Sandman (14 page)

“What are you doing?”

“Searching for a thumb drive, or some empty CDs to copy her files.” She located some floppy disks at the bottom of one of the drawers and popped each in, then out of the computer.

“Check this out.”

Thomas came up behind her.
Mystery Lovers of America
flashed across the top. “What am I looking at?”

She started scrolling down the screen. “This is a site she frequented a lot. These are conversations she was having with someone in a chat room for people who liked to read mystery novels. There are pages and pages of these. The guy’s screen name is Dark Knight. This
could
be our perp.” She reached back into the bottom drawer and picked up a floppy, stared at it, then threw it back. “I think I have a thumb drive in the car. I’ll be right back.”

Minutes later Shadowhawk returned, connected the thumb drive into the computer and started copying files. Then she searched the room. She peeked behind pictures and under the mattress.

She took out each drawer and flipped it over, sending the contents falling to the floor. She eyed the bottoms, then checked the backs before tossing each drawer onto the bed. After that she slipped her hand into the empty space where the drawer had been, and felt along the top and back.

“What are you doing?” Thomas asked.

“Trying to see if she taped anything in here. I used to hide things all the time. I didn’t have the
luxury
of my own room growing up and my brothers and sisters were nosy.”

Thomas watched her. “Just so you know, you’re going to have to put everything back the way you found it.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she said, intent on her search. “Pay dirt!” She pulled the satin away from behind the little ballerina in what looked like a child’s jewelry box.

He came over and glanced over her shoulder as she flipped through snapshots. “Hel-lo,” Shadowhawk remarked.

Thomas whistled. “Whoa, that is not the same girl we saw in the photographs downstairs.”

“No indeedy. She’s hot! Looks like our wallflower had a secret life that mommy and daddy didn’t know about.”

Thomas watched her skim the photos. They showed Cindy Gross in heavy makeup, lying on the bed provocatively in a bikini. A couple of shots showed her without her top, covering her nipples with her arm.

“Who do you suppose took these, a boyfriend?” he asked.

“Probably that Roxanne chick, although she could have taken them herself with a timer. All she had to do was put the camera on the top of the dresser and line the shot up using one of her stuffed animals.”

“The next question is why? Who were they for?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’d like to know.” Shadowhawk slipped the pictures into her pocket and continued her search.

Next, she went over to the bookcase. She read the titles aloud, “
Nancy Drew
,
The
Hardy Boys.
I
guess
you could say she was into mysteries. A little juvenile for her age though, don’t you think?”

“This whole room looks like that of a child.”

“No shit.” She turned back to the books and started picking up each one and shaking it, then thumbed through it.

Thomas put all the drawers back in the dresser, then put the clothes back in. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make them look the way they did before. Let alone close the damn things. Finally he found himself pushing down on the clothes and trying to shove the drawers closed.

Shadowhawk turned around. “I was going to put that all back when I was finished.”

“Right.”

“Whatever.” She picked up a large volume titled
Introduction to Psychology
. The book had a shiny paper cover. She started skimming through it. “What the hell?” She closed the book again and looked at the title. “This book does not resemble anything they gave
me
in school!”

Thomas gave up and joined her on the other side of the room in time to see her remove the paper cover.

“Hel-lo,” he said, mocking her, then. “
The Joy of Sex.
I wonder what kind of grade she got in that class?”

“I know, huh?”

“Looks like we’d better track down that Roxanne what’s-her-name and see if she can shed some light on our little ballerina.”

Shadowhawk went back to the computer, slipped the thumb drive into her pocket and powered it down.

They finished tidying up. Downstairs they met up with Mr. and Mrs. Gross and thanked them for their hospitality. He gave Mr. Gross his card and asked him to call if they thought of anything.

“I just hope it helps you catch this guy,” Mr. Gross exclaimed.

“Yes, sir. We’ll keep you informed of any new developments.” Thomas offered the man his hand.

