Page 94 of To All the Men I’ve Killed Before

‘Just like, well, we’re here looking for someone, as you know, and she’s just been getting distracted.’ It’s not exactly a lie.

More scribbling. ‘Distracted with what?’

Oh God.

This was a terrible idea.

‘By Agnes!’ I say. He saw them at dinner after all. He thought they were cute.

He purses his lips. ‘Interesting,’ he says. ‘I think I need to speak to Agnes.’

‘Really? Why? She’s as baffled by Antoinette’s disappearance as I am.’

Travis nods slowly. ‘Maybe. Or maybe she knows something.’

I shake my head. ‘There’s no way. Agnes is the sweetest. She’s got a little dog.’

His eyes narrow. ‘Do you know who else had a dog, Kitty?’ I shake my head. ‘Jeffrey Dahmer.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yes.’

‘So, I’m thinking we call Agnes in. See what she knows.’

‘Who’s name-dropping me?’ Agnes pokes her head around the back door. ‘Knock knock.’

‘Come in,’ I say to her. ‘Travis is here.’

She wafts in, Lana Del Gay in her arms, and Travis considers her for a moment.

‘Cute dog,’ he says eventually and Agnes gives him a smile. She puts Lana on the floor before pulling out a chair and sitting next to me. The dog immediately snarls at Travis.

‘Oh be quiet,’ Agnes tells her in a baby voice. She looks back at Travis. ‘Sorry about that. She doesn’t really like men.’

Travis’s eyebrow twitches again.

‘No problem,’ he says and then clears his throat. ‘So Kitty and I are talking about Antoinette’s disappearance.’

Agnes nods solemnly.

‘Where were you the night she went missing?’

‘Excuse me?’ Agnes is taken aback.

Travis leans across the table. ‘Here’s the thing,’ he says. ‘Antoinette hasn’t been seen since the night before last. And she doesn’t know many people in this town. So I need to speak with the people she does know.’

‘I was at home,’ Agnes says. ‘All night. In my room.’

‘Is that so? Can anyone confirm that?’

Agnes’s eyes widen. Two nights ago was the day she was assaulted by Richard Stone.

‘Travis,’ I say. ‘You’re oiling the wrong hinge. Agnes doesn’t know what happened to Antoinette. She’s as worried as I am.’

‘Thank you, Kitty,’ Agnes says with a hard stare at Travis, which Lana Del Gay backs up with a low growl. She turns to me. ‘Have you told him? About the WeHo Ripper?’

Travis flicks his gaze over to me. ‘The what?’