Page 45 of The Hanging Dolls

“Jimmy.”

Jimmy had blotchy skin and corroded, missing teeth. His head was splattered with bald spots and his arms were peppered with needle marks. A distinct foul smell emanated from him—meth and lack of shower combined.

“You crash there?” Zoe repeated, unconvinced.

“Yeah, I just spend the nights.”

“You’re lying. There was no sleeping bag or blanket or pillow or clothes or anything that would indicate that you spend the night here.”

He licked his lips, fear palpable on his face. “I don’t own anything!”

“So if I check you right now, I won’t find any drugs on you?” Scott raised his eyebrow.

Zoe studied his face. He looked desperate, scared—like a man who had been living on the edge for too long. “Jimmy, why don’t you answer our questions and maybe Detective Cohen over here won’t go through your pockets?”

Scott exchanged a glance with Zoe, his expression serious, but she just shrugged.

Jimmy hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. “I was here to make a drop.”

“What drop?”

“GHB.”

Scott frowned. “Gamma hydroxy-butyrate.”

Zoe recognized the drug. It could simulate unconsciousness, confusion or even seizures. “For whom?”

Jimmy hesitated again but Scott turned him around and pressed into his neck, he nodded desperately. “All right! All right! It’s just this kid, okay? I’ve been selling to her for over a year now. I meet her here.”

“We need a name, buddy,” Scott reminded him.

“Bella. Bella Baker.”

Dread washed over Zoe. It was Lily’s sister.

TWENTY-FIVE

“How important is family to you?”

Zoe growled. “How is this relevant to my psych evaluation?”

“Everything that makes you you is important,” Aiden said with a shrug.

“It means everything to me.”

“It’s important to have that anchor in a job like this. Something to go back to after dealing with so much…”

“Horror.” She spelled it out for him.

“Exactly.”

“Do you have an anchor too? You must have dealt with worse people than me.”

He chuckled and gestured around his office. “My anchor is this. These books. These theories.”

“Feels flimsy. No offense.”

“None taken.” The corners of his eyes softened.