Page 93 of The Last Close Call

“What’s this?” Jack asked, staring down at a grainy black-and-white image of a row of cars parked along a street.

“Press play.”

Jack pressed play on the video and watched as a figure walked into the frame and slid into a vehicle. A moment later, the taillights glowed, and the car pulled away from the curb. Jack’s stomach clenched. He played the video again.

“It’s him,” Bryan said. “Look at the build.”

Jack didn’t comment, just hit replay. The guy resembled Will Anderson, it was true. They had the same body type and hair color.

“See?” Bryan asked.

“Hard to tell with the baseball cap.”

“Come on. The height, the build, the hunched shoulders, like he’s hiding his face. Who passes out flyers looking like that? I’m telling you, it’s him.”

Jack looked up. “Where’d you get this?”

“The convenience store on the corner. They have three security cams, one trained on the side street between them and Evelyn Wood’s apartment building. This is the random guy who put that flyer on her vehicle. Here.” He reached for the phone and pulled up a second video. Only this one was from a greater distance. But the same figure in a baseball cap and dark-colored jacket could be seen walking down the row of cars and tucking a flyer under the wiper blade of Evelyn Wood’s white Toyota.

“See? Her car is the only one that gets a flyer. He’s targeting her.”

Jack glanced up, understanding now why Bryan was so excited.

“What’s the date on this?”

“Six days ago.” Bryan nodded at the phone. “I got lucky, too. The store manager said they only keep the footage one week back. If Evelyn hadn’t given us that tip, this would be long gone.”

“Go back to the car video. Is it possible to enlarge it and get a plate?”

“I tried. No dice. But you can see the make and model. We’re looking for a black Honda Civic.”

“This is good.”

“I know.” He smiled. “Our haystack just got smaller.”

NINETEEN

Rowan was greeted again by the electronic bell as she entered the office. This time it was one of Dara’s office mates who leaned her head out.

“May I help you?”

“Hi. Is Dara in?”

Dara stepped into the hallway. “Hey, what’s up? Did I forget a meeting?”

“Nope. Just stopping by. You have time for a break?” Rowan held up a white paper bag and two coffee cups. “I was at the vital records office, so I had to swing by the Pastry Place.”

Dara gasped as she walked over. “You didn’t. Are those cinnamon rolls?”

“Yep.” She smiled at the accountant, who was watching from her doorway. Jennifer? Jessica? Rowan could never remember the woman’s name. “I brought several. Would you like one?”

“No, thanks. I’m doing no-carb January.” She sighed wistfully. “Y’all enjoy.”

Dara led Rowan down the hall. Once again, she was in her typical jeans-hoodie-boots combo.

Dara glanced at Rowan over her shoulder. “You know what? Let’s sit outside. It finally stopped raining.”

They passed through the house’s small kitchen, which had been converted to a break room, and stepped onto the covered back porch, where there was a patio table and a pair of mismatched chairs.

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