Most Eligible Killer, page 12
Melanie texted back. Looks like there’s been an accident.
I’m on the app. I see it. No need to worry.
I know you’re with Lamar, lol.
Bianca ignored her sister’s teasing and scrolled through the few photos that had been updated no more than a few minutes ago. Broken glass covered the concrete, and the car had rammed into a light pole.
“Oh, no.” Bianca wondered whose it was. She didn’t recognize the vehicle as one of her friends’. It was a dark-blue Hyundai. The light pole had practically split the car in two. If the driver had survived the crash, that would have been a miracle.
Whirr.
Bianca perked up at the sound as soon as she heard Lamar’s front door open.
“It’s me,” he announced. “Looks like there’s been an accident nearby.”
Bianca pointed up. “What’s that sound?”
“One of my neighbors has a generator that powers his whole house. If the power is off for more than ten minutes, it kicks on automatically,” Lamar explained. He joined her on the overstuffed chair.
Bianca scooted over. “I bet that didn’t come cheap.”
“At least $10,000. I told him I’d need a raise before I can get one.”
“Me too, but I’m my own boss, so I can do things like that.”
“That’s cold, Bianca. I never thought you’d go after a man’s paycheck like that.”
She leaned in and nudged his cheek with her nose. “It was right there, but I’m sorry.” She straightened in the chair. “I was reading through the Edenville News app. I saw—”
“This small town has a news app?” he joked.
“We may not be as big as New York or San Francisco, but we’re not outdated.” She eyeballed him. “Was that your way of getting back at me for the raise talk?”
“I plead the fifth.”
“In other words, yes.” She laughed.
He leaned in closer, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Show me what you saw.”
Bianca ignored his woodsy cologne and unlocked her screen once more. Lamar stared at the pictures.
“That looks bad,” he said.
“I know. Do you think there are any survivors?” Bianca wondered.
“I don’t know.”
Buzz. Buzz.
This time, it wasn’t Bianca’s phone. It was Lamar’s.
“Sims,” he answered. He stood up and stepped a few paces away. “What’s going on?”
Bianca tilted her head to face him. Not much to see in the dark, but Lamar’s scrunched-up face didn’t look happy.
“You sure it’s him?” He blew out his cheeks. “Okay. I’m on my way, Atkins.” He hung up and let his arm hang at his side with his phone still in his hand.
“What’s wrong?” Bianca asked.
“They identified the driver in the crash,” he answered.
“Is it someone you know?”
“It’s... Miguel Ortiz.” Lamar faced her. “He’s dead.”
Bianca’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, my goodness.”
“I need to go. I’m sorry to cut our date short.”
Bianca stood up. “It’s okay. I understand.”
Lamar looked behind him. “I’ll clean up when I get back. I’ll walk you out.”
Bianca grabbed her purse and followed Lamar to the front door. Miguel Ortiz was dead in an accident. Had he been drunk and run into the light pole? Had... Bianca wondered where Eddie was. He hadn’t been responsible for this, had he? Had he chased Miguel and caused the accident? No, he wouldn’t do something so horrible. Had someone else been following Miguel? Jerry had just been caught by the police earlier. Unless they’d had other reasons to hold him, had he left the precinct, only to then kill Miguel?
“What are you thinking?” Lamar asked, grabbing his keys. “Do I even want to know?”
“I have some theories,” Bianca replied.
“Bianca, please go home. Let me take care of this.”
She followed him outside, and he locked his front door. “You mean you don’t find it strange that Miguel is dead, and we just saw Jerry snooping around Isabel’s stolen car?”
“I’m not negating that, but I need to be at the scene so I can find out all the facts. Okay? Knowing that you’re safe at home will give me peace of mind.”
Bianca sighed. “Okay. I’ll go home.”
Lamar inched closer. “Thank you.” He kissed her but didn’t take his time, as he had earlier. “We’ll have a redo, okay?”
Bianca smiled. “Okay.”
