The Cinderella Murder

77

Alex had never heard Leo sound so panicked. “What do you mean, Hathaway has Laurie?” Leo demanded.

“She thinks Hathaway killed Susan Dempsey, and Timmy just saw her drive out of the garage with someone in the passenger seat. She was only alone for a minute-”

Alex heard the beep of an incoming call. He checked the screen and saw one name: Laurie.

“Wait, that’s her now,” Alex said. “I’ll call you right back.” He clicked over to the incoming call. “Laurie, where are you?”

But he didn’t hear Laurie’s voice in response. He heard silence, then eventually the sound of a man’s voice. It was Hathaway. “Slow down,” he ordered, “and stop swerving. I know what you’re doing. If you get pulled over by a cop, I’ll shoot you both, and that’s a promise.”

“Where are you taking me?” Alex heard Laurie say. “Are we going to your house? Why are we heading into the Hollywood Hills?”

Alex hit the mute button on his phone to block his end of the line. “Grace,” he said, waving her over to the alcove. “Call Leo back and have him put Detective Reilly on the line. Laurie’s giving us clues about their location.”

Within seconds, Grace handed Alex her phone.

“Reilly,” Alex said, “I’m certain of it now: Hathaway has Laurie and is taking her to the Hollywood Hills.”

If something happened to Laurie, he would never forgive himself.