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Chet fell into the empty chair across from Tucker and pinched the thick skin of his forehead. “There’s got to be something we missed before.”
Mia tucked in her bottom lip as if unsure if she should voice any more of her opinions. “I don’t have any experience with this stuff, but shouldn’t you be looking at Janie? At her life and her family. Not just at the one aspect of her life that happened to intersect with your wife’s.” Otto plopped his head in her lap, and she scratched behind his ear.
“Why waste time?” Frustration pounded in his veins. He’d already been through one drawn out investigation that resulted in jack shit. He couldn’t go through that again. This time, he’d do things his way. No matter who liked it or not.
“She’s right, man.” Tucker sifted through a handful of notes. “We keep our eyes on Lipton, ask what questions need to be asked, but don’t box ourselves in. We need to find out more about Janie. And when the other victims are identified, we learn everything we can about them, too.”
Chet threw his hands in the air, not wanting to listen to anyone else’s logic. Even if it did make sense. “What if they can’t identify anyone else? What if it takes days, months, freaking years to figure out who all was left out there to rot?”
Mia winced.
Tucker sighed and tossed the papers he was studying back on the table. “We still take a closer look at Janie. We pour over these notes, talk to Cruz and anyone else who worked that case, and we see if there are any other similarities. Two victims are enough to create a profile on the killer. To maybe get a better understanding of who he is, and why he picked these two victims.”
“Three,” Chet said, grinding together his teeth. “Three victims. Riley might not have been this guy’s initial target, but she got caught up in it and ripped away just like Laurie.”
An unreadable expression skittered across Mia’s face, and she dropped down to hug Otto. “I think I should head home.”
Her swift change of subject caught him off guard, but the idea of putting a wall between them loosened a few of the knots in his stomach. “You sure?”
“I need to get out of these wet clothes, and you guys have enough on your plate without babysitting me.” She stood. “Thanks for letting me hang for a little bit.”
Otto whined.
“We always like having you around,” Tucker said. “But dry clothes will make you feel better. Why don’t you take Otto for the night to keep you company?”
A flash of relief shone in her eyes. “Really?”
“Sure thing. I have some extra supplies in the truck for him. I’ll drop them off when I’m done here.”
“Thanks. For everything. I’ll see you both later.” Mia snapped her fingers, calling Otto to her, while she slipped on her shoes then hurried out the door.
A beat of regret rang through Chet as he watched her leave, knowing she’d be uneasy until this was all behind them. But he couldn’t worry about her state of mind. She wasn’t his responsibility, and he had bigger problems to focus on right now.
“I’m going to grab my laptop from my room. It’s time to turn over every last stone we can find regarding Janie Simpson.”
7
Steam from the shower hung heavy in the air. Mia toweled off then found a warm sweater and leggings to slip into. The combination of the drizzling April temperatures and the current twist of events in her life refused to let the chill leave her bones.
Needing to put something more in her stomach than too many cups of coffee, she searched her refrigerator for potato soup she’d made over the weekend. Cooking usually soothed her, but right now, putting together a meal she probably wouldn’t even be able to taste sounded far from appealing.
She grabbed the container with the soup, ladled a few scoops in a bowl, and zapped it in the microwave. Chet and Tucker’s muffled voices rumbled through the wall, the sound comforting in the stillness of her apartment.
When the microwave beeped, she removed her lunch then settled onto the couch, tucking her feet under her with her bowl in the middle of her lap. Otto sat in front of her with wide eyes. “Sorry, boy. Not much I can offer you from this bowl.”
The dog tilted his head, as if trying to decipher what she said.
She spooned a bite of creamy soup in her mouth and leaned back against the plush cushions. The buttery taste of the soup coated her tongue but dropped like lead down her throat. “You’re not missing out,” she told Otto.
Her phone vibrated in the side pocket of her leggings, and she fished it out. She frowned at the screen. Mom. She loved her mama, but their conversations had been strained since her break-up with Aaron. Her mama wanted her to move down to Florida to lick her wounds but dealing with the humidity was as low on her bucket list as listening to lectures from Mama about things Mia should have done differently to save her relationship. Not like anything she could have done would have stopped Aaron form being an asshole who was a thief and a cheat.
Knowing she couldn’t put off the inevitable, and needing a distraction, she accepted the call and hit the speaker button. “Hey, Mama. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine. Enjoying the sunshine. How’s the weather in the mountains?”
“More rain today,” Mia said, setting her bowl on the coffee table then patting the couch to invite Otto up beside her.
“You should come visit. I’d love to see you.” The deep drawl made Mia smile.
