The Cinderella Murder

76

Laurie felt a surprising sense of relief when Hathaway ordered her to turn left out of the parking garage, away from the hospital. No matter what happened, at least Timmy, Alex, and Grace, who were waiting for her, would be safe.

“Up here,” Hathaway barked. “Take a left at the next light.”

This was not the same cool, confident man she’d seen over the past week. He was ranting to himself under his breath. She could almost smell his desperation.

“You must have access to cash and a plane,” she said. “Just let me out. You take the car.”

“And give up everything I’ve worked for my whole life? No, thank you. Take a right up here, after we pass Santa Monica Boulevard.”

She did as instructed.

“Tell me about the video, Laurie. What exactly did Dwight see? And don’t play stupid or this will be worse for you than it needs to be. Tell me what Dwight knew.”

“I’ll never be certain,” she said. “He left a message but died before I could speak to him. But I think he was calling me about you,” she added. “To tell me that Susan went to your lab before her audition.”

“And the boat?”

“What boat?”

“Were there cameras on Dwight’s boat?” Hathaway yelled. “And don’t forget, I can go back for your son if you need an incentive to talk.”

Not Timmy, she thought. “Yes,” she blurted, “Dwight had hidden cameras on his yacht.”

“What do they show?”

“I have no idea. The police haven’t found the digital upload yet.”

“Take the next left.”

As she hit her blinker, she could feel him calming down in the passenger seat. He mumbled something about his ability to find the data files before the police.

She slipped a hand into the pocket of the door to awaken her phone. She risked a glance at the screen and saw a list of recent calls.

As she took the turn, she let her hand drop into the door pocket one more time. She tapped the screen to redial her most recent caller.

Please, God, she thought, please let this work.