Chapter Six #2
“His production quality is below par. The filters he uses to smooth out his wrinkles are too obvious. He’s awkward on camera, and he was inconsistent with his messaging.
To be a real social media influencer, you have to be able to talk in circles with complete confidence.
You have to sound like you know what you’re talking about even when your ‘facts’”—Nicki used air quotes around the word—“are a bunch of made-up nonsense. You have to convince people of weird shit, like that tanning their testicles will increase their testosterone, or that drinking yak colostrum—which you sell as a powder for the low, low price of $29.99—is a magic fat burner. You’ll say anything to get more followers, more shares, more clicks.
You can be an idiot, but you have to sound smart.
But Dylan?” Nicki played one of his videos on her phone. “See? Dude’s clueless and sounds it.”
She isn’t wrong.
Nicki added, “Zoe also gave him a tight budget, and that irritated him too. He’d make occasional snarky comments about her commitment to his business.”
Dylan’s video was cringy. Still, Olivia wasn’t willing to verbalize the insult. Instead, she changed the subject. “Let’s get back to finding Zoe.”
Nicki nodded. “Her cell account info?”
Olivia pulled the paper out of her pocket and handed it over. Nicki opened her laptop, then simultaneously slurped, dripped cheese, and typed.
Olivia stared at the stickers covering the top of the computer. She had no idea what any of them represented. “Maybe you should finish eating first.”
“I got this,” Nicki answered without a pause in her keystrokes. “Multitasking at its finest.”
Olivia bit into her soufflé. Usually, she considered it a nice treat, but today she barely tasted it. Nicki’s sandwich shed crumbs onto her keyboard. Olivia resisted the urge to brush them away.
“Got it.” Nicki turned her laptop to face Olivia.
Already?
Olivia stared at the map. “That’s where Zoe’s phone is?”
“That’s the last known location.” Nicki finished her sandwich in one huge bite.
“How did you get that so quickly?”
“I reported the phone lost.”
“How will that affect the police investigation of the phone’s movements?”
“I dunno.” Unconcerned, Nicki balled up her trash and tossed it into the receptacle near the table. She stood and picked up her latte. “Ready?”
“For what?”
“To go there.” Nicki pointed with her drink to the computer screen. “Though I don’t know why anyone would go to Kellsville, New York.” She zoomed in on the dot, then opened another window and did an internet search. “According to the map, it’s pretty rural. The population is 610.”
“She could have been doing research. She works on multiple cases at a time.” Olivia leaned over to peer at the map. Zoe’s phone had indeed last been used in a little town about seventy-five miles west of Scarlet Falls. “Maybe we should leave it to the police.”
Nicki frowned. “Someone chased us today. I want to know why. I’m going. Besides, you told me the police had to wait for warrants and stuff.”
“They do.” Olivia didn’t like involving her niece. She’d rather go alone. “You don’t have a car.”
“I’ll rent one or call an Uber.” Nicki lifted a stubborn chin, then leaned in. “I know you’re going, and I’m not letting you do it alone.”
Exasperated, Olivia said, “I was going to wait for Lincoln to come with me.” She’d texted him, but he hadn’t responded. “You don’t have plans tonight?”
“I do, but not until eight.”
“A date? Someone special?”
“Not a date. We’re having coffee.” Nicki lifted her phone.
“I’ve met him a couple of times, but only briefly.
He’s a friend of a friend. It’s no biggie if I don’t make it.
” She closed her laptop, tucked it beneath her arm, then gathered the rest of her things.
“I know you. You are absolutely not going to wait for Sharp.” She tapped a toe on the pavement. Her eyes narrowed with determination.
Olivia knew that look. Her niece had been born with more than her share of the family stubbornness gene. “What if that man comes after us again?”
Nicki laughed. “I think he’s going to want to ice his face for a while first, and there’s no way you won’t spot a tail driving all the way out to Kellsville.” She turned serious. “Now, are we going together or am I going alone?”
What choice do I have?
Olivia stood. “Together. But we’re not going to do anything. We’re just looking.”
“Sure,” Nicki said, turning away.
Was that an eye roll?
Olivia checked her messages. Wendy hadn’t responded to her voicemail.
She really wanted to search Zoe’s office, but she couldn’t break in.
Right? Breaking in had to be a last resort, and she’d have to do it at night—after she found out if the building and parking lot had functioning security cameras.
And she should probably wait until Lincoln was available to help.
A covert, nighttime—illegal—activity felt too complicated for an amateur.
Would the management company even release any footage to a random person who didn’t work or rent space in the building?
Probably best to wait until Wendy responded before making a decision on that line of investigation.
Which left the last known location of Zoe’s phone as the only lead. She pulled out her phone and called Officer Billings. His voicemail picked up. Olivia left a message, letting him know they’d found the last known location of Zoe’s phone.
She turned back to Nicki. “OK, then. You can come with me. As long as you promise not to take any action without permission.”
This time, Nicki’s eye roll was unmistakable.
“I mean it,” Olivia said.
Nicki sighed. “Whatever.”
“Then let’s go to Kellsville.”