Page 42 of Three Girls Gone

“I am, but I’ve been brought in as a consultant for an open investigation.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting.”

“It’s something anyhow.” She had no intention of divulging any details to Natalie. “I was hoping you could help me with something.”

“Sure, you name it.”

Katherine walked into Natalie’s office space. “I’m supposed to get my computer credentials in the morning, but I’d like to have a look at a background now. Do you think if I gave you the name, you could look it up and print it out for me?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Wonderful, and I’ll let Sergeant Malone know you pulled it for me. The name’s Anne Harrington. She’d have had an address in New York City.”

Natalie pecked on her keyboard and had the result rather fast. “Forty-eight, still lives in NYC by the look of it. But it looks like she has a few restraining orders to her name.”

“I’ll need all that information. Please.”

“Sure.” Natalie gave her a pressed smile. She hit some keys, and the printer in the corner whirred to life. “That will be the background, including the list of restraining orders against her.”

“Thank you.” Katherine rushed to scoop the paper from the tray and noted all the ROs were filed by men. She waspsychoaccording to Christi, and the restraining orders suggested shehad a hard time letting go of the men in her life. Could Anne have taken things further with Evan Gilbert? Had she targeted Julie to get his attention, to manipulate his affection? But if a relationship ever existed between her and Evan Gilbert, why wasn’t it uncovered? And what could have led Harrington to assault and kill Hailey Tanner? How would she have been threatened by Katherine’s sleuthing in the fall? But one step at a time.

SEVENTEEN

It only took Amanda knocking on Kendra Bennett’s door one time, before it swung open. Kendra eyed Amanda and Trent with irritation. “If you’re here to accuse my sister of anything, she won’t talk to you without a lawyer.”

“That’s not why we’re here,” Amanda told her. “Can we come in?”

Strobes of colored light danced around the room, and voices came from the television. “Mar,” Kendra called.

A light came on, and the TV was turned off.

“Yeah?”

“The detectives are back.” Kendra turned to Amanda and Trent and told them they could come inside.

“Thanks.” Amanda entered the living room first.

Mara was under a blanket on the couch and struggling to sit up while holding a glass of wine. She set it on the coffee table in front of her next to the bottle and another glass. “If I knew you were coming, I wouldn’t be drinking.” Mara balled up the blanket and placed it on the middle cushion.

“It’s been an unbelievably rough day for her.” Kendra poured out the rest of the wine into their glasses, then sat on thecouch. “She loved that girl a lot.” Kendra buried her nose in her large wineglass.

“We can imagine that it’s been a rough few days, starting with Hailey’s disappearance on Friday,” Amanda said. “But we have a few questions for you.”

Kendra pulled her nose out of her wineglass. “You’re sure my sister shouldn’t have a lawyer present?”

“That’s up to her,” Trent told her.

Kendra looked at her sister, who shook her head.

“Go ahead, and ask whatever you need to,” Mara said.

Amanda dipped her head. “There’s evidence that someone got into Hailey’s room.” She’d hold back the missing tutu and ballet slippers with it being a crucial part of the investigation. The fewer people who knew the better.

“How do you know that?”

“We’re not at liberty to say,” Amanda told her, while Trent took out his tablet and settled it on his lap.

Mara looked from him to Amanda. “Well, I’m not sure what more you need from me. I told you I had Nick over, but that’s all. Did someone break into her room?”