Page 47 of Make No Mistake

Thirteen

I didn’t recognizethe lady sitting behind the front counter when I stepped into the police station. My only hope was that she was as accommodating as the man had been. I wasn’t sure if it was standard protocol for detectives to speak to members of the press or public, or if that man had been kind to me last time I was in.

My fake it ‘til you make it confidence set back in, and I walked to her like I knew exactly what I was doing.

She looked up and met my eyes with a polite smile. “Hi, how can I help you?”

I put on my best smile and cleared my throat softly. “Hi. I’m here to speak with Detective Larson.”

Without hesitation, she turned and walked away. I didn’t let myself relax until I saw her walking back with Larson in her wake.

“Ms. Page.”

I smiled as he opened the door next to the counter and waved me through. He led me back to what I assumed was his office and told me to take a seat.

“Thanks for coming in so soon. What you said last night about the crime scenes was a unique perspective, and I’m interested in hearing what else you have to say.”

I was shocked he was so willing to work with me. It went against almost everything I’d seen on TV. I opened my laptop and read over the notes that I had for each attack. When I finished he nodded with his eyes closed.

I waited silently until they finally opened. “We don’t normally do this, Ms. Page. Especially with an open investigation.” He paused for what I assumed was dramatic effect. “But every once in a while we seek outside consultants.”

I nodded with his words. I understood what he was saying.

“I’ll set up a time for you to meet and interview the last two victims in exchange for your findings.”

“So I just have to tell you what I find out?”

He nods. “Yes, and when you find it out. Not a week later.”

“I understand.”

“Good. I’ll set up the meetings and let you know. Just write down your information.”

I nodded as he slid a pen and notepad toward me. This was my big break. I had such a strong feeling that this was it. All I needed was the chance to talk to the girls and I would have the break I needed.

“I’ll be in touch.” He stood and walked me out of the station with a brief goodbye.

Part of me couldn’t wait to tell Aubrey and Jay, but another part wanted to have more before I told them. I wanted to impress them with the work that I’d done.

I was sick of feeling inadequate. Like a failure for not measuring up to my friends, and this was my chance to proof to myself that I did.

My senior project was going to be one that people in the program talked about for years to come. I just needed to solve this case.

Detective Larson surprisedme for the second time in a day when he called me just an hour later to tell me that the second victim, Nikki, agreed to meet me at a coffee shop near campus.

“She’ll be there at two.” With that, he hung up. I checked the time and had about a half hour to get to the other side of campus to meet her.

It would have been great to meet her at the path she’d been running to see exactly where it happened and to see if it helped her remember anything, but I understood wanting to meet in a neutral place.

I got to the shop and went in to save a table in the back so we would have more privacy. While I waited, I typed out some notes and questions I wanted to cover.

“Mckayla?”

I looked up at my name and smiled at the pretty blond. “Hi, Nikki.”

She slid into the chair across from me and looked tense.

“Sorry, Detective Larson didn’t give me much to go on other than you were blond and always had your laptop with you.”