The First Victim

CHAPTER 24

Brian Coughlie answered his office phone, annoyed by the interruption until he identified the voice.

‘‘It’s me,’’ Stevie McNeal announced into the receiver.

Coughlie felt a boyish flutter in the center of his chest. ‘‘Hello,’’ he said.

‘‘Did I interrupt you?’’

‘‘No, no,’’ he lied-a way of life for him.

‘‘The police found a Jane Doe up on Hilltop. Shaved head and eyebrows. I thought maybe you’d want to know.’’

He was shocked by her call. He couldn’t think what to say.

Stevie said, ‘‘She was meant to be buried underneath the casket. Maybe Melissa had caught on to this burial thing.’’

Coughlie recalled Rodriguez’s warning that Stevie was a threat to them. He didn’t want to see her this way. A necessary distraction was more like it-someone he could use to their benefit, confirmed by this call.

‘‘We agreed to share,’’ she reminded. ‘‘The cops aren’t giving us anything. Whatever details you can find out. . I’d appreciate it.’’

‘‘Sure thing.’’ He had no intention of trading in a vacuum. ‘‘You were going to consider sharing those videos with me.’’ If she didn’t share them soon, then Rodriguez was going to have to perform a break-in.

‘‘We might be able to arrange something,’’ she said.

‘‘I’ll get back to you,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ll be waiting.’’