For Ashley, the morning was a blur. First she’d gone to hand in her badge and gun. She hated to do it, but it was necessary. She was no longer in the academy.
Then, after signing some papers and meeting with Personnel, she had been sent in to study computer comparisons of bullet striations. She had, however, managed to meet with Mandy Nightingale. She hadn’t hesitated but had explained the situation to the woman, and Mandy had listened thoughtfully. First she had said that Ashley shouldn’t panic, especially since Karen had called in to work that morning. But she had agreed as well to do a discreet test and let Ashley know if the substance she’d found in the tub was blood or not.
“If Karen doesn’t show up tonight, though…”
“Then I’ll have to admit that I’ve already tested the substance for you,” Mandy told her.
Ashley smiled and thanked her.
At lunchtime, Mandy came to tell her that the substance was blood, but that she still shouldn’t panic. It was likely that Karen had simply cut herself shaving. There had been no spatter pattern, for one thing. “Then again, sometimes a killer cleans up so thoroughly that even with chemicals and special lighting, it’s hard for us to detect any traces. Hey! Don’t go pale on me. We’re not going to worry yet, remember?”
“We’re not going to worry,” Ashley agreed. But her heart was racing and she was trembling with fear.
“You are worried,” Mandy said sympathetically. “Ashley, you can go and fill out a missing persons report now, if you want. The department will waive the waiting period for you. But if you do that, her parents will be notified, her place of business will be investigated. And anyone and everyone who has seen her lately will be investigated.”
“We’ll wait until tonight.”
Jan called her soon after. “Have you heard from Karen yet?”
“No.”
“Neither have I. I’m going to kill her!”
Ashley kept silent, afraid that her friend might already have met a similar fate.
“Listen,” Jan went on. “I know I told you not to, but I’m going by her place before coming to the restaurant tonight. And if I find her I’m going to beat her senseless, then drag her into the car with me.”
“Sounds good. Because if she doesn’t show…”
“If she doesn’t show, we won’t be celebrating.”
Ashley’s phone beeped, indicating she had another call. She told Jan goodbye and answered the incoming call.
“Ashley?”
It was David Wharton.
“David! Why on earth did you take so long to call me back?”
“I’ve been busy. Did you ask Sharon Dupre about that property?”
“Yes, and she’s supposed to be pulling the file for me today.”
“Good. I’ll see you tonight, then.”
“No, you won’t. I’m having dinner with friends. We’re celebrating my new job.”
“I’ve got to see you. I’ve got to talk to you.”
“I’ll be out late.”
“Then invite me to dinner. I’ll be happy to celebrate your good fortune.”
“We may not wind up celebrating. I have another friend who’s missing.”
“One of the girls from the hospital? Karen? Or Jan?”
She was surprised he knew both of them by name. But then, he had spent hours there, watching, not to mention that he was a reporter, trained to notice details.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
“Fine. But I have a lot to tell you. Please, give me a chance. Let me come with you tonight so I can talk to you.”
She sighed and told him where they were going. She would take a minute and talk to him. If she didn’t like what he said, she would have Arne and Gwyn and the others around her. A table full of “almost” cops. And Len, who could even arrest him if he seemed dangerous.
Her lunch hour was over by the time she hung up. She went to spend time with Mandy, who showed her how to photograph a body from different angles and left her taking photos of a mutilated dummy. She spent an hour working on the project and was finishing up what she hoped would be a roll of good shots when Mandy stuck her head in the door. “Phone for you—I think you should take it.” The older woman was smiling.
Ashley hurried to the phone, hoping against hope that it would be Karen. It wasn’t, but it was good news. Nathan Fresia was on the phone. He was elated. Stuart wasn’t conscious yet, but the scanner monitoring his brain had picked up activity that had given the doctors hope that he might awaken in a matter of days. She told Nathan how delighted she was, then felt a sudden sense of unease. “Nathan…was this knowledge made public?”
“I don’t think so. But the hospital staff knows, and whatever cops were on duty.”
“Since even the cops think someone meant him harm, it might be best to keep quiet about this. Let people think there’s no chance of a quick recovery.”
“You’re right, you’re right. I’ll see that nothing else is said. I won’t leave him for a minute.”
“I’ll be by tomorrow,” Ashley promised and rang off.