Read Online Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart - Free Book Online Page A

she was seated to begin her verbal report.
    “Lisa Montour. Age thirty-one. And as per Phyl, she was in fact the manicurist at the Red Rose Salon in town. I called the salon and found that she hadn’t come in yet today. Called her roommate, she said Lisa went out to meet up with some friends last night, but didn’t come home. The roommate didn’t realize
that,
however, until the salon called this morning.”
    “Can we get the names of the friends she was meeting?” Denver asked.
    Cass held up a stenographer’s notebook.
    “The roommate gave them to me, along with phone numbers. She was supposed to go with Lisa last night, by the way, but got home from work really late and was just too tired to go out. I’ve already spoken with two of the four she was supposed to meet, but they both said Lisa didn’t show up. They figured she got home from work and maybe just fell asleep.”
    “What time did she leave her apartment?” Denver sat back in his chair. “Walk me through what you’ve got.”
    “Her roommate—Carol Tufts, her name is—said Lisa left around nine-fifteen for Kelly’s down on Twelfth Street. Should have taken her ten minutes at the most to get there.”
    “She was driving?”
    “Walking. Her car had a flat, and she had no spare tire, so she decided to walk. Carol said she offered her the use of her car, but Lisa said she’d just as soon walk, since it was a nice night.”
    “When was the flat tire discovered, do we know?” Denver asked.
    “Yesterday morning. According to Carol, the tire was flat when Lisa went down to leave for work in the morning. Found the tire flat, realized she didn’t have a spare, so she had someone from the salon pick her up, and got a ride home yesterday afternoon.” Cass looked up from her notes. “I’ll bring the tire in for inspection.”
    Her cell phone vibrated against her hip, and she glanced at the number.
    “It’s the lab,” she told the chief. “I think I want to take this.”
    Denver nodded, then turned his attention to Jeff Spencer, who’d been silent since he’d entered the room.
    “So what do you have to add to Detective Burke’s report, Spencer?”
    Spencer shrugged. “Not much.”
    “Well, you were there at the scene this morning, weren’t you?”
    “Yes. But Burke had things pretty much in control when I arrived.”
    “What time did you get there?”
    Spencer rubbed the back of his neck and shifted in his seat.
    “I don’t recall what time I arrived.”
    Denver stared at him. He didn’t want to have this conversation. Especially he didn’t want to have it
now.
    “You having a problem, Spencer?”
    “Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, I am.” Spencer’s face was emotionless.
    “Solve it. Take care of it. And do it fast.” Denver stood, hoping to walk off his temper. “There’s a killer in my town. He’s just getting his game on. I don’t have time to baby anyone through their personal problems. If you’re not one hundred percent on this, Spencer, for God’s sake, tell me now.”
    “Well, Chief, I hadn’t planned on talking about this yet. What with these murders and all.” Spencer’s face flushed, the first reaction he’d shown since he sat down.
    The chief motioned at him to go on.
    “I’d really rather wait until . . .” Spencer’s voice dropped and he shot a glance in Cass’s direction. She was wrapping up her call.
    “No semen found on either body, though both women had been sexually assaulted. The position of the bruises on each woman’s neck is exactly the same, the thumbprints the same distance apart. Trace is still being examined, but Tasha found one interesting thing.”
    She leaned on the corner of Denver’s desk, oblivious to the exchange between the chief and Spencer.
    “Tasha found little bits of fibers in the hair of both victims. She’s going to analyze them to see if they match.” Cass looked up from her notes.
    “Have this morning’s vic’s clothes been found?” Denver asked.
    Cass nodded.