“Be careful going home. Use your brights until you get back to your neighborhood. I’ll walk you to your car.”
Bianca walked next to Lamar, and he kissed her one last time before hurrying to his car. She slipped inside, cranked the engine, and pulled out of his driveway.
Buzz. Buzz.
Bianca wouldn’t text and drive, but thankfully, her Bluetooth connected to her car. She didn’t recognize the number, so she let it go to voicemail. Her customers knew her business hours, and it was way past them. Perhaps a spammer or solicitor was calling. Curious, though, when she paused at the next red light, she grabbed her phone to check the voicemail.
“Bianca, are you there?” Eddie’s panicked voice said. “Call me back. Tell them I didn’t do it. Tell them I didn’t kill Miguel!”
Bianca shivered, dropping her phone to the floor.
Chapter 12
Had she heard that right? Bianca stopped at another red light. Why would Eddie call her? If he knew something about Miguel’s death, why not go to the police? When the light turned green, Bianca pulled her car into the nearest gas station parking lot, drove past the giant signs listing the prices, and parked away from the pumps.
Once she had put her car in park, she reached for her phone on the floor, went to her missed calls, and clicked on the most recent number. Would Eddie answer? What would he tell her?
“Hello?” Eddie’s voice sounded panicked.
“It’s Bianca,” she replied. “What’s going on? How did you get my number?”
“Your company website. Did you hear about Miguel?”
“Yes, it’s all over the news. Do you know what caused the crash?” Bianca asked.
“The man’s been practically stalking me, Bianca,” he explained. “I was out to eat tonight, and he followed me again, accusing me of killing Isabel. The restaurant kicked him out, but that didn’t stop him from following me to the parking lot. We fought, and... I hit him. I know people saw me.”
Bianca’s skin prickled. “What happened next?”
“I left. I wasn’t going to stick around. Then I noticed he was following me in his car. I sped up, and so did he. The next thing I know, I see him lose control in my rearview mirror, and that’s when... you know.”
“Did you stop and call the police?” Bianca asked.
“I called anonymously. I didn’t want the police to think I had something to do with it,” Eddie replied.
“Eddie, you need to tell them what really happened. Clear your name now. The police are going to ask questions anyway, and I guarantee it will lead back to your altercation with him.”
“Ugh!” Eddie groaned. “Why didn’t he just leave me alone? I told him I had nothing to do with Isabel’s death.”
“Then what do you know, Eddie? Why was Isabel there in the first place?”
“It’s... private, Bianca.”
She sighed. “If you don’t tell me, at least tell the police. I don’t know what I can do to help you.” Bianca gripped the steering wheel with her free hand, only to notice something lurking in the shadows along the side of the gas station. Despite the lights, the person wore black and apparently a ski mask as a face covering. Was the person planning on robbing the gas station? Thank goodness Bianca hadn’t turned her engine off. All she had to do was put her car in drive and leave.
“Bianca?” Eddie said. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah, it’s just...”
“Just what?”
“There’s... someone here at the gas station. Looks like a robber, but... the person’s not moving.”
“What’s going on?” Eddie asked.
“It looks like they’re...” Bianca’s lips parted. “Watching me.”
“Bianca, you need to get out of there. Is the person in a car or on foot?”
“They’re standing on the side of the building watching.”
“Bianca, go! Now!”
Bianca quickly reconnected her Bluetooth to her car, switched gears, and her tires screeched as she pulled back onto the street. From the looks of her rearview mirror, the person ran in the opposite direction.
“Do you still see them?” Eddie asked.
“No, looks like the person ran off,” she answered.
“Go home, Bianca. Stay safe. I don’t want you mixed up in my mess. Okay? I’ll call you when I can.” Eddie hung up.
Bianca gripped her wheel tighter. Who was that person? Based on the height, she assumed it was a man. She gasped. Was that Jerry? Was he investigating her? For what? What did she have to do with anything?
She didn’t hesitate. She called Lamar. He didn’t pick up.
