Page 134 of Secrets Along the Shore
“Did you mention him to the police?”
For the first time, her eyes widen with just a hint of doubt, quickly replaced by an indifferent sneer. “Why would I? That was almost two years before. She hadn’t talked about him in a long while.”
She thinks I’m judging her for not bringing Miller up to the police.
I need to shift to something neutral. I don’t want to alienate the only potential witness we’ve got. “How long did Kamden live with you before she went missing?”
“Three years.”
“What was she like?”
“Like, her personality?”
I nod.
Serenity’s stare momentarily lifts to the ceiling before returning to me. “Life of the party. Funny. Bold. She never took anything off anyone, at least not after that Donny guy.”
I sniff, lean my forearms on my knees, and fold my hands. I’ve gotten a little from her, but not nearly what I’d hoped and definitely not nearly what I need. She’s shifting in her seat and sighing, playing with her hands. My time’s almost up.
“Okay, I know you said there wasn’t anything bad going on…nothing that made you think something bad had happened to Kamden, but—and take a second toreallythink about it—was there anything…anything at all…different in the weeks leading up to her disappearance? Different or unusual in any way?”
Serenity closes her eyes, tilts her head and takes ten whole seconds before lifting her eyelids slowly. “I mean, I don’t know if this counts…”
“What?”
“I think she was…happier. I guess that was different. Even caught her humming a couple times. I asked her what fairy flew up her butt, and she laughed. Said she was about to get a big payday.”
My Spidey-senses tingle. “What did she say, exactly?”
“I just told you. That she was getting a payday soon.”
“What do you think she meant? What kind of payday?”
A scream sounds from the back of the house, but we both ignore it. “No idea. I assumed it was a big drug deal.”
Finally…something a detective might call a clue.
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Serenity givesme all of Kamden’s personal items—two boxes’ worth—that she had been storing in the basement. A cursory examination of the contents turns up nothing helpful.
After she helps me carry the boxes to my Jeep, I use a spare set of keys to unlock Kamden’s Accord, then poke my head in and take a quick look around. It’s clean—only a few discarded receipts and empty diet soda cans lie on the floor. A miniature rubber duck wearing a sunhat and a grass skirt sits on the dash. Nothing of interest is hiding under the seats, in the glove box, center console, or trunk.
I slam the trunk lid shut and turn to Serenity. “I’ll need a list of everyone who’s used the car and their contact information.”
“Okay.”
“Were the police surprised Kamden left her car behind?”
“I asked them the same question. But then they asked me if she’d ever done it before, and since she had…”
“Right. You said you drove her car. Did you clean the inside? Or run it through a wash?”
Serenity rolls her eyes. “I haven’t even done that with my own car.”
“Did anything in the car suggest where Kamden went last? Or if anyone had been in the car with her?”
