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Made sense to her. She’d actually suggested the same thing to Charles last night. Less than twenty hours later, it was his idea. What a shock.
But she stuck to the script and didn’t challenge him. “Done.”
She got to the door before he spoke again. “There’s one possibility we’re ignoring.”
“Some sort of random crime?” She hated that option.
Charles nodded. “He stopped to help the wrong person, or walked in on something.”
It was the nightmare scenario. The option that seemed impossible to solve because everything was unknown. “At four in the morning?”
“He was out that early on this one day—only this day—for a reason. Maybe someone called him out.”
That was the problem. Not being able to explain why Aaronmade that choice poked at her. “If it’s a random crime, we’re screwed.”
“No, because you’re going to solve this while police and FBI, and the whole damn task force, are crawling all over our area looking for Karen Blue. Then we’ll ride that good press.”
There it was.The pressure passed from him over to her. “And solve the case.”
His ever-present frown deepened. “Get it done before I have to concede and bring in other jurisdictions for help.”
And now the launch of the full frontal threat. “Yes, sir.”
“Because that would piss me off, Ginny.” He stared past her, into the room behind her. The room where the desks were and the team sat. “Might even make me rethink the chain of command around here.”
“I hear you.” She heard the threat every time he made it.
“Then move it.”
LILA OPENED THEdoor for the first time in days. Hiding behind it, she ushered Christina inside before slamming it shut on the chaos lurking outside.
She’d ignored the press line out front for as long as possible. The cameras and trucks. The crowd of field hockey parents holding signs and demanding she tell what she’d done to Aaron. If it weren’t for the garage connected to the house, she’d have to run the gauntlet of fury every time she moved. Even with the barrier, they still surrounded her car and banged on the windows when she left the safety perimeter and crossed into the street.
Christina flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head and glared at Lila. “You don’t need to do this.”
“You’re trying to run a business, and I’m a distraction.” More of a liability. The brick thrown through the real estate office window last night proved that.
“People are so disappointing.”
Lila grabbed the box containing the contents of her desk and gestured for Christina to come into the family room. “Thanks for bringing this over. I’m sorry I missed being there for the search. I just couldn’t.”
After unloading the box on the kitchen counter, she followed Christina to the couch. Even steamed and frustrated, she presented the perfect outward appearance in her navy-blue pantsuit and bright blue shirt. Everything about her saidI’m in charge, so get out of my way, and smart people listened.
She dropped her oversize leather bag on the floor and crossed her legs. “It’s everything CID didn’t take.”
“They took stuff?” Lila had been careful about what she left behind. Gum. Pens. Some leads on possible future clients.
Christina waved off the concern. “Your computer and notepads. Nothing big, as far as I could tell.”
They fell into a comfortable silence. Lila made tea for both of them. They’d worked together long enough—shared stories about annoying clients and gossiped about other agents in the office—for her to know Christina’s preferences. The quiet company suited Lila.
She handed a mug to Christina and sat down across from her. “I know all of this is a pain in the ass.”
Christina shook her head. “Stop.”
She meant it. Christina never said anything she didn’t mean. She wasn’t the type to placate or ignore nonsense.
Lila appreciated the concern, but her life and her mess had leeched out and now infected other people’s welfare. “I’m really—”
