“Uh . . . sure.” He knew his face was red. God, it was embarrassing . . . getting moony over someone else’s girl. “Do you need something?”
She sat. “Your paper . . . or what I read of it . . . was pretty brilliant.”
Ben laughed softly. “See, I have an unfair advantage over you. I’ve had Jackson before and I know how to write to her taste.”
“It was a good paper, Vicks. Just say thank you. Did you make your important meeting?”
“Pardon?”
“A couple of days ago when I introduced myself. You said you had an important meeting with a mysterious someone.” A pause. “Or was that just an excuse to end the conversation?”
“No, no. I did have a meeting.”
“College interview or something?”
“Uh, no, nothing like that. Sure I can’t do anything for you?”
“You can correct my math homework.”
Aha. Finally, the real reason. “Sure. Let me see—”
“I’m kidding, Vicks.” A brief smile. “I just came over to say hi. Although if you’re dying to correct my homework—”
“Let’s see it.”
She rummaged through her backpack and handed him her homework. Ben said, “Number three and number twelve.” He gave it back to her.
“Thanks.” Awkward silence. Ro said, “Um, I’ve heard you don’t do school spirit, but I’m throwing this out anyway. It would be nice if you came to the kickoff game.”
Ben frowned. “Why?”
“Because it’s important for the school to get a good turnout—” She stopped herself. “Actually, it’s a personal invitation from JD. I’m coming as an emissary.”
“Well, if I had the slightest notion to come, that just killed it.”
“Look, Vicks. I know you guys aren’t best friends, but he doesn’t dislike you.”
“Nor do I dislike him.”
“He said thanks for the help. He made AP Calc. So he’s asking you to come.”
“No, you’re asking me to come.”
“He thinks I might hold more sway.” When Ben didn’t answer, she tried another tactic. “What about your sister? Correct me if I’m wrong, Vicks, but didn’t she just start River Remez High?”
“How do you know my sister?”
“Don’t be paranoid. She happens to be in my brother’s class. He said she was real friendly. In my mind, that immediately put her at odds with you. Just because you’re a wet blanket doesn’t mean you can’t do something nice for her.”
“You really know how to charm a guy.”
“My charm would be lost on you.” Ro was begging. “Come to the game. It’ll be fun.”
“It won’t be fun, but . . .” He paused. “I suppose it wouldn’t kill me to take Haley. That means I also have to take Lilly—that’s her best friend.”
“Best friends are important.” She gently slugged his shoulder. “C’mon! Get yourself out of your comfort zone.”
“My comfort zone doesn’t exist.” Ben frowned again. “If I do come and if I have a rotten time—as I suspect I will—you will have to shoulder the blame.”
“Okay with me. I have strong shoulders, Vicks.” She smiled. “You know, making that pyramid with the girls and everything.”
“You made cheerleader?”
“I made the first cut. I realize it’s probably a little lowbrow for your taste, but superficialities are important to me.” When he laughed, Ro said, “I’m serious. If I played myself in a movie, I’d hate me. I’m really not a mean girl, but I am kinda shallow.”
“You can’t be shallow if you admit you’re shallow. That shows depth.”
“You’re adding attributes where there are none. That’s why JD and I are so well matched . . . that and we’re possibly the most gorgeous people on earth.”
“One of you is.”
She didn’t even blush. She stood up. “If you come and if I make cheerleader, you can look up my dress when I cartwheel.”
Ben burst into laughter. “Who are you?”
“I know what guys are thinking. I’m just out with it.” She gave him the stink eye. “C’mon. It won’t kill you to go just this once.”
“I will give the idea, although initially abhorrent, some thought.”
“Do that. Get your mind off elevated thoughts and put it in the gutter where it belongs.”
Chapter 4
If Ben had read the files a hundred times, Shanks had read them a thousand. Even now, after it had been confirmed that Ellen Vicksburg’s body had no traces of the Demon’s DNA on it, Shanks couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d missed something—more like years of missing something. One goddamn homicide in ten years and Shanks was as impotent as a capon.
The kid kept harping on Katie Doogan. Maybe it was time for Shanks to take a second look at that case. He was about to pick up the phone to call down to Albuquerque when the kid decided to make an appearance. Ben was standing at the open door. “Need some coffee?”
Shanks handed the teen two mugs—his mug and the kid’s birthday present. While Ben was gone, Shanks looked over the cases on his desk. There were plenty of burglaries to justify his salary. Two fresh ones: a break-in at the liquor store and a break-in at the discount electronics store. Both places had video surveillance. Shanks had caught a break.
The kid came back ten minutes later with two fresh cups. Shanks said, “What took you so long?”
“Got roped into being the coffee boy for the squad room.” Ben sat down. “At least I’m good for something.”
“You’ve lost weight.”
“I’ve been sick.”
“You need some calories.” The kid was reed thin. Shanks checked his watch. It was almost five. “What are you doing for dinner?”
“Thanks, but I have to go home.”
“Understood. How are your parents?”
“Coping.” Ben sipped his coffee. “I was kinda a jerk to you a few days ago.”
“You were kinda under stress. I meant it when I said you’re smarter than anyone else.” When the kid didn’t answer, Shanks leaned forward. “Vicks, tell me—in your opinion—what am I missing?”
The boy looked at him. “I was going to ask you the same question.”
“Okay.” Shanks closed his burglary files and took out a notepad. “If Ellen’s murder was a stranger one-off, I’m never going to solve anything. He kills, he’s done, and he’s gone. If it’s a serial killing, we’re both overlooking someone. You lived with your sister. You were there, bud. Anyone tweak your antenna?”
“No one you haven’t talked to.”
“What about Timmy—the boy who had a crush on Ellen? Do we know what he’s up to?”
“He’s a student at Missoula. He was in Montana when Katie Doogan was abducted.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes. I checked.”
“And you don’t like any of Ellen’s friends for suspects?”
“No.”
“What about your friends?”
“I don’t have friends.”
“You did back then. Kind of protective of them, as I recall. Maybe now that you have some distance, you might feel differently.”
“It wasn’t any of them. Besides, didn’t you get DNA off them?”
“No. They were minors. State labs are always backed up, and I would have needed a good reason to process their DNA. Do you think I should reinterview any of them?”
“None of them did it. I’m positive.”
“Do you think it was a stranger abduction?”
“Yes.”