Page 54 of Girl, Bound

Ava nodded miserably.‘I caught him lifting supplies a few times. Nothing major, just little stuff.But obviously I had to fire him.’

Ella's heart kickedinto high gear, the thrill of the hunt singing in her veins. This could be it,the break they'd been waiting for.

Ripley asked, ‘Whatkind of stuff did he deliver, exactly?’

‘Well, I say deliverydriver. He did collections too. Went and picked up stuff for us to save thetransport fees.’

‘Stuff like…?’ Ellapressed, praying that Ava said the magic words.

‘Everything.Supplies.’

‘Including sedatives?’

Ava nodded.

Ella felt it. Theunmistakable spark of connection. The thing she lived for.

‘I need a name, Ava.This guy got a moniker to go with that sticky-fingered reputation?’

Ava took a deep,shuddering breath, like a diver preparing to plunge into shark-infested waters.‘Connor,’ she said. ‘Connor Bixby. That was his name. Local guy. In histhirties. Not sure where he lives, or if he’s still in the area. This wasnearly a year ago.’

Ella turned to Ripley,a feral grin splitting her face like a knife wound. ‘You get that, partner?Looks like we got ourselves a new lead to run down.’

Ripley nodded, alreadyreaching for her phone. ‘I’ll see what I can find him.’

Ella turned back toAva, her eyes hard as flint. ‘One more question, Ava. Why didn't you reportthis Bixby guy when you caught him stealing? Seems like the kind of thing thecops might wanna know.’

Ava flushed, cheeksturning red. ‘I didn't want to cause a fuss. This place was already in hotwater with the city, I thought if I made a big deal about it, they might shutus down.’

Ella shook her head, alittle disgusted. She was getting pretty sick of people trying to cover theirasses in the name of avoiding consequences.

But she couldn't worryabout Ava's guilty conscience now. She had a lead to chase, a scent to follow.And if it took her straight into the lion's den, she’d welcome it.

Ripley grabbed Ella’sshoulder. ‘Got an address on Bixby. A couple of miles from here.’

Ella strode out of theExotic Zoo with Ripley in tow, the fetid stench of the place clinging to theirclothes like a bad memory. Ella couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline, arush of pure, undiluted excitement for what was to come.

With any luck, she’dbe manhandling a serial murderer before the day was out.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

The car ride to ConnorBixby's place consisted mostly of screeching tires and blaring horns, Ella'slead foot heavy on the gas. Ripley clung to the oh-shit handle, regularlybadmouthing Ella’s driving abilities.

'Jesus, Dark,' Ripleyyelped as they whipped around a corner on two wheels. 'I'd like to make itthere in one piece if it's all the same to you.'

‘Gotta keep you onyour toes.’

She cranked the wheelhard, sending the sedan careening into a parking lot that had seen better days.The address listed for Bixby had led them to a rundown apartment building.Discolored walls. Some whitewashed windows. The place looked like it had beenbuilt by a blind architect during a nasty hangover.

‘Home sweet home,’Ripley muttered, eyeing the crumbling brick and rusted fire escapes. ‘Guesscrime doesn't pay like it used to.’

Ella led the way. Sheexited the car and hoofed it up to the second floor. ‘We’re looking forapartment sixteen,’ she said.

Ripley nodded down acorridor that was only half-carpeted. They followed the ascending numbers untilthey found sixteen. Bixby's door was at the end of the hall, a flimsy slab ofwood that looked like it had been kicked in more times than a football.

Ella raised her fistto knock but hesitated as a wall of sound hit her like a bullet train. Somegodawful music, bass thumping loud enough to loosen her fillings.

‘Figures,’ shegrowled, pounding on the door like she had a personal vendetta against it. ‘Whycan't these assholes ever listen to something decent?’

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