Chapter Twenty-Two
The cold front arrived overnight, frost covered the backyard, and Olivia did her morning yoga inside the next morning.
Despite claiming to be fully recovered and bored, Nicki had gone to bed at eight o’clock the previous evening and had slept for—Olivia checked the time on her phone—eleven hours, so far.
She wasn’t awake yet. When Olivia had passed her door at six o’clock, she’d heard snoring.
She was sipping her morning tea when Lincoln walked into the kitchen holding a small bag bearing the name of the local hardware store. Curious, she lowered her cup.
He set the bag down on the island with a small thunk. “I know you’re perfectly capable of keeping yourself safe, but I’ve assembled a few things that you might want to consider carrying.”
“My plans involve interviewing an eighty-year-old man, and you’re coming with me.”
“Plans change, and it’s good to be prepared for anything. First of all, I switched vehicles with Lance. So we’ll have four-wheel drive for the trip.” He cleared his throat, then pulled a multi-tool from the bag. “And I bought you this.”
“I already have a well-equipped toolbox in my car.”
“This is for your purse or your pocket. Pocket is better.”
Olivia picked it up and turned it over. “Bottle opener and corkscrew.” She glanced up. “For wine emergencies?”
“You never know,” he said. “Keep unfolding.”
She continued to reveal the various components: pliers, scissors, both types of screwdrivers, wire cutter, wire stripper, a tiny saw . . . She flipped out a curved blade slightly larger than a crochet hook. “What’s this?”
“Rope cutter.”
She didn’t want to obsess over possible uses for that, but a memory of being bound flashed in her mind. A chill swept through her. She shook it off and unfolded the small knife.
“Technically, it’s a tool, but the blade is under four inches in length and totally legal,” Lincoln said.
She folded the pieces back into the handle and tucked the tool into its case. “It’s very compact. Thank you. This could come in handy.” She rose onto her toes to kiss him. “Now, what’s going on with the white powder you found in Dylan’s locker?”
He kissed her back. “We’re waiting for the test results from the lab.
I’m hoping to get the results back ASAP.
Until then, Lance is looking for Dylan. Keeping an eye on him is important until we know if he is or isn’t a serial rapist. If the rapid test is positive, then we also need to find the woman Dylan was talking to at the bar. ”
“Someone should make sure she’s OK,” Olivia agreed.
“And see what happened to her the other night. Did she go with Dylan? Did she wake up at home with no memory of the night before? She could have been assaulted and not know it.”
“That would be traumatizing.” Which reminded Olivia that Nicki bore her own trauma from the other night.
“Nicki asked to stay with me for a few days.” Olivia almost asked if that was all right with him.
He didn’t technically live with her. The house was all hers, and he still had his own apartment over his office.
Though she couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept at his place, and the portion of the closet she’d allotted him looked fuller.
The changes felt organic rather than planned, which Olivia liked.
They were spending more and more time together because they wanted to, not because they’d made a formal arrangement.
“Of course I said yes. She’s nervous about being alone. ”
“Good. I’d rather she stay with us and not go back to her apartment until we determine who spiked her drink.”
The doorbell rang, and Lincoln brightened. “That’s my online order.” He hurried to the front door and retrieved a small package from the doorstep. Back in the kitchen, he opened it and dumped out two small cardboard boxes.
“What are those?”
“Over-the-counter strips to test your drink for common date-rape drugs.” Lincoln opened the boxes.
“The drugstore was out of stock yesterday. These aren’t a hundred percent.
Their accuracy can be affected by the drink the drug is mixed into and the concentration of the mixture.
Using plain water should negate some of the variability.
Also, they only test for specific drugs.
I sent most of the powder to the lab, but I held back a small amount. It’s in the safe.”
Another item that had made its way to her house: a gun safe. Lincoln prioritized safety.
He disappeared down the hallway, returning with a small plastic bag containing about a teaspoon of white powder.
