Max studied it for a moment, squinting at it as though he was trying to conjure up some memory. But he shook his head. “Not off the top of my head.” He flipped through his notes. “I don’t have that name written down. Think it’s important?”
“Don’t know. I feel like I’ve seen this before, but I can’t remember when or where.” She shrugged and took out her phone, snapping a picture of the business card before handing the evidence back to the tech. “Thanks.”
“You know Mundy is going to be pissed,” Max told her.
Jaime rolled her eyes. “I didn’t even touch the stuff.” She trained her sights on one of the uniformed officers, snapping her fingers as she stepped closer. “Hey! What time does this place open?”
“Why? You lookin’ for a date?” the guy snickered.
Jaime’s nostrils flared; Max’s arm suddenly wrapped around her side as she lunged forward. If it hadn’t been for her partner, she’d have been on that fucker, pummeling him until she felt better. Or until he blacked out, whichever came first.
“Jaime, leave it! He’s a fucking rookie. He doesn’t know.” Max held on tight, struggling to keep Jaime with him.
Through the red haze, Jaime saw the other unis smacking the rookie and whispering to him. He had enough humility to look embarrassed and sorry, but that didn’t help Jaime’s anger.
“I-I’m sorry, Detective….”
“Save it,” Jaime bit out through gritted teeth. “What time?”
“Eight o’clock. They’re, uh, open until two a.m.”
Jaime nodded once and turned her back on him.Fucker. Was she more upset that this was the anniversary and that he had made a distasteful joke? Or that he thought she’d ever come to a place like this for a… date? She sure as fuck didn’t want to think about the answer to that.
“I want to come back here tonight to see if this Lady A knows our victim,” she announced to her partner.
“How do you know thisLadyworks here?”
“You kidding? A moniker like that? Probably owns the damn place. Until then, does our victim have a next of kin?”
Max checked his notes. “Preliminary findings say the parents are elderly and living in assisted living in Boca Raton. I’ll contact authorities down there to see if they can go talk to them. No word on siblings yet.” He paused, frowning slightly. “But it looks like she has a boyfriend here in the area.”
Jaime’s eyebrows shot up. “A boyfriend? That’s different from the others. I don’t recall any of them having a significant other. Man or woman.”
“No, you’re right. The others were described as single.” Max scratched at his stubble. “This fucker is getting bold.”
“Yeah, and branching out,” Jaime agreed. “Let’s go talk to the boyfriend and see what he knows.”
Chapter Four
“Alexa, wake up.”
The TV sprang to life on request, and Anya smelled the coffee brewing as she shuffled to the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her tired eyes. Her hair was mussed from a fitful night’s sleep, but she didn’t care. Who did she have to impress? Derek?
“Meow!”
“Don’t you yell at me. It’s your fault I’m so tired this morning. You justhadto watch that third episode of League, didn’t you?”
“Meow?” Derek jumped up on the counter and trotted over to Anya. He nudged her hand, wanting his morning pets.
“Excuse me, I’m trying to get some coffee.” Once again, Derek situated himself between Anya and the coffeepot. Purrs and trilled meows flowed out of him as she couldn’t resist loving on him. “So spoiled,” she murmured.
She pressed the button on his feeder, releasing his breakfast. As soon as he heard the food drop, Anya was all but forgotten. As she continued with her routine, she muttered something about Derek being a typical male. It was nearly noon, but for Anya, this was as close to morning as she usually got on work nights. So, breakfast was her meal of choice over lunch. She grabbed a bowl and spoon, made her way to the pantry for her Cheerios, stoppedby the fridge for milk, and plucked a banana from the bunch before taking everything to the small breakfast table.
Anya went back for her coffee, then settled in her chair, tucking her legs up into a lotus position. She poured some cereal and milk into her bowl as she kept an eye on the TV. At this time of day, she’d missed the news. Instead, she entertained herself by watchingJeopardyand seeing how many questions she could get right.
“Who is Stevie Nicks?” Anya called out to the TV, smirking when she was correct. Pop culture trivia was Anya’s specialty. Geography, on the other hand…well, people in Anya’s life knew to give her directions that didn’t include north, south, east, or west. She had her strengths, but Anya was fully aware of her weaknesses, too.
Derek finished his food, then jumped onto the table to sniff out what Anya had. “Hey! Boy, you better get your nose out of my food.” She snatched up her coffee, nearly spilling it. “Stay out of my coffee, too! And don’t give me that look. You know very well that you’re going to be snoozing all damn day and night until I get home.Ineed this coffee.” Anya leaned in and booped Derek on the nose. “How about we pull a Freaky Friday, andyougo to work for me while I stay here and nap all day?”
