Page 55

* * *
“Yeah, that’s her.”Kantor studied the photo of Lawler that Alexa set in front of him. “She looked even hotter last night. Wow, is she really dead? Me and my friends were all hitting on her, buying her drinks and stuff. I’d have bet money she was going home with one ofus.”
“Whathappened?”
He shrugged. “I don’t remember. We were all getting wasted. She went to the bathroom, I think. We’d just bought drinks.” He stopped. Frowned. “Maybe she took hers with her. Anyway, she never came back to the table. Hunter went looking for her after a while, but that place waspacked.”
“What time wasthis?”
“Twelve-thirty or so? I’m not reallysure.”
She took copies of the sketches of the offender from her computer bag and laid them out in front of him. “Did you see this man there lastnight?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Wouldn’t have noticed him if I had. I go there for thewomen.”
Alexa gave a mental sigh and put the drawings away. “Who else was with you?” When he gave her four other names, she asked, “Do you have their phonenumbers?”
“Oh, man, they’re going to hate me forthis.”
Alexa narrowed her eyes. “Yes, I can see what an imposition this is. How terribly inconvenient for you that the woman you were hoping to sleep with last night died. Horribly inconsiderate ofher.”
“Oh, hey, I didn’t mean that.” Dejectedly, Kantor began scrolling through his contacts. “You got a pen orsomething?”
She reached into the computer bag she’d brought with her and drew out a pen. Snagged a napkin from the dispenser in the middle of the table and slid both toward him. “Add their first and last names too.” Laboriously, he copied the numbers onto the napkin. “How long after she went to the bathroom did Hunter go looking forher?”
“I don’t know.” He shoved the napkin across the table to her. “Half an hour or so? I think he had to pi—take a leak, too, because he was gone for a while. When he got back the rest of us had decided to leave. We went to another club a few blocks away. TheSphere.”
She glanced at the phone numbers. Froze when she noticed the thirdone.
The first eight numbers on it matched the ones on Jeanette Lawler’s shoulder. Alexa read the name next to it. HunterOwens.
“Where were you all sitting in the booth in relation to JeanetteLawler?”
Bobby shoved his hand through his hair as he thought. “She was on the outside. Then Hunter. He was getting a little handsy with her. Spilled a drink in her lap and pissed her off when he tried to wipe it up. But that’s Hunter. Then me. Sam. Ben.Parker.”
“Did anyone else go to find Lawler when she left thebooth?”
He swung his head back and forth. “It was louder than hell in there. Hunter was the one who was plastered up against her. Thought he had the best chance with her because of it, but then he spilled that drink, she went to the restroom, and the rest of us started talking about getting out of there.” He craned his head so he could see the clock on the wall. “Can I gonow?”
“Not yet. I need you to call this number. Hunter Owens.” She tapped his name on the list. “He’ll pick up foryou.”
Resignedly, he looked at the name she was indicating. “He was heading downtown tonight. Called me earlier and wanted me to come. I’ll text him.” Alexa watched him type a message in all caps.URGENT. CALL ME. Alexa appreciated thesentiment.
According to Kantor, Lawler had left the booth around twelve-thirty. She and Ethan had been to that club shortly after one. With the time of death pegged between two and three a.m., it was looking more and more like Zoomey’s was the place Lawler had met up with theoffender.
* * *
“We could go inside.I’d buy you adrink.”
Alexa surveyed Hunter Owens impassively. It was rare for her to take an immediate dislike to someone, but she’d learned to rely on her first impressions. And Owens struck her as a too-too type. Too handsome, too smooth and much too sure of himself. The sort of entitled jerk she’d met on more occasions than she could count. It didn’t surprise her in the least that Kantor had mentioned Owens thought he’d had the best shot with Lawler. His sort never lackedconfidence.
“Did Bobby Kantor tell you about what happened to the woman sitting with you guys last night?” They were on the sidewalk in front of yet another club. Owens had agreed to meet her outsideit.
“Yeah. That blew my mind.” As he bent his head to talk to her, he subtly angled his body closer. “Someone we just spoke to yesterday…dead.” He shook his head sorrowfully. Alexa wished she didn’t believe it wasfeigned.
“Just to be clear…” She bent down and brought out the woman’s photo. “This is the woman you spoke to?” She used the opportunity to shift a few inches away. The guy had a smarmyvibe.
Owens nodded solemnly. “That’s her. She seemed really sweet. Friendly. All of us hit itoff.”