twelve years ago.”
If Malone was looped in on the full picture, he might show more understanding and compassion. Trent looked over at her. “There’s something else,” she said and admitted they spoke to Katherine before coming here.
“Are you kidding me?”
Amanda shrank in her chair. “She’s willing to help.”
Malone’s face darkened. “Why should that matter? I can’t authorize that. Have her hand over the names and step away.”
“As Amanda was getting to, boss—” Trent was shut down by a sharp look from Malone.
“Let me guess. Her familiarity with the case could be an asset? But I don’t care if she has a lot to offer. She’s acivilian. How can I possibly justify bringing her in to work on an active investigation in an official capacity? Especially one in which a killer threatened further victims if she keeps poking around.”
Amanda questioned the source of his issue. Was it as simpleas he said, or was it influenced by Chief Buchanan’s hold over him? But she’d use Malone’s “blue” code against him. It was also what he’d said when Katherine was abducted. “What happened to once a cop, always a cop?”
“Don’t test me, Steele.”
He’d pulled out her surname. It might be time to back off, but she was worked up to defend Katherine as one mother to another. An injustice had been inflicted on her, as it had with Amanda’s family. “I’m sure we can assume the threat extends to anyone who tries to stop him. This guy can’t be stupid enough to think we’ll ignore his crimes and let him get away with them. Katherine can help us, boss. She has contacts and knows this case inside out.”
Malone settled back in his chair, dangling his readers between his thumb and index finger of his left hand. “Fine, I’ll talk with her, but that’s all I can promise.”
“All I’m asking. For now.” She smiled at him when he drilled her with a serious expression. But she could afford to push things with him a bit. Malone had been a friend of her father’s for decades and around her family all her life.
They joined Katherine in the conference room.
“Katherine,” Malone said as a way of greeting.
“Sergeant Malone,” she responded.
“I’d ask how you’re doing, but since I understand you’re in the loop, there’s no point.” Malone sat at the head of the table, putting Katherine on his right.
Amanda and Trent sat next to each other on his left.
“I’m not sure how much you know.” Katherine looked at Amanda.
She shook her head, and Katherine put her gaze back on Malone.
