Page 71 of Every Step She Takes

When he doesn’t answer, I realize what I’m doing.

LlamaGirl:Sorry. I’m asking you for advice on a decision I need to make myself. I don’t believe I’ll end up in prison. Well, not for longer than it takes to set a bail hearing if they even go that far. There’s no actual evidence against me, right?

Again, he doesn’t answer, and I exhale at that. Okay, PCTracy wasn’t disagreeing with his silence. We’ve disconnected. I’ll go to my hotel room and wait–

PCTracy:Where are you right now?

LlamaGirl:On a street, catching my breath. I’m not sure where the nearest police station is, but I can look that up. I just need a lawyer.

Hint, hint…

PCTracy:Yes, you do. Right now, though, are you someplace safe and private where we can talk?

LlamaGirl:What’s up?

PCTracy:You returned to your hotel room yesterday morning, right? After finding Isabella?

LlamaGirl:Right.

PCTracy:Did you see any sign of disturbance?

My heart pounds.

LlamaGirl:Someone had broken in. I should have mentioned that.

PCTracy:It’s fine. But you noticed the room had been entered. Did you notice anything else?

LlamaGirl:I took my clothing, thinking someone might have left evidence on it. Took my toiletries and tech. I don’t think anything else had been–

Shit. Oh, shit. The memory slams back, the thought that’s been niggling at me since yesterday.

My towel. The one I used in the shower that morning. I’d just gotten out when Isabella texted, and I’d tossed it on the chair as I hurried to blow-dry my hair and get ready.

The towel had been on the chair with my dirty clothing when I left to see Isabella.

It was not on the chair when I returned. I grabbed my clothes, and the towel wasn’t there.

PCTracy:The police found a bath towel stuffed into the vent.

PCTracy:It had Isabella’s blood on it.

LlamaGirl:I didn’t do that.

PCTracy:Of course not. No one is going to commit a murder, stuff the towel in a hotel vent and leave it behind when they flee. The problem right now is that it’s forensic evidence. The police claim to have more, but I don’t know what that is.

LlamaGirl:You’re saying I really could go to prison for this.

PCTracy:I can’t answer that without knowing the other so-called evidence. The towel isn’t enough. The texts were obviously sent from a linked device. That can be tracked. Someone let the killer into your hotel room. That leaves a trail, and once I can prove someone got access, all evidence found in there becomes inadmissible.

LlamaGirl:You sound like a lawyer:)

PCTracy:Just too much time working for them. You do need a lawyer, like you said. As for turning yourself in right now, if that is what you want to do, then I will help with whatever you need.

LlamaGirl:But you wouldn’t recommend it.

PCTracy:My honest advice is to stay out until I can find enough proof to make the DA think twice about proceeding with charges. But that’s easy for me to say. I’m not in your shoes.

LlamaGirl:Just give me data. Pros and cons.