“Thank you.” Mr. Gross smiled as he shook it.

Once the door closed, they walked toward the car. About halfway there, he turned to Shadowhawk. “Well, that was insightful.”

“
Very
insightful.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Meagan stopped at the fish market on her way home from work Thursday and purchased two pounds of large shrimp for her dinner with Drew. Then she crossed the street to the bakery and snagged a loaf of French bread. It was hot, right out of the oven. The smell filled the car and made her stomach growl.

At home, she sang along with Joni Mitchell while she cleaned the shrimp. She measured out the cayenne pepper, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and the rest of the spices into a bowl, and set it aside.

At precisely seven o'clock, Godzilla barked, and there was a knock on her screen. “Hello?”

“Just a minute!” She placed the last pin in her hair, then hastily pulled down some curls to frame her face. Satisfied, she rushed to greet her guest.

Drew waited with a bottle of wine in each hand. She snagged Godzilla’s collar before she opened the screen and invited him in.

“I wasn’t sure what we were having, so I bought both red and white.” He handed the bottles to her as the dog busily sniffed him all over.

“This is Gozilla.”

“Hey.” Drew patted him on the head and moved away. He looked nervous.

“Don’t worry, he won’t bite.”

“I’m just not much of a dog person, I guess.” Godzilla continued to sniff him as he backed up against the wall.

“Okay, I’ll put him in the bedroom.” She put the wine on the phone table by the door. “Come on, boy.” She slapped her leg and the dog wagged his tail and went to her.

“We’re having Cajun shrimp,” Meagan said as she returned. “I hope you like spicy food.” She grabbed the wine and made her way back toward the kitchen.

“Great, the spicier the better.” He followed closely behind.

“Which would you prefer?” She got down a couple of wineglasses from the cupboard.

“I prefer red myself.”

“Great, me too.” She opened the bottle and poured them each a glass.

They took their wine into the living room where Meagan had lit several candles and strategically placed them around the room. She sat on the couch, curled her legs up underneath her, and set her wine on the end table. Drew sat next to her.

They talked for a couple hours until Meagan noticed the time and jumped up. “Oh, my God, I’d better get dinner on. You must be starving!”

A few moments later, they were situated on the living room floor, scooted up to the coffee table with their dinners.

“This is really hot,” Meagan explained, handing him a bottle. “The beer and bread help to put out the fire. The bread is for dipping into the sauce.”

Drew took a bite. “Wow, this is great!”

After about three more mouthfuls his face scrunched up, and he grabbed his beer. “Whoa.” He gasped. “This
is
hot.” He drank half the beer before coming up for air.

Meagan laughed. “I warned you. Try some bread.”

Meagan’s heart grew fonder of Drew the more he was in her presence. His eyes lit up when he spoke of his love for his music. The animation of his voice spoke volumes while he described the motivations behind each of the songs he wrote.

When they were in the kitchen she’d noticed his dark, closely cropped beard brought out the green and yellow flecks in his hazel eyes. His lashes, long and dark, made them seem to glitter.

She glanced down his broad shoulders to his strong arms. She hadn’t noticed them before because he’d always worn long sleeves. Tonight he was dressed more casual in a Social D t-shirt. The band was one she was also fond of. The memory of those strong arms wrapped around her and the kiss they’d shared sent a shiver down the length of her body. Her eyes roamed further south, then she became painfully aware of the silence that filled the room. Her eyes shot up to his face, and heat filled her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, what?”

A sexy grin played at his lips. He reached over and fingered a curl against her cheek. Her body leaned toward him as if it had a mind of its own.

“I said it’s late. I have a long drive ahead of me.”

Meagan leaned back and stood abruptly. She mentally shook her head and tried to focus. “Of course.”

Drew got to his feet and followed her to the door. Meagan opened it. When she turned around he was close, very close. She looked up and met his gaze. The look in his eyes heated.

“Dinner was great, and so was the company.” His voice dipped low on the last word. Meagan’s heart skipped a beat.

