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Immediately deciding Kantor was more interesting than the task she’d been engaged in, she looked him up on social media sites. There were three people with that name, only one in this province. Although his posts weren’t publicly available on Facebook, his friends list and his city of residence were. He lived in Dartmouth, across the harbor fromHalifax.
Another idea occurred. Alexa closed out of that search window and looked Kantor up on the four-one-one site. Not only did it list his name and address, it also published his cell-phone number. It was a little appalling, she thought, just how little privacy people had these days. But in this case, it might beuseful.
Alexa tapped his number into her cell. No answer. Realizing that people often didn’t pick up when they didn’t recognize the incoming caller, she hesitated, running through options. Grimaced when she realized which would likely have the quickestresults.
Swiftly, she undid her hair and arranged it around her shoulders. Pursed her lips and took a selfie, which she texted to Kantor with the message:Were you in Zoomey’s last night? So was I! Call me. She added her number and prepared to wait. If this had no result, she’d be forced to leave a message and leave it until tomorrow to followup.
She returned to the list on Ethan’s computer. Responded to a couple of people who’d left messages there before she had an alert for an incoming text. Elation filled her when she realized it was fromKantor.
Did we talk? I was pretty wasted. Had to be or I’d rememberyou!
I’m Alexa. Call me, she responded. Moments later, the cell rang in her hand. She answered itimmediately.
“Alexa. A pretty name for a prettylady.”
“Bobby Kantor. My name is Dr. Alexa Hayden, and I’m working with the RCMP.” There was an audible gulp on the other end. “By now you’ve heard about The Tailor’s most recent homicide victim found in Truro yesterday. We know she was at Zoomey’s before her death, and so were you. We’d like to have a conversation about what you may haveseen.”
“Man, I don’t know anything about that. I mean, yeah, I was there last night.” It was easy to figure out the young man was dissembling. “I don’t remember much…like I said. I don’t think I could be anyhelp.”
“We’ve spoken to wait staff at the club who identified you as someone in a booth with the victim,” Alexa said crisply. “You’re not in any trouble here, Bobby. But we do need to speak to you to establish a timeline of the victim’s lasthours.”
“Ah…I just don’t know when I could manage that. I’m leaving tomorrow for a week’svacation.”
Her stomach plummeted. “Then how about right now? I’m sure you can understand that this is a matter ofurgency.”
“Iguess.”
“I’ll come to you,” she promised rashly. If the offender showed up this evening, it would be at Victoria Park, not in Dartmouth. Ethan could hardly complain about the risk. Although she had no doubt he’d have plenty to say aboutit.
“I’m packing, so I can’t spare muchtime.”
“Just name a public place close toyou.”
“Um…there’s a Timmie’s on the corner across from myapartment.”
Of course there was. Alexa smiled. “Give me the address and thirty minutes. I have to get anUber.”
* * *
Ethan scanned the park again.Full, and getting more so. Although they’d gotten there at seven-thirty, there’d already been people congregating. The uniformed officers had arrived first. The event was supposed to begin in fifteen moreminutes.
He continued moving about the perimeter, careful not to make eye contact with the plainclothes officers. He held his cell to his ear. “Number six, man at your three o’clock. Jeans, cap, gray T-shirt, dark backpack.” He continued walking, watching from the corner of his eye as his officer moved in the direction he’d indicated. Ethan walked by the female officer acting as a decoy for Alexa. The two uniforms beside her were doing a good job angling their bodies in such a way that her face was mostlyhidden.
“Number six clear.” The officer’s voice sounded in his ear. Ethan continued, rounding the fountain and looking toward the street. A few people were entering the park from this end, as well. He was grateful the park was small. It would have been impossible to monitorotherwise.
An older man was tottering toward the fountain with the help of a cane. Ethan veered closer to him to get a better look. Even bent over the way the man was, the height would be about right for theoffender.
But once Ethan got nearer, he mentally dismissed the man. The UNSUB might have a penchant for disguises, but he couldn’t replicate the age stamped on the elderly man’sface.
“Position one.” A voice sounded in Ethan’s ear. “Red shirt, black pants, sunglasses. Heading in yourdirection.”
Sunglasses? At this time of night? Ethan quickened his step, searching the crowd until he spied the person in question and made his way toward him. And it was a male, he ascertained as he drew closer. The height was right. The figure was wider than the description they had of the UNSUB, but it would be simple enough to make that change to an appearance. Ethan just needed to jockey around enough so he could see theface.
Once he had, however, he could see the man was much younger than he’d expected. “Number Oneclear.”
The organizers of the event were behind him now, standing directly in front of the fountain. One of the women wielded a microphone, which let out an ear-splitting shriek when she attempted to speak intoit.
Ethan winced. Kept walking. It occurred to him that if the UNSUB was as cautious as normal, he’d wait until full dark to join the vigil. Making it that much more challenging to pick him out of acrowd.