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Joy’s Homecoming

Page 143

by Caitlyn O’Leary

“This deep? I'm talking about cached files, deleted emails, browser history. It's like this guy never existed in her digital life. But it’s a good lead. There is something fishy going on. I’m digging even deeper.”

“Could be she made him up. Created a fictional boyfriend to seem more normal,” Simon asked. “You know, to fit in?”

“I could see that,” Ava nodded. “Everything about her is fake, why not a fake boyfriend?”

“No, that’s not it,” Roxie interjected. “I think it would be like how she fixated on Joy. I would bet she fixated on some random guy in her life and made him her boyfriend in her psycho brain.”

“Yeah,” Ava said excitedly. “You’re right.”

“So, a neighbor maybe,” Hart said thoughtfully.

“Or a coworker.” Simon nodded.

“Give me a minute.” Hart started furiously typing.

Hart's fingers flew over his keyboard. “Pulling up Glenda's employment history now.”

Minutes passed while Hart searched and cross-referenced databases. I found myself pacing the small space, my ribs protesting with each step. The pain helped keep me focused.

“Got something.” Hart's voice cut through the tension. “Robert Chen, age thirty-four. Worked in the same accounting firm as Glenda for eight months last year.”

“Where is he now?” Simon asked.

“Dead.” Hart's voice turned grim. “Hit-and-run accident. Never found the driver.”

Ava's sharp intake of breath made everyone turn toward her. “When exactly?”

Hart checked his notes. “Middle of May.”

“Be more specific,” Ava shot out the question. “And tell me the day of the week.”

He looked down at the computer. “Friday, May fifteenth.”

Ava looked around the room. “Does anybody remember when we went to Louey’s? I know it was a Friday in mid-May. Was it the fifteenth?”

Roxie pulled her phone out of her purse. She tapped on her screen and looked up, her mouth open. She nodded. “Yep. That was the night we did karaoke.”

“The night Joy sang,” Ava clarified. “The night Glenda got all hot and bothered about Joy.” Ava nodded.

Roxie's face went pale. “The night she said Rob wouldn't let her talk to Joy. The night he supposedly broke up with her.”

The pieces clicked into place with sickening clarity. Glenda hadn't been dumped by her boyfriend. She'd murdered him for interfering with her obsession.

“So, we know she's capable of killing,” I said. “What else do we know about Robert Chen?”

Hart was already pulling up property records. “Rental apartment downtown. Nothing special. But wait.” His fingers paused over the keyboard. “There's a second property listed under his name. Inherited from his grandmother two years ago.”

“Where?”

“Percy Priest Lake. About forty minutes south of the city.”

I grabbed my jacket. “Isolated. That's where she took Joy.”

“Graham, we don't know that for sure,” Simon warned. “It could be the rental.”

“Hart, check the records. Has that been rented by somebody else since his death?”

Hart did another quick search, looked up, and nodded.