Page 44 of Last Girls Alive

“Thank you, Mandy, for your time,” she said and left with McGaven.

Once outside, Katie said, “Now we wait.”

“What? You think that she’s going to give your number to Tanis Jones?”

“Trust me. I know a thing or two about people who are distrustful about the police. I bet she’s calling Tanis right now.”

“Twenty bucks.”

“What?” she said.

“Twenty bucks that she doesn’t contact Tanis.”

“You’re on. Double or nothing that we hear from Tanis in an hour.”

“Detective Scott, you have a bet. Now what?” he said looking around.

“A very late lunch.”

Katie and McGaven stepped out of the deli after finishing their food. Katie carried some extra turkey and bacon in a napkin as a snack for Cisco.

“Well, somebody is going to owe me twenty bucks,” said McGaven looking at his watch. “It’s been about an hour.”

“It’s been forty-one minutes,” Katie corrected.

“Okay. We’ll wait another nineteen minutes.”

Katie opened the driver’s door and fed a very thankful German shepherd his treats. “Good boy. I didn’t forget about you.”

Katie’s cell phone rang. “Scott,” she answered.

McGaven stepped forward, waiting to hear who was calling.

“Is this Detective Scott?” the woman’s voice asked.

“Yes.” Katie looked up and down the street, trying to see if she could see Tanis Jones.

“I heard that you wanted to talk to me.”

“Is this Tanis?”

There was a hesitation. “Yes.”

“I have a few questions about Elm Hill Mansion and Candace Harlan. And the other girls if you feel up to it.”

Tanis didn’t answer.

“Ms. Jones?”

“I know that you have questions, but…”

“I can promise you that it will be discreet.”

“I don’t want to end up in court.”

Katie looked at McGaven, biting her lip. “I don’t see that happening. We’re trying to get some background information. Please, Ms. Jones, it would be very helpful in our homicide investigations.”

“Investigations? There’s more than one?”