Page 24 of Dauntless

Tove and I waited for Elliott to call back, and by early afternoon, he was able to give us an address to Loren’s home on Whidbey Island. Waiting for the MukilteoFerry gave Elliott and me plenty of time to talk on the phone and to go over his request. We both thought it better to show up than be turned down by phone, though since she cooperated a while back, he didn’t think she would avoid speaking to me.

The road she lived on was paved, though single-laned. Her house, which was at the end of the street, was a two-story colonial revival of powder blue siding and white columns. Although there were no lights on, the absence of tire tracks in the snow leading to her double garage driveway suggests she is home. I put on my coat and walked up the slate path to the front porch with Tove. My conscience finally kicked in when I pressed the doorbell. I worried as we waited at how aggressive this must seem, coming over unannounced and expecting her to talk to a stranger no less. But then the door opened to the cheery face of a tall, thin woman with light brown bobbed hair. “You’re early, but everyone from Cross King is welcome.”

Tove and I glimpsed each other in confusion, then I stepped forward. “No. We’re not from Cross King church.” I assumed it was a religious affiliation but decided to cut to the chase. “Loren Blake? I’m Gia Ruiz or Washington Governor Walsh’s ex-wife as you may have heard about. I’m sorry for just showing up like this. I know your friend Angelica Browne.”

“My name is Mrs. Olson now. I’m married, “Loren said and turned the sleeves down on the end of her pink cardigan. Her pale eyes lit in recognition. “I’ve heard of you. Sorry about what happened. I have nothing to tell you that I haven’t already shared with the police. You shouldn’t have come all this way.”

“Since I’m here, can I at least speak with you for a few minutes?” I asked. “I won’t take much of your time. When I saw Angel in the hospital, she asked me to speak with you.”

She looked at Tove and fidgeted. “Even though you’re familiar, I don’t usually allow strangers into my home, especially men.”

“Is there a place around here you feel comfortable?” I asked.

“Well, there is a bench in a covered patio in the back,” she offered.

“Gia,” Tove said warningly. Elliott hadn’t wanted me to go off alone, but I turned to him and pleaded, touching my handbag to let him know I had my phone. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be on the other side of the door,” he told me.

“Thank you,” I told him.

I followed her to the back of the house where she opened the door to a covered porch in the backyard. She turned on a black metal fireplace and took the red upholstered chair, then she motioned for me to take the padded bench, which I did. “Thank you, and I apologize again for just showing up. Things just seem to be getting worse. I just wanted to see if there was something I was missing in Angel’s story.”

“I’m really sorry for you both,” she said empathetically. “I…I’m really in shock. I can’t believe what happened to Angel. I’ll forever feel guilty about it.”

“How is what happened to Angel your fault?” I asked gently. “She came to visit you?”

She dipped her head. “Yes, she did. I don’t know what you heard about me, but back then I had a serious heroin habit. I hid it until I couldn’t, then I left New York to get clean. I had started doing better, and when Angel called me, I invited her to come visit. When she did, I immediately got back into drugs just like Angel.”

My lips parted. “I never heard Angel was into drugs. Dane never mentioned—”

“Dane wouldn’t,” she said and lowered her eyelids. “She was into drugs, sex. He never saw anything but good in her. He was crazy about her. But how can I blame him now? I should have told him where she was and who she was hanging out with here. She ended up in a worse hell than she had there.” She sniffed, and I reached over and pulled a tissue from a decorative box on the table and handed it to her.

I softened. “What happened when she came here?”

“She wanted to party,” she replied. “She had the money that I needed to keep my habit. I was not in any shape to protect her or myself.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

She shook her head. “Don’t be. I’m sorry. I failed her. I’m the one that didn’t let her go back to Dane. I pushed her to go out. I didn’t tell him at the time because I was embarrassed, but she had a lot of cash on hand, like she had a big sponsor.”

I frowned. “What did Angel need with a sponsor? She had her fashion business.”

“She could design, but she wasn’t great with money,” Loren explained. “Not with friends like me around. She had an entourage that would make a superstar’s look small. Angel’s friends were mostly users like me. She hated to be alone.”

I swallowed. Neither did I. I didn’t like upsetting Loren, but I knew I had to at least ask more about what might help the case. “Do you know the name of the sponsor or where she met him?”

She rubbed her temples like she was trying to recall. “I remember thinking it was common. She might have told me, but there were so many men back then. He was from New York. The calls she received I think was from New York, but I couldn’t be sure.”

“So, you didn’t meet him?” I asked.

“No,” she answered. “I didn’t even ask her any questions about him. All I wanted was more drugs. When she came here, we did a few sex clubs, parties, orgies. I had gone into a drug binge and was out for days. When I came back to myself, she was gone.” She clasped the gold cross around her neck. “I went back to rehab. I turned my life around.”

“I’m happy for you, and I’m sure Angel would be too,” I said.

She smiled and exhaled. “Well, that’s all I have time for today.”

“Thank you,” I told her and stood. “If you can think of anything else, would you call me?”

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