Blood Loss

46

Cathy Merritt opened her door and hovered in the doorway.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Should I have been expecting you?’

‘Denver PD got in touch,’ said Ren. ‘About an assault that happened in the neighborhood yesterday.’

Cathy’s eyes went wide. ‘Really? Oh my goodness. Come in.’

Ren followed her into the living room.

Ugh.

‘We’re trying to locate the victim,’ said Ren. ‘He managed to drive away from the scene.’

‘And … what can I do to help?’ said Cathy.

‘Did you notice anything unusual yesterday afternoon?’ said Ren.

‘No,’ said Cathy.

‘The vehicle that this man was driving,’ said Ren, ‘was black, like the one that was reported on your street.’

‘And where did the assault happen?’

‘By the basketball courts — two blocks from here.’

‘Oh my God,’ said Cathy. ‘Laurie plays basketball there.’

‘Was she there yesterday?’ said Ren.

‘She was over at a friend’s house — they may have gone there, but she certainly didn’t see anything happen, she would have said.’

‘OK,’ said Ren. ‘We’d like to talk to Laurie about it, if you don’t mind. We also need to ask her about the night she went missing.’

Cathy sat back. ‘I can’t allow that. She’s not ready.’

‘Mrs Merritt, I don’t want to ask her about what happened in the room, or anything to do with what happened afterward. I’ve been reviewing tape of the parking garage, and there may have been someone there when the Whaleys arrived.’

‘But … it’s a parking garage. Of course there were people there …’

‘Well, neither your ex-husband nor Erica saw anything, but I took a look at some footage, and … I’d like to ask Laurie a few questions …’

Cathy took in a deep breath. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘Let me go get her.’

Laurie Whaley had lost weight — her clothes swamped her. She stood against the door frame with a bent knee, and one foot on top of the other. Her legs were like twigs. She had pulled her hands up into the sleeves of her sweatshirt.

‘Hi, Laurie,’ said Ren. ‘I’m Ren. We met in the hospital.’

Laurie nodded. ‘I know. Hi.’

‘Would you like to sit down?’ said Ren.

Laurie sat beside her on the sofa, but shifted back into the corner.

‘How’ve you been doing?’ said Ren.

‘Good,’ said Laurie. She shrugged.

‘I’m wondering if I could ask you a few questions,’ said Ren.

‘I guess,’ said Laurie.

‘It’s just about arriving at the hotel that Saturday night,’ said Ren. ‘I know that night was a very difficult time for you, and it was very frightening, but I just want to know, do you remember seeing anyone … or anything in the parking garage?’

Laurie was very still. ‘No,’ she said. Her eyes were wide. ‘No.’

‘Did you hear anything, maybe?’ said Ren. ‘Any sound?’

Laurie paused. ‘No.’

‘You felt unwell,’ said Ren. ‘What was the matter?’

‘I just got a stomachache,’ said Laurie. ‘I ate too much candy earlier, and being in the car, and everything …’

‘So, there was nothing that upset you?’ said Ren.

‘No,’ said Laurie.

‘You didn’t see anything?’ said Ren.

‘I’m sorry. I … there was nothing there,’ said Laurie. ‘No-one.’

‘OK, Laurie, thank you for that,’ said Ren.

She could hear footsteps coming up the path.

She glanced out the window, then turned to Cathy. ‘That’s Robbie who you met already. I’m going to have to go talk to him.’

‘Sure,’ said Cathy.

‘Thank you again,’ said Ren. She stopped in front of Laurie. ‘If you think of anything at all, you let me know. You can get your mom to give me a call.’

Laurie nodded. ‘OK.’

Ren opened the door to Robbie. ‘Well?’ she said.

‘The neighbor in number four saw the car yesterday afternoon, about 3.30 p.m.,’ said Robbie.

‘Where?’ said Ren. ‘On the street?’

‘No. At the basketball court on the next block. Laurie Whaley was there with a group of kids.’

‘They were there on their own?’ said Ren.

‘No,’ said Robbie. ‘Dale Merritt was there too, talking to one of the other fathers.’

‘Did the other father get a license plate number by any chance?’ said Ren.

‘No.’

‘And he didn’t call the cops?’ said Ren.

‘He said he didn’t see any assault.’ He raised his eyebrows.

‘In the words of your people, “oh, Lawsy”.’

‘In your words,’ said Robbie, ‘well …’

‘It’s all asterisks, hash and dollar signs,’ said Ren.

Robbie dropped Ren off outside Safe Streets, and went to buy lunch. Ren walked into the foyer to catch the elevator. Colin was standing waiting.

‘Hi,’ he said.

‘Hi,’ said Ren.

They stepped into the elevator, known for having a personality of its own, suspected of being operated by a ghost. It moved to the first floor, and between that and the second, it stopped, and started to rattle.

‘Colin,’ said Ren, ‘it isn’t my business, and I’ve thought about whether to say this to you, but … it’s about Naomi …’

‘What about her?’ said Colin, turning to her.

‘It’s … well, you know I really like Naomi. And hanging out with her is such a blast. But when you’re not around … she’s kind of … she just seems interested in other men.’

‘Really?’ said Colin. ‘So, she drinks and gets flirty? Imagine that.’

Why, Ren, why? ‘This is not about me,’ said Ren. ‘And it’s more than flirting, OK? Why would I bring up drunken flirting, for Christ’s sake?’

‘You tell me,’ said Colin. He stared at her. ‘What’s really going on here, Ren?’

Oh, sweet Jesus. ‘Nothing is going on. I am trying to tell you, I just thought her behavior was … a little off for someone in a relationship.’

The elevator struggled back to life. Ren banged her head off the wall.

‘Ow,’ she said. ‘I’m not dating her but if I was … maybe I’d be a little wary if I were you.’

‘Look, whatever,’ said Colin. ‘You’ve said what you’ve said. You can relax now. Your hours of agonizing can come to an end. Your message has been delivered.’

He stepped off the elevator, and walked quickly down the hallway.

I thought that went well.

Ren’s office phone was ringing when she walked in.

‘It’s Robbie — are you at your desk?’ He paused. ‘Obviously you are …’

‘Yeees,’ said Ren.

‘I’m getting lunch,’ said Robbie, ‘but I got a call from one of the parents at Laurie’s school who heard we had called.We’ve got a license plate if you want to run it.’

Ren took down the details. She put down the phone, and ran the plate through CCIC, the Colorado Criminal Information Center, and NCIC, the national one.

The car was registered to a man named Taber Grace. Ren read more.

Holy. Shit.

Taber Grace:

Private Investigator.

Ex-FBI.

Ex-Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.

What. The. Effin. Crap?