Page 34 of Dead Man's List

“What prompted Shelley to go to rehab?”

“She got arrested for possession. Carol and Jen begged the DA to cut her a deal that included rehab.”

“Who would Shelley have confided in? Who might know if she’d made a side deal on the trailer for the cash?”

“Her good-for-nothing boyfriend. His name is Ace Diamond,” Bran said with disdain. “I don’t think that’s his given name, but it’s the only name I know. He’s a thug and he was stoned every time I saw him. He works for Jonesy’s. It’s a butcher shop.”

Sam barely managed to control his flinch. He knew the list of injuries inflicted on Brooks Munro. Kit had brought him up to speed when she’d asked him to get more information on Shelley.

That Shelley’s boyfriend worked for a butcher might just be a bad coincidence. Sam hoped so.

“Got it, thanks. Anyone else besides the thug boyfriend?”

“She also had a best friend. Her name is Julie Sparks. I don’t have her contact info, but she works in a clothing store at the mall. The one where all the mannequins wear neon-colored miniskirts.”

“I think I know the one.” The clothes made Sam wince every time he passed by. The colors were so bright. “Thank you, Bran. I know the words seem empty, but I am sorry for your loss.”

Bran nodded soberly. “Thank you for taking care of Jen. It was…more than I expected.”

“I’m happy to help,” Sam said as he walked to the front door. “Make sure she sees a therapist. Either the one I recommended or another of her choice. Murder is a trauma. There’s absolutely no shame in asking for help.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Bran vowed.

When Sam was back in his RAV4, he dialed Kit and brought her up to speed. “Should I talk to the best friend or the thug boyfriend?”

“Both,” she said. “But I’ll go with you. Connor is working with the two detectives Navarro assigned to help us. Let’s talk to the best friend first. I’ll meet you at the mall. If she’s not at work, we’ll visit her at home. Give me a second.” There was a pause and a sigh. “Bran’s right. Ace Diamond is not the thug boyfriend’s real name. The best friend might know it, though. Thank you, Sam.”

“No problem. I have to go home first and walk Siggy. If you get there before me, wait at the pretzel stand next to the clothing store.”

“Mmm. Those pretzels are the best. I’ll get us a snack.”

Sam ended the call, taking one more look up toward Jennifer’s apartment. Sam keenly remembered watching the life drain from his first love’s eyes. They’d been seventeen, accosted while changing a tire on prom night. Every time he visited the family of a homicide victim, every time he spoke with parents grieving because their runaway teen had been found dead, he remembered the grief and the pain.

He knew how Jennifer felt. So did Kit.

It was why he and Kit had chosen their careers. Maybe that was also what made them both so good at what they did. He wanted to think so. That way, at least, there was purpose in their grief.

University City, San Diego, California

Sunday, January 8, 4:00 p.m.

Kit hated the mall. Hated it with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. But she’d suck it up for the sake of Shelley and her mother. She didn’t know if Shelley’s friend had been informed of her murder.

Kit hated the thought of doing a notification at the mall.

But she’d arrived before Sam and now had two giant pretzels filled with carbs and buttery goodness. She took a bite from hers as she scanned the store through the glass.

She had Julie Sparks’s driver’s license photo. The woman was nineteen, five feet two, and had light brown hair and big gray eyes. And…there she was, straightening the clothing on a display table.

She hadn’t been crying. Didn’t look sad.

She probably didn’t know yet.This is going to suck.

“Kit?”

She turned at the familiar voice, a smile curving her lips unbidden. Sam was his nerdy, Clark Kent self. So damn earnest. Just like always.

It was nice that he didn’t seem to change.