‘“Make up”?’ Ren smiled.
Gary’s phone rang. Ren took it as her cue to leave.
That evening, Ren pulled into the parking lot of the Jefferson County Cold Case Unit and dialed Janine Hooks’ number.
‘Janine? Hi, it’s Ren Bryce. I’d just like to apologize again for everything.’
‘There really is no need,’ said Janine.
‘I know, but still…I’d like to…make amends. I’m outside your building and—’
‘What?’ said Janine.
‘Yes,’ said Ren. ‘Can you spare a minute?’
Janine paused. ‘OK, but—’
‘If you could come out to the parking lot, I’d like you to meet someone.’
‘You can bring them up to my office,’ said Janine. ‘That’s not a problem.’
‘I can’t. Please, it’ll only take a minute.’
‘OK,’ said Janine. ‘This is a little strange.’
‘That’s how I roll,’ said Ren.
Ren got out of the car when she saw Janine crossing the lot. Janine was already looking into the car. She frowned at Ren.
‘She’s on the floor,’ said Ren. She opened the back door and Misty stood up.
‘Wow,’ said Janine. ‘She’s beautiful. Hello, girl. You are beautiful,’ she said, crouching down. Misty threw herself at Janine.
‘I saw the dog photos in your office,’ said Ren. ‘All over your office.’
‘What, and you bought me a dog?’ said Janine. ‘You must be riddled with guilt.’
Ren laughed. ‘Yes. And no, I did not buy you a dog, I brought you a…colleague.’
‘What?’
‘Meet Misty,’ said Ren. ‘She’s my cadaver dog. A warm friend to cold cases. We are at your service. If you’d still like to search those possible burial grounds you mentioned.’
Janine stood up. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Yup.’
‘Do you think she’d be any use?’
‘You bet,’ said Ren. ‘She’s very well trained.’
‘Thank you so much,’ said Janine. ‘I’ve always wanted to work with a cadaver dog.’
‘Well, here we are.’
‘I really appreciate it,’ said Janine. ‘I might take the hex off you, now.’
Ren laughed. ‘OK, well, we better get going. Send me an email and we’ll go from there.’ She turned to put Misty back in the car.
‘Ren,’ said Janine. ‘My first case here, there was this woman, she was eighty-two years old, one of the nicest little old ladies you could meet. And I believed that her son had killed his pregnant girlfriend in 1972. He had disappeared the same day the body was found. No trace of him since then. So I called to this lil ol’ lady’s door, pretending I had gotten lost in the neighborhood. She was so blind, she thought I was about nineteen years old. She brought me in, made me tea. I called back with flowers, I took her grocery shopping another day…’ Janine paused. ‘Look, her son’s in jail now because of my finest efforts. He had gotten back in touch with her when the dust had settled. He would call her, visit if he could. And I took him away. I get what it’s like to do what you have to do —’
‘Wow,’ said Ren. ‘You played an old lady? You are one mean bitch. Stay away from my dog.’
They laughed.
Ren’s cell phone rang. ‘It’s my boss,’ she said. ‘I better take this.’
‘Sure,’ said Janine. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
‘Cool,’ said Ren. She hit Answer.
‘Ren, get into the office. Now.’ He hung up.
Half an hour later, Ren was walking down the hallway registering the barely contained fury on Gary’s face as he stood in his doorway with his arms folded.
Ren paused in front of him. ‘What’s this ab—’
‘Grab your coat. We’re going to Stout Street.’ Stout Street was the FBI’s federal building in downtown Denver.
‘Why?’ said Ren.
‘A man called James Laker has just walked in there with footage of Javier Luis’ murder, saying Domenica Val Pando was responsible.’
‘Aren’t you going to ask me why you’re coming with me?’ said Gary.
‘I guess we both know why I’m coming with you.’
‘I don’t think
Gary glanced at her. ‘I don’t know what’s on this tape. All I know is that you have nine lives, Ren Bryce. And you are running through them faster than anyone I have ever met.’
Acknowledgements
Thank you, always, to my agent Darley Anderson and the fabulous team at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. Special thanks to Camilla Bolton, criminal mastermind.
Love, thanks and fond farewell to Wayne Brookes, the star who shines wherever he goes.
Thank you to Lynne Drew for her wisdom, insight and thoughtfulness.
Many thanks to Belinda Budge, Moira Reilly, Tony Purdue and everyone at the wonderful HarperCollins.
To Anne O’Brien – thank you for never missing a trick.
I am thoroughly grateful to all the experts who give up their time, share their expertise, and understand that I have to play with the facts. Very special thanks to SSA Phil Niedringhaus and to everyone at The Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force. Thank you to David Aggleton, Aggleton & Associates, Inc.; Cold Case Investigator, Cheryl Moore; Kerry O’Connell; Billy L. Smith Sr.; L.E.T.S. International, Inc.
To Sue Booth-Forbes, thank you always for your kindness, generosity and inspiration.
To Paul, for everything you do, thank you out loud.
Love and thanks to my endlessly supportive family and friends.
About the Author
TIME OF DEATH
Alex Barclay lives in County Cork, Ireland. She is the writer of three other bestselling thrillers,
For more information about Alex Barclay and her books, please visit her website, www.alexbarclay.co.uk
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
