Celeste Chapter
Celeste:
The visit to Betina’s was a bust on the information front.
For one thing, she expected us. The other two had called and warned her.
However, she had been willing to talk to us.
The problem was that she knew nothing more than the other two.
She hugged Capri and cried as she apologized.
That was when we discovered she’d been raped in high school but never reported it.
That had led us to stay for an emotional hour, but when we left, I think everyone felt better.
I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Betina.
And I was so proud of my niece for offering her someone to talk to if she ever needed it. They exchanged numbers before we left.
Back at the compound, we informed the gathered crowd of what we had found. The name Kevan Frost was given to Wire. He promised to find out what he could about the guy and to provide Hulk with the info and his address. It appeared there was someone else we would speak to.
Wire updated us with the fact that Vanessa was still off the grid—no use of her credit cards, ID, or sightings of her car.
However, Wire did have an update. It seemed the Dark Patriots had gotten DNA off the first letter.
That was good news, but the bad news was that there were countless systems they’d have to search through to see if the DNA matched anyone’s.
Not everyone in the world has their DNA stored.
As for the fingerprints from the pool house, they were still being processed by AFIS, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
No hits yet, but the identical prints were found on the first letter.
We were still gathered together when Capri startled everyone, or at least everyone but me.
“Since we haven’t gotten anything definite yet, and I’m not going back to the apartment by tomorrow night. We need to plan the next outing.”
“What outing?” Agony asked her.
“We need to get this guy while he’s pissed and off-kilter from the fact I didn’t do as he demanded. Our best bet is still to get him to reveal himself. I want to push him. Who wants to go out on a date on Tuesday?” Capri asked the room.
There were a few seconds of surprised silence, then the voices began to overlap.
It wasn’t coming from anyone objecting to her idea.
It was the offers from all the guys who had been asked before if they’d help with those dates.
It seemed they were just as eager to do it.
I had to fight not to laugh out loud at the scowl on Hulk’s face.
My man was super protective of her, and it wasn’t because of me.
I sat there, exchanging amused looks with the other ladies as arguments broke out and threats were made.
I wondered who would get the honor and if there would be any bloodshed before the decision was made.