Bridget left in a hurry and without her bag, but why? Maybe she started to pack and planned to return later for it. Given the methodical order of her condo, to leave the bag didn’t suit her personality. Questions flooded my mind. Why had she left the bag behind, what was her tie to the murder and most important––why was she on the run?
CHAPTER 37
It was half past noon the next day and Maddie and I had just finished up with our jujitsu class and changed back into our civilian clothes. Out the window the snow gravitated toward the ground. It looked like tiny white feathers. We made the unanimous decision to stop next door for a hot drink before we braved the elements. I hoped if we stayed long enough the sun would show itself. Come out, come out, wherever you are.
Maddie took a sip of her coffee.
“That butterfly bandage is hot,” she said.
“A hot mess.”
She laughed.
“I don’t know why, but I can’t take my eyes off it. It’s kinda like when you see a deer that’s been squished really bad on the side of the road and the guts are all over the place, and you know you shouldn’t look, but you do anyway.”
“You should have seen what I had to wear before this. It would have fascinated you for days.”
“How’s your case?” she said.
“It’s not.”
“That good, huh,” she said.
“For once I’ve learned something new.”
“What’s that?”
“It is possible to move backward instead of forward.”
“Sounds like you need a day of shop therapy,” she said.
“Or a week. Vegas is calling.”
Her eyes beamed at the notion.
“Let’s go then. I’m in,” she said.
We clanked our cups together and toasted to the prospect of Vegas in our future.
“Once I finish the case, you’re on.”
“And what if you don’t solve it, you gonna be okay with that?” she said.
I glanced at her and took a sip of my tea and said nothing.
“Oh come on, don’t give me that face,” she said.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. It’s the same one you always give me when you don’t like what I’ve said. I didn’t suggest you give up.”
“Sounds like it.”
“You allow your cases to consume your life,” she said.
“I just finished jujitsu and now I’m here with you having a drink. My cell phone isn’t on me at the moment, and I haven’t mentioned the case all day until now.”
She sighed and put her cup down. Here we go.
“You struggled today in class. You lacked focus. I know you, and I know what you’re like when it comes to these jobs you take on. You’ll push yourself until you’re exhausted, and I don’t want to see you go through the same thing you did when…”
She stopped and pretended to stare out the window.
“Go ahead,” I said. “Say it. You don’t want to see me go through what I did when Gabrielle died.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have––”
“No, it’s okay. That’s how you feel. That’s how Nick feels too. Hell, everyone feels that way, I get it.”
“I understand how much you want to help this girl find who killed her sister. But she’s not your sister sweetie,” she said. “She’s not Gabrielle.”
“And you assume that’s why I’m doing this, like somehow if I can find Charlotte’s killer it’s going to make up for what happened to Gabby.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said.
“Can we talk about something else?”
She leaned in and placed her hand on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry. Forget what I said, okay,” she said. “I’m going to shut up now.”
The sun launched itself out of the clouds and beamed through the store window.
“That’s my cue,” I said.
Maddie stuck a piece of bubblegum in her mouth and took her sunglasses out of her bag.
“What’s on the agenda for today, pursuit of the bad guy?” she said.
“Or bad girl.”
“Bad girl, I like it,” she said.
“I need to talk to Parker’s other women. His so-called alibi flies in today, but there’s someone else I need to meet with first. Her name is Zoey, and I’m certain they’re involved in a relationship of some kind.”
Maddie flung open the passenger door of my car and hopped in.
“Forgot where you parked your car?” I said.
She pulled down her sunglasses and winked.
“I’m coming with.”
“Oh, you are, are you? I don’t think so.”
“Afraid I might badger your witness?” she said.
“Or scare them.”
“Into submission, maybe. And in that case, you need me.”
I thought about it for a minute. I liked working alone. It was better that way. Maddie popped a bubble and sat down in the passenger seat.
“Oh come on,” she said. “You won’t even know I’m here.”
Bright-eyed and pigtailed Maddie dressed in a hot pink track suit that fit like a glove and furry white boots that came halfway up her leg wouldn’t go unnoticed. In all the time I knew her I could not recall a single occasion where she didn’t stand out. Ever.
“I think it would be best…”
“Come off it Sloane. You’re such a worry wart,” she said. She nudged me in the ribs with her elbow. “Every good hero needs a sidekick, and I’m yours. Can’t you see it––two girls about town in their trusty Audimobile, together on a mission to solve crime. It will be fun.”
I wanted to stick to my original plan and go it alone, but I couldn’t help myself and I burst out laughing. It was hard to believe there was no age difference between us.
“Oh, alright already. I’ll take you, but just today. Buckle up.”
She clapped her hands together in approval.
“Promise to keep quiet though and let me do the talking.”
She bobbed her head up and down quickly.
“I mean it Maddie,” I said. “Not a word.”
CHAPTER 38
The Dynamic Duo, one in a hot pink track suit and the other in faded jeans and a fitted sweater, rendezvoused at Bridget’s apartment.
“Stay here,” I said to Maddie when I opened the car door.
“I want to come though.”
“There’s just one thing I need to do and that’s it.”
She stuck the bottom part of her lip out and folded her arms but remained seated.
I crossed the courtyard and entered the building. A female sat at the front desk this time. I smiled and held up my key card. She nodded.
I surmised Bridget wasn’t there but gave a courtesy knock just in case. When no one answered, I went in. From the entry her place looked the same. I walked to the bedroom and pushed open the door. The duffle bag was gone.
Bridget had been there which meant she might still be in town. I exited the apartment and walked back to the parking lot. Right before I reached my car I spotted a green Honda parked at the far end of the lot. It was the same make and model that Tommy reported and from my vantage point, I could see a person on the driver’s side. The car idled, but it didn’t move. Its passenger stared at me and I stared back. I walked over but took my time; I didn’t want to alarm her. When I was close enough, I confirmed she was the girl in the photo with Tommy. She put the car into gear and glanced behind her. At twenty feet away, I wouldn’t reach her in time.