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“We need the names of those interns. Only thing is, McCormick doesn’t have the records anymore.”
“We just know of a Kurt, no last name. Our best shot might be Ian Moss at Garrison & Marrow. If not him, then Human Resources. They might be able to look up the unpaid interns that came over from Between the Pages.”
“Except, there were five years in there between Chapman’s time and the acquisition. Those unpaid interns could have gone on to get paid positions.”
“Good thinking. Then we’re interested in employees that were taken on.”
“I think it’s worth a try, but it’s not likely to go anywhere until Monday.”
It was extremely frustrating to feel on the cusp of unraveling everything only to hit a wall. Then again, they could be all wrong about the interns. There might be nothing there at all. “Okay, what about Chapman’s best friend, Victoria Eaton? She mentioned the other interns.”
Trent bobbed his head. “She might have names for us.”
“I say let’s get over to her place and have a chat. Hopefully she’s home on a Saturday afternoon.”
“Let me get her address.” Trent tapped into the onboard computer.
“On another note, we know from Kelley’s phone records that she contacted Chapman’s parents. Did she ask them about the bribe or net something else from them? I think we need to find out. You wouldn’t happen to have their number, would you?”
“Yep.” Trent paused what he was doing on the computer and pulled out the tablet. He prattled off the digits as she pecked them into her phone.
She listened to the line ring repeatedly and had a feeling where this was going to lead. No sooner had she accepted her fate than she landed in voicemail. She left a message for them to call once they got the message.
“I have an address for Victoria Eaton.”
Amanda gestured out the windshield. “No time like the present. Hit the—” She was going to say gas pedal, but her ringing phone cut her off. Caller ID told her it was Malone. “What have you got for us?”
“There’s one way to answer the phone.”
“It’s efficient,” she said with a smile and put the call on speaker. It felt like an hour before Malone spoke.
“There’s nothing online about Felicity Kelley’s murder resembling ones from her book.”
Amanda let out a breath, even though she’d since put the possibility of someone copying a copycat out of her mind.
“So that’s good news. You’re looking for one killer. I have something else for you too. One of the canvassing officers came back with this little tidbit. A neighbor across the street from Burr’s house saw a cab from Benji’s Taxi drive past around ten o’clock last night. Apparently, this eyewitness is a little sketchy on the exact time but was confident in saying thereabouts.”
Tingles danced over Amanda’s neck and down her arms. The man in the ball cap had approached the Tipsy Moose Alehouse, from where taxis and car services drop off their fares… “That’s interesting.”
“Talk to me,” Malone said.
Trent jumped in and informed him about their trip to the Tipsy Moose and the mystery man wearing a Washington Nationals baseball hat.
“And you’re sure this guy got into a taxi?”
“He was most likely dropped off by one anyway,” Amanda said. “That part isn’t covered by the security camera. But Moose didn’t recognize the guy, so he’s either new to town or visiting.”
“Let me get this straight. This guy just saddled up next to Burr and made conversation with her for hours. You sure he was a stranger to her? If so, why would she let him into her house?”
Amanda pinched her eyes shut for a moment. It was far too easy to go down rabbit holes during investigations. “We don’t have all the answers, but he could have established some trust.
“Chatting with someone at the bar is one thing, but for that person to show up on your doorstep shortly after is quite another,” Malone pointed out.
“Now, you said the taxi was seen out front around ten. That was when Burr texted her boyfriend that she got in. So that man could have followed her from the bar. But there’s nothing saying he didn’t threaten her at knifepoint or gunpoint,” Amanda suggested.
“Or maybe Burr was going to hook up with this guy. Consider that?” Malone asked.
“I got the feeling from talking with the boyfriend their relationship was in a good spot. While taken on its own, the scene might speak to a romantic rendezvous, we can’t ignore the stark resemblance to the murder in The Romeo Killer. And the knife being from the same set as the one used on Felicity. We need a warrant for the security footage from inside the cab. It might give us a look at the fare’s face.”
