Flashback (Kendra Michaels #11)

He thought for a moment. “I was there two nights before she went missing. After Chloe and I started up, we almost never talked on the phone. I usually just swung by after work. If I saw her car, I’d go in and we’d hang out. She was spending more time at her sister’s, though. They really thought they were onto something lately.”

“Any idea what?”

He was quiet as a co-worker in a jumpsuit walked past. “Chloe went out of her way not to talk to me about that stuff, especially after she saw what it did to my and Sloane’s relationship. But I did overhear some things when they were talking on the phone.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not totally sure what it meant, but Chloe seemed pretty intense when she was talking about ‘the bomb place.’”

“The bomb place?” Kendra frowned. “As in explosives?”

“Yeah. That kind of grabbed my attention. I even asked her about it after she got off the phone, and she told me not to worry about it. She said it wasn’t what it sounded like.”

“I don’t know. It sounds pretty clear to me.”

“Yeah, I thought so, too. I know. And of course, after she went missing, I wished I had followed up with her more. But in those last few weeks, she didn’t talk about it to anybody but her sister.”

“So I keep hearing.”

“It’s the truth,” he said defensively. “None of this would have happened if she’d have talked to me. I loved her. Maybe if I hadn’t been so impatient, she wouldn’t have left me. I did love her.”

“I think maybe you did,” Kendra said quietly, her gaze on his glittering eyes. His face was twisted with pain, and there had been no hint of a threat in his demeanor when confronting Kendra. He seemed almost relieved to tell her about his affair with Chloe. “You wouldn’t by any chance have an alibi that would explain what you were doing on the night those women disappeared?”

He shrugged. “I don’t remember. I think I spent at least part of the night at a bar in town getting drunk as a skunk. Someone might remember me. Why?”

Wow. This guy was pretty dense, she thought impatiently. “Look, it’s my duty to notify the FBI of what you told me, and I will do it. But I’ll give you three hours before I make the call. I want to give you time to make a few arrangements before they haul you into the interrogation room.” She stared at him for a long time, studying him. “I won’t be the last one who will be questioning you. If I were you, I’d call the cops and the FBI right away and tell them everything you’ve told me. All of it. It will be better if you tell them yourself. Get yourself a lawyer. If you can present alibis for the time when those women disappeared, try to do it before you turn yourself in.”

“I guess you’re trying to help me.” He frowned. “Thanks. I think. But I don’t know why you’re doing it.”

“I’m not sure, either,” Kendra said. “But maybe it’s because both those women had it pretty rough in one way or another. Though both of them seemed to care about you for some reason. Since they were both smart, it could be you’re actually worth it. But it’s going to be a very short leash. So do what I told you, do you hear?”

He nodded. “Whatever you say.”

“But do me one more favor. Will you pull down your mask for a second? I need to see your face.”

“What?”

“You have a similar build and eyes to someone I met last night. Would you mind?”

He pulled down his protective mask, flashing a disbelieving grin. All front teeth present and accounted for, she noticed. Cross that off the list.

“Thanks. Had to check.” She turned and headed out of the parking lot.

As Kendra walked down the sidewalk toward her car, a text appeared on her phone screen.

JUST RECEIVED EXTREMELY DISTRESSING NEWS. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON THERE?

It had to be from Adam Lynch.

That’s all she needed—an input from Lynch after the morning she’d had.

She typed her reply. REALLY NOT YOUR BUSINESS. NOT MUCH GOING ON. JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE.

WHICH INCLUDES ALMOST BEING THROWN OUT OF A SIX-STORY BUILDING? I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU BACK HOME TO THE STATES.

STOP BEING DRAMATIC. ATTACK WAS ON FLOOR FIVE.

His response was immediate. SUCH A RELIEF. IN THAT CASE, SIDEWALK SPLATTER SLIGHTLY SMALLER.