Page 110 of Last Girls Alive

Katie glanced from the road to McGaven and she smiled. “Yep, everything’s okay.”

“Now, getting video footage of you doing a muddy cannon ball down that path was something else.”

“Great. Don’t pass that around.”

“Don’t worry. John and I won’t ever share it.”

Katie looked at him sternly. “You better not.”

He laughed.

Things were better between them and Katie was glad how things had turned out. They now shared a more solid bond of trust and she felt it was a blessing.

“I’m glad we were able to figure out that the folded piece of paper with ‘ETL’ had been torn from a full piece of paper from another locker,” he said.

“Weird coincidence?”

“It was in Deputy McAlaster’s locker next to yours, and because she had been doing some research and in haste she had slipped the torn piece in the wrong locker.”

The sun flickered through the branches and the landscape was greener and lusher than before. It was as if a new, stronger beginning was launching and anything was possible. Katie hoped that was the case for the homicides.

It took Katie about ten minutes before they arrived at Tanis’s apartment and found a parking place. Katie and McGaven exited the vehicle and took a look around. Everything appeared just like it was when they were there last.

“I’m calling lunch at that awesome-smelling bakery after we catch up with Tanis,” said McGaven.

“You don’t need to twist my arm.”

Katie led the way as she walked down the back alley and up the stairs to the studio apartment. The door was closed, so Katie knocked. “Tanis, it’s Detective Scott. Are you home?”

There was no answer and no sound from inside.

She waited a moment and then knocked again. Turning to McGaven who was waiting a few steps down, she said, “I guess she’s not home.”

“Maybe she’s at the shop?” suggested McGaven.

“Of course.”

They left the apartment and walked to the little souvenir tourist shop. Opening the door, the chime announced their entrance. Mandy, dressed in a tie-dyed purple and yellow dress, came out from behind the counter. When she saw Katie and McGaven, she raised her arms, causing the dizzying bangles on her wrists to clatter. “It took you long enough. Where have you been?”

“What do you mean?” said Katie.

“They said they would send someone out when I called, but no one came,” she huffed and then had to sit down.

“Take it easy,” Katie said as she helped the older woman to sit down. “Now, tell us what’s wrong? Who did you call?”

“The police.”

“About what?” she asked.

“Tanis is missing.” It was clear that Mandy was distraught. “I knew that something might happen to her based on her past, but I always, always protected her, you have to know that.”

“Okay, Mandy, start from the beginning. Take a breath, okay.”

She rubbed her arms and took a few breaths before explaining, “Tanis didn’t show up for work.”

“When was that?” asked Katie.

“Tuesday.”