“Thank you.” She swallowed hard.

He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers. As the kiss deepened, he let out a soft moan and pulled her body closer against him. She felt his arousal.

Her mind was whirling, she wanted him too, but then again she barely knew him. She knew from experience it was better not to rush things. His fingers found her nipple and pinched ever so slightly. The action made her tingle between her legs. She was finding it really hard to be good right now.

Meagan battled with her conscience. As much as she yearned for Drew, she didn’t do one-night stands. Then again, if he were telling the truth, he wasn’t looking for that either. He’d told her he was ready to settle down, have a family. That if the record deal went through, he wanted to buy a little cottage in San Clemente. He’d always loved this town.

The longer they kissed, the harder it was getting for Meagan to send him on his way. And just like that he ended the kiss. She wondered if the shock registered on her face.

“I’d better get going before this gets out of hand.” He looked down at her expectantly. Her body trembled. The silence between them grew. She knew it was up to her, but she couldn’t speak. He took two steps back, his eyes never leaving her face.

Meagan suddenly felt cold where his body had been and wrapped her arms around herself, but still couldn’t utter a word. She was afraid that word would be
stay
.

He backed up two more steps.

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She nodded.

He turned around, walked to the van and jumped in. The motor turned over. She watched as his taillights disappeared from sight.

She knew in her head that she made the right decision; now she just had to convince her body. Meagan stood in the open doorway until the cold night air brought her back to reality. Then she sighed and closed the door. This guy was just too good to be true.

TWENTY-FIVE

Thomas pulled into the parking lot of The Frisco Bay Clothing Company an hour later. The detectives strolled into the lobby and asked if a Roxanne Hanover worked there. Without a word, the receptionist picked up the phone.

A couple of minutes later, a sharp-dressed woman appeared through the door. Flashing his ID, Thomas made the introductions and asked if there was somewhere they could talk in private. Roxanne led them to her office.

She smoothed her skirt and sat behind her desk.

“What is this about, detectives?”

“We have some questions about Cindy Gross,” Thomas answered.

“I don’t know what I can tell you that I haven’t already told the police years ago, and I’m very busy. We’re getting the clothes in for the summer line. Everything’s chaotic at the moment.”

“I understand. We’ll be brief. What can you tell us about Cindy’s boyfriends?” Thomas asked.

“Boyfriends? Cindy didn’t have any
boyfriends.
She was too insecure. She was the type of person who faded into the background as if she weren’t even in the room, which frustrated me to no end. She could have been cute if she only tried.

“I gave her a makeover once, and she looked really great, but she couldn’t wash the makeup off fast enough. It made her uncomfortable. I just wanted her to be happy. She needed to get a life and move out of that house. Her parents were suffocating her. I thought if she started dating it would boost her confidence.”

“Did she have any guy
friends
that she hung out with then?” Shadowhawk asked. 

“No, I was her only friend.
”

“What about here at work? Was she friendly with someone here?” Shadowhawk continued.

“No, not really. She was
nice and everyone liked her well enough, but she pretty much kept to herself. I was the only person she really felt comfortable being around.”

“Did
anyone
ever show her any attention, either here at work or otherwise?” Shadowhawk asked.

“No.” She paused a beat. “Wait, there was this one guy who worked in the warehouse. He was quiet and shy like her. They talked once in a while. She told me she thought he had a crush on her but was too shy to ask her out. I told her to ask him. I thought they’d make the perfect pair.”

“Did they ever go out?”

“No, come to think of it, he got fired before that could happen. Wow, I’d forgotten about that.”

“Do you remember why he was fired?” Thomas jumped in.

“Oh, yeah. It was a shock, actually. I mean, this guy was so quiet, kept to himself, then one day out of the blue he just goes off on his boss and slugs him. I never saw anything like it before or since. Sure, the boss was an asshole; he got fired a short time later. Too many complaints.”