Faceless (Sinister Secrets Book 2), Candle Sutton [dar e dil novel online reading txt] 📗

“Money is a strong motivator.” He leaned against the back of his chair, one hand resting casually on the table in front of him. “Has anyone here talked about financial troubles lately? Or maybe come into some money?”

“No! Of course not.” Her breath came out in short puffs. “I mean, not that anyone has said. I can’t imagine anyone doing such a thing.”

Oh, he could. And he was now more certain than ever that he was staring at her. “We’re still working on why, but we think that’s what happened to Jason Boggess, Wes Andrews, and Stacy Cummings.”

If she grew any paler, they’d be picking her up off the floor. “Who? I mean, I know Jason, but should those other names mean something to me?”

Yes. He bit back the response resting on his tongue. “They all donated with your organization. Wes and Stacy donated at the mobile units. You work those sometimes, don’t you?”

Her tongue flicked over lips that looked like stop lights compared to her white face. “Sugar, we all do. It’s a rotation. But I’ve never heard those names before.”

Sometimes an investigator’s strongest weapon was silence.

Saying nothing, he stared at her.

“Oh, she’ll be madder than a wet hen at me for sayin’ this.” She twisted the pendant, winding up the chain almost to her throat before letting it go. “But there’s a nurse who’s usually on the rotation. She’s been acting funny for the last month or so. And I swear I saw her driving a brand new car last week. If there’s anyone up to something weird, it’s got to be her.”

Amazing how quickly she’d gone from denying everything to passing the blame.

He jotted down the nurse’s name, even though he had no intention of following up on her.

The right suspect was sitting across from him. All they had to do was prove it.

Before any more people went missing.

Sixteen

Waiting was always the hardest part.

Kevyn stretched out her legs as she sipped her coffee. At least there was a nice coffeeshop with outdoor seating across the street from the parking garage utilized by the blood bank employees. And it was a decent day to sit outside. No rain, a little wind, and lots of cloud cover, but it made the temperate seventy-ish day comfortable.

“Anything yet?” Sid’s voice came through her earpiece.

He sounded as bored as she felt. “No. But it’s close to five, so it should be soon.”

She hoped.

Part of her had expected Divers to bolt as soon as Dak left, but it had been almost two hours and there was no sign of her. Sid was parked within line of sight of her car, so they knew there was no chance she’d slipped by them.

Unless she’d left her car behind.

It was always possible that Divers had gotten a ride, maybe escaped out the back.

But she didn’t think so.

Divers had been spooked, sure, but she was smart enough to not do anything too rash while her coworkers were watching. Besides, she’d looked pretty sure of herself after giving Dak that false lead about the nurse.

Which meant Dak had done a great job of selling it.

This stakeout wasn’t winding up any time soon. She’d have to contact Wendy and cancel their weekly dinner.

Wendy answered on the third ring.

“Hey, I’m sorry to do this, but I’m not going to be able to get away from work for a while tonight.” The disappointment cut deep. She’d come to really rely on Wendy to pull her out of her work and her own head.

“I understand.” Wendy didn’t even hesitate. “I was one of those cases once, you know. Find whoever it is you’re looking for and bring them home. I’ll be praying for you.”

She doubted this case would have a good outcome, but she thanked Wendy and ended the call.

Praying for you. Wendy’s words echoed.

Other than her Mum, she wasn’t sure anyone had ever prayed for her.

It was nice to know someone cared.

At a quarter to six, four people exited through a side door and crossed the street to the parking garage.

It wasn’t hard to pick out Lorelei Divers in the group.

“She’s headed your way.” Kevyn stood, scooping up her half full coffee cup.

She moved casually toward her car, parked at the curb a block away.

Sliding behind the wheel, she kept her gaze on the rearview mirror, watching for Divers’ BMW to exit the parking garage.

Another minute passed before the BMW turned out of the garage, headed the opposite direction.

No matter. Sid would be right behind her.

Kevyn started her car and circled the block, listening as Sid narrated the path Divers took. A few blocks and couple of turns later, she merged into traffic behind both Sid and Divers.

The heavy rush-hour traffic made following both easy and challenging. There were so many cars that Divers would never notice their nondescript sedans following her, but it also meant they had to follow a lot closer or run the risk of getting cut off and losing her at a red light.

At least she didn’t seem to be getting on I-5. With traffic at a near standstill this time of day, the Interstate was not where Kevyn wanted to be driving.

Divers lived in an apartment in Queen Anne, but it didn’t appear she was headed home. Not yet, anyway.

While she might simply be heading somewhere for happy hour or an early dinner, Kevyn was hoping, betting, that the phlebotomist was acting in response to Dak’s visit earlier.

With any luck, leading them straight to her contact with the organ trafficking ring.

The BMW turned down a one-way road that made a sharp descent toward the waterfront.

Traffic lightened.

They’d have to be more careful now. If Divers was as nervous as Kevyn suspected, she might be watching