Hailey’s expression creases as she wrings her hands. “She hasn’t said anything about Travis, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t try to contact her. He was obsessive over her, but she would have told me if he kept bothering her. The last contact she told me about was an altercation she had with him at work before we moved here.” Hailey’s brow furrows as she looks at her brother. “Did you think Travis was dangerous?”
Ryder shakes his head. “He was clueless and thickheaded, but she talked about him more like he was a nuisance than someone she was afraid of.”
The question is, would Jessica let herself feel fear? Or would she brush it off because she believes she’s invincible?
“Statistically, he’s the most likely suspect,” Mitch says.
“Agreed.” The word comes out level and controlled. I address Hailey. “Do you have her password?”
She nods, and Ryder’s already handing her the phone to unlock. Quickly, she presses numbers on the screen and turns it over to me. The first thing I do is see what apps are open, and that’s where I find the first ray of hope, because she recorded something on her voice memos.
“Thank fuck, she’s smart.” I hold out the phone and press play.
Through the speaker, it sounds like she’s walking, her heels clicking on pavement. The recording is garbled and loud, but indistinguishable, like it’s pressing against fabric or is in her purse.
Her voice comes over the line. Hey! Stop that.
More rustling and muffled noises. I hear voices but can’t make anything out for a good thirty seconds until the sound clears up.
Man: Shut up.
Jessica: You’re overreacting.
Man: I have nothing to do with that project. Stop hounding me.
Jessica: I’m not. It was a simple question. Shane Donovan said you were involved in the early stages, and I had some holes I thought you could fill in.
Man: What’s it to you?
Jessica: I’m the lawyer working on the environmental impact report, and I wondered if you dropped out of the project for a reason I should know about. People don’t usually bail on multimillion-dollar deals without a reason, and it’s my job to mitigate risk.
There’s a shuffling sound.
Jessica: What is wrong with you? Let go of me.
Man: I’ll take that.
The recording picks up the sounds of the phone hitting the pavement, then Jessica yells, You’re going to regret this!
A car door slams.
An engine roars.
Then nothing.
“Fuck,” Ryder says.
“Go get Shane,” I snap to Mitch.
“On it.” Mitch takes off without hesitation.
I drag my hand through my hair. “I’m going to kill her.”
“You and me both,” Ryder agrees.
My voice is thick with authority when I address Hailey. “Go inside. Do not speak to anyone about this. This needs to be kept as quiet as possible until I figure out next steps.”
She searches my expression before nodding and turning to leave.
