Page 44 of Deep Tide

“Three and a half.” He flicked ash on the pavement.

“Long drive when you could have called.”

He took another drag. “So, how’s the case going?”

“It’s going.” She checked her watch again. “I’m curious why you’re covering it. A city that size, don’t you guys have enough crime of your own to cover?”

“I’m not really covering it.”

“No?”

“Not yet, anyway.” He took another drag.

“Then why are you here?”

He blew out a stream of smoke. “You heard of Jose Rincon?”

“No.”

“Sandra Massey?”

“No.”

“Both lived in San Antonio.”

“Lived?”

“They were murdered—six weeks apart—last fall.”

She watched him.

“Both cases are still open. The police haven’t announced any suspects, but I happen to know that they’ve been zeroing in on a few leads.”

“Good for them. Why are you telling me this?”

“Thought you might want to call SAPD. Maybe compare notes. Both victims were stabbed.”

She watched him, growing more irritated by the minute. “Well, I hate to tell you this, but fatal stabbings aren’t exactly unheard of. Especially in a city as large as yours.”

He nodded. “Both victims were left in an alley, too. And both had their hands bound.”

She tensed.

“Blue cordage.” He tossed his cigarette down and gave her a sharp look. “Sound familiar?”

Nicole didn’t move, didn’t even blink.

“I can see from your expression that that’s a yes.”

Her throat tightened, but she didn’t respond.

“It’s okay. I don’t need you to confirm or deny anything,” he said.

“Where are you getting your information?”

“Does it matter as long as it’s true?”

She didn’t have a reply to that, so she looked away. It had to be someone in the medical examiner’s office. That’s where Sean Moran had gotten his info, so why not this reporter, too? They needed to patch up their leaks over there.

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