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Ari tried to put herself in Rita’s shoes. It would have been dark when she’d stepped out into the parking lot. She’d have either been alone or with just one other employee. Rita often stayed late trying to avoid Boone at home, not that he was there often.
Had he confronted her here in the lot, like he’d done with Ari at the other restaurant?
She started toward the road, but noticed some marks in the grass off to the side. Some blades of grass were broken, and the dirt was disturbed. A few holes dug into the ground like someone had stabbed it with a stick.
Or the heel of a pump. Rita loved fancy footwear and often wore pumps.
Ariana took more pictures and glanced around. More of the same markings headed away from the building.
Her pulse drummed in her ears as she followed the path. It led her to a playground.
Maybe this was a wild goose chase. The marks in the ground were probably from a mom who’d taken her kid to play after eating at the restaurant.
Rita wouldn’t come to a park.
Ari glanced around. The marks led to a rock-climbing wall.
Rita definitely hadn’t gone up that.
Dead end.
Heart sinking, she turned back toward the restaurant.
Something bright caught her attention underneath a bush.
She shielded her eyes. Whatever it was reflected the sun.
The strap of a shoe.
Ariana recognized that strappy red pump.
It was Rita’s.
