"Yes. And that makes sense when you consider the fact that Landon's phone and computer were missing. He also mentioned that Landon had written a lot of his project research in a series of black notebooks. I didn't see those at his apartment. I think they were stolen, too." She paused. "Unless the police took the notebooks into evidence?"
"No. There weren't any notebooks. Maybe I should follow up with AJ. You told me he runs a gaming club in North Hollywood?"
"Yes, Cipher. But he's gone, Julia. AJ left his club right after we did. I think he got scared by my questions and the fact that Sabrina Lin is dead."
"That's too bad. He might have known more that he didn't say."
"I agree, but I don't think we're going to find him."
"Did he say anything else to you?"
"That was it. But something happened after we left the club. I was followed into the Hollywood Hills, and someone tried to run me off the road. Luckily, Matt—Agent Lawson—was not far behind me. He saw what was happening and tried to get between us. It was pretty scary. I thought one or both of us was going to crash into the canyon, but eventually, I was able to pull over, and the guy took off."
"That must have been terrifying, Haley."
"I still shake when I think about it. I've never had anyone go after me like that before. I think he was trying to kill me."
"You need security. Can you get the FBI to put you up in a safehouse?"
"I don't know. Matt spent the night on my couch. I'm okay now."
"Is he there with you?"
For some reason, Julia's question gave her pause. It seemed like Julia should be more interested in talking about the case than about where she was and who she was with. But that was silly; Julia was just concerned about her. She couldn't let Matt's doubts color her thoughts. She knew Julia better than he did.
"Matt will be back shortly," she said. "We're going to a charity event hosted by Jill Adler today."
"I doubt she'll confess anything at a public event."
"No, but maybe she'll reveal something we don't already know."
"Or you'll make someone see you as more of a threat than they already do. You should take a page out of Arjun's book and get out of town."
"And do what? I have a job. I can't hide. And I'm not sure they wouldn't track me down anyway. They don't know what I know, and that makes me dangerous to whoever killed my brother and Sabrina. Anyway, I'll be careful, but I'm going to keep trying to figure this out. Agent Lawson believes Landon was murdered, so he's willing to help me."
"I heard his unit pulled the file."
"Were you forced to leave anything out of that file, Julia?"
"No. I was forced to stop asking questions and to find evidence to support what the university claimed happened."
"Who do you think was putting pressure on the police?"
"Someone from Westbridge, probably the dean, who was most likely being pressured by alumni parents and donors."
"Why would they have power over the police department?"
"The deputy police chief, Alan Matson, had political aspirations. Now, he's a state senator."
"I forgot about that," she murmured.
"I can't say for sure he was the one being influenced. He was several levels above my supervisor. I was just told to shut things down, and unless I had hard evidence otherwise, we couldn't pursue it." Julia paused. "I'm glad the FBI is involved now, and Lawson has a good reputation as a solid agent."
She was reassured by that information, because she was definitely going to need Matt's help. "I'm happy to hear that."
"Keep in touch. I'll be curious to hear what Brooke has to say now."
"So will I."