He added a few ounces of water to a glass, then tipped some white powder from the tiny clear baggie into it.
He stirred it with a spoon, then picked up one of the boxes and read the directions.
“This one tests for GHB, ketamine, and Rohypnol. The other covers only GHB and ketamine.”
He removed a strip from the first box. Using the spoon, he added a few drops of the mixture to the colored squares.
“The box says, ‘If it turns orange or gray, do not drink.’” In less than ten seconds, the square turned bright orange.
“Positive.” He repeated the procedure on the second strip and compared the result to the key on the box.
“Also positive.” He set down the strip. “Well, the lab can confirm, but both tests lit up fast and bright.”
Olivia tilted her head to read the sides of the boxes. “But it could have been either GHB or ketamine, since both of these kits test for those two drugs.”
“Yes, I’ll need confirmation from the lab before I make a discreet call to the SFPD.”
“It’s convenient that you used to work there and know so many officers.”
“It is.” He cleaned up the counter, stowing the test kits in the cabinet with the first aid supplies. He returned the powder to the safe. “In the meantime, Lance will try to get eyes on Dylan.”
“Was that the doorbell?” Bleary-eyed, Nicki shuffled into the kitchen wearing flannel pajama bottoms and a hoodie at least two sizes too big. A hardcover book with a blue dragon on the cover was tucked under her arm. They’d made a stop at her apartment the day before, and she’d packed a small bag.
“I have to text Lance with the results of the strip tests. He can start looking for the woman Dylan was hitting up at the bar the other night.” Lincoln walked toward the bedroom.
Nicki wandered to the cabinet and selected a demitasse cup. She made herself an espresso in the pod machine Olivia kept for guests, settled at the island, and picked up one of the used test strips. “What are these?”
Olivia explained.
Nicki set down her demitasse cup. “Dylan had GHB?”
“Or ketamine,” Olivia said.
Nicki ignored her qualifier. “Do you think he drugged me?”
Taking the stool next to her, Olivia shook her head. “We don’t know yet. Lance is looking for him today.”
“Why would he do that?” Nicki looked stricken. “I know him.”
But how well?
“We don’t know for sure what happened. Lincoln even suggested that he could have spiked your beer by mistake, thinking it was the one intended for the woman he was talking to.
” Olivia looped an arm around Nicki’s shoulders.
“But remember that over seventy percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated by people the victim knows. Do not blame yourself.”
Nicki downed her espresso like a shot of whiskey. “Fuck that. And fuck him. I’m shocked that he would drug and rape women, but it’s no reflection on me.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Nicki’s eyes narrowed. “I hope Lance finds him.”
Olivia finished her tea. “Until he gets his man, you stay with me.”
“Right. We’re going to Summerton today to interview Mr. Martingale.” Nicki brightened.
“Yes. I was thinking about calling him and making an appointment. The drive is a couple of hours.”
Nicki’s face scrunched. “I wouldn’t. What if he calls the person Zoe is running from? You could be placing her in danger.”
“Good point. We’ll drive out there and take the risk that he’s home. Pack an overnight bag in case we want to stay over.”
“OK.”
They were both ready in a half hour. Olivia dressed in jeans and a light sweater. She stood in front of her closet, deliberating on footwear when Nicki walked in.
“What are you doing?” Nicki asked. She wore black leggings and a cropped flannel shirt with her giant lug-soled boots. She draped a boxy army-green jacket over one arm.
“Deciding on shoes.”
“It’s cold, and we’re going to the mountains. Those hiking boots are perfect.”
Olivia scrunched her nose.
Nicki rolled her eyes. “You’re such a clothes snob.”
“I’m not.” But Olivia totally was. “I was thinking about the black suede ankle boots.”
“The ones with the skinny heels?”
“Yes.”
Nicki blinked at her. “You’re serious?”
Olivia stared back for a few long seconds, but Nicki didn’t flinch. “Fine.” Olivia grabbed the hiking boots. They were ankle high and not that ugly. But she added gold hoop earrings and a silk scarf for a splash of color.