Shoot. Bianca tried again. This time, he answered.
“Bianca, can I call you back? I’m not finished at the crime scene,” he said.
“Eddie called me, Lamar,” she blurted out. No sense in keeping him guessing.
“One second,” Lamar replied.
Bianca drove with one hand, stopping at a red light. The person was on foot, so there was no need to drive dangerously.
“Okay, go ahead. Eddie called you? Why?” he asked.
“To tell me he didn’t kill Miguel,” Bianca answered.
“Why would he—”
“I don’t know, but he sounded scared, Lamar. He argued with Miguel and hit him. Things got out of hand,” Bianca explained.
“Shoot!”
“What?”
“I guess that puts him at the crime scene. Witnesses saw another car before Miguel crashed into the light pole,” Lamar said.
“Something still doesn’t feel right about this, Lamar.” Bianca stopped at another red light.
“Unless you have evidence to prove otherwise, we’re bringing Eddie in for questioning,” Lamar commented. “Anything else I should know?”
“There... was someone else,” Bianca admitted.
“What are you talking about? Who?” Lamar sounded concerned.
“I’d pulled over to call Eddie back. It was at a gas station, and I... saw someone watching... me. It was dark, and I think he wore a mask, so I couldn’t see his face.”
“Are you home yet?” Lamar asked.
“Not yet.”
“I can’t take the chance of you being followed.” Lamar paused. “Meet me at the precinct. I can get Atkins to cover for me here. I’ll get your formal statement and follow you home afterward. We may assign a patrol car to your house again.”
“You think that’s necessary?” Bianca looked in her rearview mirror. “I don’t think anyone’s following me now. Besides, he was on foot. He wasn’t in a car.”
“We can’t take that chance, Bianca. Okay? Meet me at the precinct.” Lamar’s tone was serious.
Bianca didn’t argue. “Okay.” She hung up and made a U-turn at the next red light. She’d have to text Melanie that she’d be home later than expected.
PHONES RANG AND DOORS buzzed around Bianca at the police station. She had arrived about five minutes ago and had already texted Melanie that she’d be home late. She didn’t mention Eddie’s call or the man peeping at her; she’d discuss that when she got home. There was no sense in worrying her baby sister.
The scents of coffee and cleaning products mixed in the air as she sat in one of the plastic chairs in the waiting room. A woman with medium-length blonde hair sat across from her, while a middle-aged Latino man sat adjacent to Bianca.
Bianca thought hard. Did she recognize the man’s build? No. He had been in the shadows. She knew Lamar would want details to describe the perpetrator, but Bianca had nothing to go on.
“Hey.” Lamar emerged from around the corner. “Follow me.”
Bianca rose from her seat and followed him to an interview room. Lamar opened the door for her, and Bianca was met with a plain metal chair and table. She sat, clutching her crossbody purse in her hands.
Lamar sat across from her. “Tell me what happened.”
“I told you already,” she replied.
“Indulge me. Perhaps you’ll remember something that you didn’t before.”
Bianca rubbed her head. It had been a long day, and all she wanted was a soothing shower and to crash into bed. Yet, she recounted the evening to Lamar once more, from Eddie’s phone call to seeing the man in the shadows.
Lamar made notes in his notepad. “You sure you didn’t recognize him?”
“I’m sure,” she said. “But I couldn’t see his face.”
Lamar leaned in. “I know it’s a lot, but whatever you can remember will help me catch this guy. Help me to help you, Bianca.”
“I know.” She blew out her cheeks.
Knock. Knock.
Detective Atkins walked through the door. “We got it, Sims.”
Bianca’s eyes bounced between the two of them. “Got what?”
“I had Atkins get the security footage from the gas station,” Lamar said.
Atkins set the laptop in front of him. Lamar opened it up. After a minute or two, he turned the screen to face Bianca.
“Thanks, Atkins. I’ve got it from here,” he told him.
Atkins left them alone.
