“At that time, I show two students, minors, three names I recognize as regulars, and…” she sighs.
“What’s wrong?” Stevens asks.
The librarian stands up. “I’ll be right back.”
She leaves the room.
I walk over to the computer and try to see what was so upsetting. “It says Beautiful Woman.”
The librarian returns with a teenage boy following her. “This is Jake. He checked someone out for a computer on that date but didn’t get her name, which we require, along with some kind of identification.”
Jake’s cheeks redden as he stares at the floor.
“Jake, tell us everything you remember about the woman,” Stevens says.
“Um.” He swallows. “She asked to use the computer and said she didn’t have any ID on her. I told her I needed ID, and then she begged me. She said it was lifeor death, and she looked really scared. I couldn’t say no.”
“Describe her,” Durango says.
Jake nods. “She was really pretty but older. Around forty, I think. Dark long hair. And she was wearing a nice dress.”
Stevens closes her eyes, and even though I don’t know her well, I can tell she’s frustrated. “Do you have video cameras here?” she asks the librarian.
“Yes, we do. Let me pull it up. Jake, come here and tell me if you see her.”
Jake stands behind the librarian as she goes through videos. “That’s her!” he points at the screen.
She turns the monitor so we can see it.
Stevens pushes some wayward hair behind her ear. “All we get is the back of a blue coat and a raised hood. No face.”
“Let me see if I can find when she leaves.” The librarian fast forwards through the video. “Here we go.” Then she plays it for us.
The woman walks from the computers to the front door, looking down with her hood on.
“She knows about the cameras,” Stevens says.
It does appear she is avoiding them.
“Well, at least now we know we are looking for a woman,” I say.
“In a blue coat,” Durango adds.
Stevens blows out a breath. “Yeah, that will narrow it down. Thank you for your time. Let’s go.”
We follow her outside in silence.
Durango claps his hands together. “Who wears a coat in this weather?”
He’s right. Even though summer is ending, it’s been warm. A jacket is all that might be needed.
“Someone who doesn’t want her face seen,” Stevens says. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
We follow her to her car. She stops at a dark SUV down the road.
“Great spot,” I say.
She shrugs. “I have luck with parking places.”