She selected a powder-blue puffy jacket.
Since being trapped underground in the cold and damp, Olivia was sensitive to the chill.
She added two knit hats, gloves, extra-warm socks, and two waterproof shells to her backpack.
The temperature was forecasted to drop even further, rain was moving into the area, and Summerton was in the mountains.
The higher elevation would be even colder.
She checked her portable power bank to make sure it was fully charged.
Her inhaler went into a zippered jacket pocket.
She hadn’t used it in ages, but she’d never make the mistake of not having one with her again.
“Did you pack snacks?” Nicki asked.
“Snacks?”
“Road trips require snacks. Either we pack them, or we stop for food.”
“You just ate.”
“I’ll need to eat again.” Nicki’s tone implied just a touch of duh.
Olivia waved toward the kitchen. “Pack whatever you want. Grab water.”
“I never leave home without it,” Nicki called out from the hallway.
Olivia hoisted her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed her purse. She stuffed the multi-tool into the pocket of her jacket and reached for her cell phone. It vibrated in her hand. The incoming phone call was from an unknown number. She pressed “Answer” and put the phone on speaker. “Hello.”
“Is this Olivia Cruz?” a man asked in a weak voice.
“Yes.” She didn’t recognize the voice.
“I’m Conway Hamilton. You called me.” The man let loose a wet, raspy cough that sounded painful. He sucked in some air, then audibly swallowed. “Whatcha want?”
“I’m following up for Zoe March,” Olivia said vaguely. “Have you received a call from her?”
“Yeah. I did.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll tell you exactly what I told her when I talked to her a few weeks ago. I won’t have this conversation on the phone. You’ll have to come here. I talk in person only—and no recording!”
“Did you meet with Ms. March?” Olivia asked.
He ignored her question, giving her an address instead. “Today. Noon.” Then the connection went dead. Olivia frowned at her phone for a few seconds.
“Was that Conway Hamilton?” Nicki asked from the doorway.
“Yes.”
“Let me look for that call in Zoe’s phone records.” Nicki disappeared.
Olivia hauled her things into the kitchen. Nicki stood in front of the island working on her laptop. A reusable grocery bag sat next to her. Olivia peeked into the bag. Empty.
“You don’t have any snacks,” Nicki said. “I found the call in Zoe’s phone records. They talked for two minutes four weeks ago. No further contact after that. Maybe she didn’t want to have another conversation with Conway Hamilton. She blew him off?”
Olivia opened the pantry and pulled out a box of protein bars. “Zoe doesn’t back down on an investigation.”
Nicki shot one back. “I would have blown off that guy too. He’s an asshole. Maybe she didn’t need to talk to him again. Also, those aren’t snacks.”
“Because she’d already decided to use the Brown case?” Olivia packed the bars.
“Yeah.” Nicki consulted her phone. “Conway’s address is in the same direction as Summerton. It’s on the way. We should go there to talk to him, then head to Harold Martingale’s house.”
A sliver of panic bolted up Olivia’s spine. “Hamilton could be dangerous. You don’t need to go with me.”
“But you shouldn’t go alone, right?”
“Some people are more willing to talk if it’s just me.
” Olivia hadn’t planned on taking anyone with her.
Usually, she conducted interviews alone, even when she was talking to convicted criminals.
“I’m careful about making sure people know where I am and who I’m meeting with.
I make sure my interview subject is also aware of this. ”
Olivia had been in some hairy situations in the past. She’d always come through them, though she admitted there were a few times her safety had been in jeopardy. She still hated to think that her kidnapping had made her a coward.
“Sharp will be with us, and we’ll give Lance our itinerary,” Nicki said. “Besides, Conway sounded old.” She tucked her laptop under her arm. “We’re stopping for snacks.”
And just like that, Olivia was taking her niece to meet a drug dealer and potential murderer.