Chapter 20 #2
"It wasn't. It's called plate cloning. If you want to drive around doing things cameras shouldn't see, you don't steal a car, because a stolen car gets reported and then every plate reader in three counties lights up when you pass one.
Instead, you find a car that matches yours, the same make, model, color, and you copy its plate.
Order a duplicate online, stamp one yourself, doesn't matter.
Bolt it on, and now your car is wearing another car's identity. "
"I had no idea you could do that. Whoever followed Morgan is very clever."
"Yeah," he murmured, a thoughtful gleam in his gaze. "Very clever. Maybe professional."
"As in car thief?"
"And killer."
"You think it's the same person who killed Cabot?"
"I don't know, but I'm less inclined to believe it was Professor Hale. Although, he has money and connections. He could have hired someone to do his dirty work."
"He has never seemed like a man who likes to get his hands dirty," I murmured. "You need to interrogate him."
"I will bring him in, but I doubt he'll say anything without a lawyer, so I need to be smart about how I do it. Having more information would give me more ammunition. I have a team canvassing Vincent's neighborhood for anyone who saw anything. We'll see what that turns up tomorrow."
I couldn't hold back a yawn, and Colton smiled. "You're tired."
"Exhausted," I said. "I need to find a hotel and go to bed."
He shook his head. "I don't think you can make it that far. My cleaning service came today. Sheets are clean. You can take my bed. I'll take the couch."
I was stunned by his offer, but it was also tempting. It was ten o'clock, and it would take me a while to figure out where to go next. Plus, I'd need to get a cab…
"I can't take your bed," I said. "I'll take the couch."
"Tessa—"
"Colton. Since I arrived in Chicago, I have slept in a hotel, my aunt's apartment that caught on fire, and another hotel where a killer might have been watching me.
Your couch, with you and your service weapon twenty feet away, feels perfect.
" I got up and went to the couch, stretching out on the cushions.
"Argue with me tomorrow. I'm too tired to talk anymore. "
He looked at me for a second, and then he went and got a blanket and dropped it over me.
"For the record," he said. "I was going to say the couch pulls out."
"Oh. Well, this is fine." I snuggled under the blanket, my eyes closing before he even turned off the light.
I woke at eight to the smell of coffee and was disoriented for three full seconds in that way that had become the texture of my week.
Then I saw Colton in the kitchen. He wore gray slacks and a button-down shirt, and something in my chest unclenched.
For some crazy reason, I felt safe with him, and I didn't know why.
He turned and smiled, bringing a mug of coffee to me.
I sat up, feeling like I probably looked a mess with my hair tangled and my clothes wrinkled, but the first sip of coffee made everything better.
"Thank you," I said. "You look like you're ready to go. Do you always work Saturdays?"
"Only when I have an investigation, which is more often than I might like."
"You're dedicated to your job."
"As are you. How are you feeling this morning?"
"Okay. I slept, and I didn't dream, which was a relief. My dreams have been nightmares lately. I should probably get out of your way."
"There's no rush. Do you want breakfast?"
"You're going to make me breakfast?"
"I can scramble eggs," he said dryly. "Make toast. I'm not saying it's anything fancy."
As my stomach rumbled, I found it impossible to say no. "That sounds good. I'll use the bathroom and see if I can look a little more presentable."
"You look fine," he said, an appreciative gleam in his eyes.
"Thanks," I said as I got to my feet.
"There's a new toothbrush in the top drawer on the right."
"You often have unexpected guests?" I murmured.
"Not often, but occasionally."
I decided not to comment on that, although I was wondering if he had a girlfriend, but there was no sign of a feminine influence.
Twenty minutes later, my hair and teeth brushed, my face washed, I felt ready to face the day.
I was still in my clothes from yesterday, but right now, my focus was on what I needed to get done today.
But first, I would eat, because I was hungry, and I had no idea when I would have time for a meal later, since each new day seemed to be longer than the last.
I sat down at the table, and Colton placed a delicious breakfast in front of me: scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, slices of avocado, and an English muffin. "You undersold your breakfast skills," I told him.
"Better to set expectations low," he said with a laugh. "This is about as good as it gets. I don't cook a lot."
"I don't, either, although I'm trying to be better about it. But in New York, there's always something open, and somebody ready to deliver it to you."
