Chapter 19
JD and I waited in the parking lot in the Porsche. A bouncer escorted Shelby to a white SUV. She climbed in, cranked up the engine, and pulled out of the lot.
We followed.
Shelby drove to her apartment at the Sapphire Sands and pulled into the gated, under-building parking. It was another luxury midrise with a fountain out front and six stories of overpriced cracker boxes.
Jack pulled into the visitor lot, found a place to park, and cut the engine.
“What are we going to do?” JD asked. “Sit on her all night?”
“If we have to. I’m sure she’s heard Daphne’s voicemail.”
Twenty minutes later, Shelby pulled out of the garage.
Jack cranked up the engine and drove out of the lot. We kept our distance as we followed her to Waffle Wizard. Open 24 hours, it was packed at this time of night with drunkards looking to fill their bellies and sober up.
Shelby hopped out of the SUV, grabbed a pink backpack, and slung it over her shoulder. She walked into the diner, looked around, and the hostess guided her to a table by the window.
I kept my head on a swivel, looking for Daphne.
It couldn't have been more than a few minutes later when a woman approached the diner on foot and stepped inside.
She had short dark hair, wore a wide-brimmed hat, and a sundress. I ignored her at first, then did a double-take.
It had to be Daphne.
I'm sure she shoplifted the hat and the sundress. Probably dyed her hair in a gas station bathroom. Maybe she cut it with scissors, or maybe it was just tucked underneath the hat.
She stepped to the hostess, who grabbed a menu and seated her at a table not far from Shelby.
The two pretended not to know each other.
Shelby placed an order, then stood up, grabbed her backpack, and moved to the restroom at the back of the restaurant.
After a moment, Daphne followed.
They were in there for a few minutes
Shelby returned to her table and took a seat, minus the backpack.
A minute later, Daphne returned to hers, the pink backpack slung over her shoulder.
The waitress delivered Shelby's cup of coffee, and she paid the tab. Without taking a sip, Shelby left and strutted outside. She walked back to the SUV, climbed in, and drove away.
Daphne left her table a moment later. When she stepped outside, Jack said, "You want to pick her up?"
"No. I want to see where she goes. She might lead us right to the dagger. Maybe to Dane."
That's when my phone buzzed with a call from the sheriff. His name flashed on the screen, and I groaned. At this hour, it couldn't be good. There was no way he knew Daphne had escaped, was there?
Either way, we had eyes on the target now.
I swiped the screen and took the call.
"I need you and numbnuts to get over to the Platinum Dunes ASAP.”
I groaned. "What happened now?”
He gave me the bad news.
“I’m on my way.“
I ended the call and said to Jack, “Keep tabs on her. See where she goes. I’ll handle this thing with the sheriff.“
Daphne walked away from the diner.
“Take my car,” Jack said. “I’ll follow her on foot.”
Jack pulled his hair into a ponytail and put on a ball cap. He hopped out of the Porsche and tried to look inconspicuous as he strolled across the parking lot.
I climbed behind the wheel, fired up the engine, and headed to the Platinum Dunes.