Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 136507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 683(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 683(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” he nods. “Looked like it was holding the whole thing together.”
“That’s …” My stomach drops with realization. “Oh my God.”
He’s been in front of us this whole time.
Chapter 46
Emery
The Bale House is still quiet as the servers flitter about, ensuring the tables are set for the coming rush while catering to early lunch customers.
“Hey, boss.” Matt pauses what he’s doing at the computer to flash me one of his boyish smiles, his eyes grazing my uniform. “You want a menu?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I settle onto a barstool, scanning the daily specials. “Actually, you know what? I’ll just get a club sandwich. To go.”
“Comin’ right up.” He punches the order in, comping it under his management code like he always does for me and then grabs a glass and fills it with soda. “So? How’s it goin’ these days? You look tired.”
“Didn’t get much sleep.”
“Yeah, I imagine it’s busy around your station.” He hesitates. “Word is they’re eyeing one of the Barrows for Holly?”
I check the bar. “Is Stan Malkovich here?”
“People love to talk to the bartender.” He sets the drink in front of me. “If it’s true, that’s crazy.”
I hum with agreement through a sip, schooling my expression as best I can.
“You think he actually did it?” Matt asks casually, lifting the napkin dispenser to check its fullness.
“We’ll know soon enough. They’re testing the DNA they found on her.”
“Will they find all that much, though? I mean, after being in the water for however long.”
“A frozen lake slows decomposition right down. Like, for example, if her attacker had intercourse with her and didn’t use a condom, we’ll have his DNA profile very soon.” Or soon enough, anyway. I’m doing my best to keep a smooth, friendly expression. Inside, though, I’m seething.
Schmidt and Terry stroll in then.
Matt’s attention homes in on them instantly. “Wherever you two want, fellas.”
“This looks comfy.” Terry takes a stool two over from me, nodding. “Hey, McAllister. What’s good here?”
“Can’t go wrong with the club,” I say as Matt slides two menus over before busying himself with unloading a rack of clean glasses.
“I don’t know. I’m feeling like something I can really sink my teeth into, you know?”
“Burger?” Matt suggests. “Ours are the best around these parts.”
“That sounds good … Matt, right? It’s Matt?” Terry pulls out his notepad.
“That’s right.” He watches Terry flip through his pages.
“While we’re here, we’re trying to nail down the timeline regarding the night Holly Monroe went missing, and I wanted to reconfirm a few things, if you don’t mind. Before it gets too busy here. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Yeah, I guess.” There’s a touch of wariness in Matt’s voice.
Schmidt hasn’t said a word, his focus on the menu in front of him.
“You said Holly Monroe was escorted out by off-duty officer Lynch and your doorman Joey at 8:30 p.m.”
“Sounds about right. Emery was around for that too.” He nods to me.
“Yup, we noted that. And Holly never came back inside after she and her friends were escorted out. You never saw her again.”
“No, sir.” Matt shakes his head. “From what I heard, it sounds like she was hangin’ out in the back parking lot for a bit around midnight? But that’s just what I heard.”
Terry nods. “I didn’t ask about Jack Barrow before, but he was sitting right”—Terry surveys the stools and the TV screens behind the bar—“right where I’m sitting, actually. For a few hours, watching the games. He left at 12:45 a.m.”
“Uh …” Matt scratches his cheek. “I mean, I can’t remember exactly what time but that sounds about right?”
“And you and a staff member named Shawna were the last to leave at 3:00 a.m., which matches the video footage of you driving out in a …” Terry checks his notes. “Green Honda Civic.”
A server appears then with a white cardboard take-out clamshell. Matt directs her to me with a finger-point. “Yeah, sounds right. I gave Shawna a ride home that night.”
“And then you went home to grab a couple hours of sleep before you were back here at 10:45 a.m.” Terry pauses, looks at Matt. “Did I get that all down right?”
“Sounds good.”
“I didn’t miss anything?”
“Nope.”
“Nothing at all?”
Matt shakes his head, his eyes locked intently on Terry.
“Perfect. I think we have what we need.” Terry smiles as he closes his notepad.
I can’t help myself. “Holly wasn’t waiting for Logan in the hallway that night, was she? Your office is beside the men’s washroom, and you were in it.”
“What?” Matt’s expression falters, awareness flittering past it. He tracks Schmidt as the burly detective saunters over to the far end of the bar. “Sir, can I ask you to step over here?”
Matt looks once to me before meeting the detective. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going to ask you to remain calm,” Schmidt begins. “You are under arrest for the murder of Holly Monroe—”