"You like living there?"
"Yes. There's an energy that makes me feel alive. Have you ever lived anywhere besides Chicago?" I asked as he sat down across from me with his own plate of food.
"Nope. Been here my whole life."
"Ever thought about leaving, or is this your forever home?"
"I never thought about it in terms of forever.
But I have a good life here. And I've been making my way up the ranks, which has been nice.
" He paused, then gave a shrug. "I've never been one to make plans too far in advance.
I grew up in an unpredictable household, so it was safer and saner to stay in the moment.
It saved me from being continually disappointed. "
"I know how that feels," I murmured.
"Your parents were unpredictable?"
"Absolutely. They're both creatives. My father is a musician and has been playing in bands his entire life.
He's very good but not great, not rockstar material, but he plays a mean guitar and has a good voice, so there was usually some band looking for someone like him. Which meant he was always on the road."
"And your mother?"
"An actress. She didn't travel as much as my dad, but she had to work a lot of odd jobs to try to make ends meet in between auditions.
She wanted to be a star. She hated that she wasn't as successful as my aunt, who had a lot of starring roles both on the stage and even in some movies when she was young.
My mom would do everything she could to get a part, find an advantage over another actress, which sometimes included sleeping with directors and sending me somewhere for a few days or weeks, whatever she needed. "
"That doesn't sound like the best childhood."
"It wasn't the worst. They were both good to me. I just never knew who was going to be around, especially after I was about eleven or twelve. When I was old enough to stay home alone, I was often home alone. But when they were around, they were fun."
"Do you see them now?"
"Funny you should ask. My father is apparently coming into town today to perform at some club later tonight. My aunt wants me to go, but I'm tied up with all this, so I didn't commit, and I don't really need to see him."
"But you could. I'm betting he wants to see you."
"That wouldn't be a good bet."
"You're his daughter."
"And he loves me in his own way; I know that.
It's just not the way I want to be loved.
" I paused as I put another bite of scrambled eggs into my mouth.
Swallowing, I added, "Looking back now, which I've been doing a lot of lately, I realize how much their attitudes, their behaviors, influenced my choices.
My role model of a mother wasn't the best, and I think I let her attitude of being willing to do anything to get ahead become my mantra.
Not that I was sleeping with directors." I shuddered.
"I couldn't imagine touching Professor Hale.
But I was competitive with my rivals, and I did burn friendships down along the way to what I thought was stardom.
Turns out it wasn't." I smiled. "I'm sure that's way more than you wanted to hear. "
"You're a pretty interesting woman, Tessa."
"Interesting is one of the nicer words that people have used to describe me."
"Well, you are a lot of other things, too," he said with a grin. "What's your plan today?"
"I want to stop by the Cornerstone Theater and talk to my aunt and anyone else I can find there. Carrie is in this production. Jay, who used to work with Hale as a TA is directing along with Hale, and Nate Gardiner, Paige's old boyfriend, handles ticket sales."
"I had no idea."
"Even Sloane, Paige's former roommate, has contributed some of the set designs. My aunt uses a lot of people from the university. I think some of the current students are also in the cast. Her productions are very good. She usually sells out. You should go to one sometime."
"I should," he agreed.
"What's your plan for today?"
"I'll go down to headquarters and check in on the forensics from Vincent's crime scene as well as what information came from any of the neighbors. I'm going to ask Professor Hale to come in with his attorney if he chooses to. And I'll look into Ray MacIntyre as well. Then I'll go from there."
As he finished speaking, my prepaid phone rang. "This is Morgan."
"Put her on speaker. I'd like to ask her more about the car that followed her."
I answered the call and hit the speaker button. "Hi, Morgan. I'm with Detective Barclay, and you're on speaker."
"Okay," she said, clearing her throat, clearly surprised that I was still with Colton. "I was worried about you, Tessa. You said you were going to text me last night after you got settled somewhere."
"I know. I meant to. I was so tired; I fell asleep."
"As long as you're good, it's all fine."
"Morgan," Colton said. "I hope you don't mind if I call you Morgan…"
"Of course not."
"I wanted to talk to you about the car you saw. We traced the plate, but it came back to an older woman who is no longer driving. It looks like someone cloned the license plate."