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“You have the receipt number?”
“47078.”
James exchanged a glance with Cole. His partner was just as surprised she’d memorized the number with one look.
“Um...” Sophie’s fingers flew over the keyboard. “I wasn’t here yesterday. It was my day off. So Bobby would have—” She gasped. “What?”
“What is it?” Lainie asked.
“The name on it is Adam Williams.”
This time it was Lainie who gasped. “But it can’t be.”
“I know. But ... he dropped them off a week ago—also on my day off, so it was Bobby who processed them.”
“And Bobby wasn’t here two years ago.”
“No, he’s been here about six months.”
“Thank you, Sophie. I appreciate the help.”
“Of course.” The woman frowned. “What’s going on?”
“That’s the question for the day, trust me. I don’t suppose you have video footage from yesterday?”
James shot Cole a small smile. Lainie had been around cops enough to know what they wanted. “Ugh,” Sophie said, “no. I’m so sorry. Our footage resets at midnight every night.”
Lainie pursed her lips and sighed. “Okay. Thanks again.” They walked outside and paused a moment. “Adam is not alive,” Lainie said. “It wasn’t him who dropped those clothes off and it wasn’t him who picked them up.”
“I know.” James pressed a hand to his side.
Lainie eyed him. “That’s enough for today. I’m ready to get home.”
James felt sure she only said that for his benefit, but he wasn’t going to argue with her.
Less than two minutes later, Cole pulled to a stop at the curb after Lainie swung into her driveway.
James placed a hand on her arm. “Stay here for a second, okay?”
“What?”
“I want to go inside with you.”
“Oh. Okay.”
With a pained effort, James climbed out and walked to his partner’s vehicle. “I’ll just be a few minutes. Do you mind sweeping the perimeter? I’d feel better leaving if you do it while I walk her inside.”
“Sure.” Cole climbed out and headed for the side of the house while James followed Lainie up the covered front porch to her door, his gaze automatically gauging her security. No garage, just a carport.
“You have an alarm system?”
“No.”
“You need one.”
“After today, I’m inclined to agree with you.”
Once inside, ignoring his wound screaming that it was time for some more pain medicine, he shut the door behind him. Lainie flipped on the lights and he took in the simple floor plan of the small cottage-style home. Nice and open, which made it seem larger than it was. The front door opened into the great room that flowed into the kitchen on the right. To the left of the great room was a hallway he assumed led to the bedrooms. “Cute place.”