Bianca leaned in, watching the playback in black and white. It showed the cashier behind the checkout desk. Two people were in line, but she didn’t notice anyone familiar.
“I didn’t go inside,” she said. “Is there footage from the outside?”
Lamar turned the laptop to himself again, hit a button, and returned it to Bianca.
Bianca inched closer. The picture wasn’t as clear as it had been inside. Plus, the camera only showed the six gas pumps facing the main street. Bianca had seen the man on the side of the building.
“Can the camera move and get different angles? Are there cameras on the side of the building?” she wondered.
Lamar gestured with his hand. “Keep watching. It should switch soon to the other camera outside.”
Bianca did. It switched to the side of the building, but all she saw was a large dumpster. Was the person hiding behind it? She couldn’t have imagined the whole thing. Bianca knew she’d seen someone.
“I don’t see anything, Lamar,” she said. Her shoulders slumped as she rested against the back of her chair.
“Okay. At least we tried.” Lamar reached out for the laptop.
Bianca reached to push it toward him, but she saw someone emerge from the side of the dumpster. “Wait. That’s him.” The man wore a mask, but the rest of his clothing was dark.
Lamar took back the laptop. He bit his bottom lip as he studied the image. “I can’t identify him, either. Atkins questioned the cashier, but he didn’t see a man in a mask come inside.”
“How did he know I’d be there is the question,” Bianca added. “I didn’t know Eddie was going to call me.”
“I’m assigning a patrol car to your house tonight. Until we know who this guy is, I’m not taking any chances. I’ll send Detective Williams.”
Bianca would breathe easier knowing there was law enforcement outside. The neighborhood would talk, but she didn’t care at this point. “Okay, that’s fine.”
Lamar raised an eyebrow. “No, ‘I can take care of myself’?”
Bianca held back her laugh. “I’ll let you have that one, but if this guy is following me, I want to know why.”
Lamar studied the laptop screen a little longer. “I want to know too.” He faced her. “Did Eddie mention anything else? Do you know where he is?”
“He didn’t tell me,” Bianca replied. She sat back in her seat. “I wish I had more to tell you.”
Lamar waved away her comment. “I’m glad you’re safe.” He closed the laptop. “We’re going to find this guy. Go home. For real this time.” He winked at her.
Bianca grinned. “For the record, I was on my way home. I couldn’t have predicted Eddie calling me.”
Lamar’s chair scraped the floor as he stood. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
Bianca stood. They exited the interview room, walking past desks, fellow officers, and witnesses giving their statements. Bianca grabbed her keys from inside her purse as Lamar opened the glass door for her.
Bianca licked her lips. “Any leads on Isabel’s car?”
Lamar shook his head as he walked beside her. “Not yet. I thought maybe a note or something we could use as a clue.”
“And you’re sure she was strangled?” Bianca asked.
Lamar stopped in his tracks and faced her. “What are you getting at, Bianca?”
“Why was her car out there? It doesn’t make sense for someone to be on the road. I took it as a detour, but the only other reason would be someone didn’t want to be out in the open.”
Lamar took her hand. “I’ve asked myself the same question a hundred times. I hear you, but there are too many puzzle pieces. We’re going to find out the truth. Don’t worry.”
Bianca stepped closer but kept some distance between them. There was still tension at his workplace. “I know you will.”
He smiled. “Thanks for keeping me in the loop.”
“You’re welcome.” She dropped her hand from his. “I’ll let you know when I get home.”
“Let me know when the patrol car shows up too,” Lamar added.
“I will.”
Beep. Bianca unlocked her car and opened the driver’s seat.
Lamar leaned in, but he didn’t kiss her. “Be safe.”
“You too,” she replied. “Can’t have you getting hurt on the job. You owe me another dinner.”
Lamar chuckled. “Yes, I do.”
Bianca slid into her driver’s seat and cranked the engine. Lamar closed her door after her and waved goodnight to her. She returned the gesture. He walked back inside, and Bianca pulled out her phone. She texted Melanie that she was on her way home.
See you soon.
