Page 109 of Another Girl Lost

Lynn set her cup down and sat back in her chair. “Scarlett Crosby.”

I gave her credit. She wasn’t running. “I’m the girl that was locked in your boyfriend’s basement.”

Lynn reached for her purse. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

I took Debbie’s old seat and laid my hand on her arm. “It won’t take long.”

“I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

“I don’t want trouble.” I raised my voice a fraction, catching the attention of a woman passing by us. “I just have a couple of questions.”

She yanked her arm back and whispered, “I’m not answering any questions.”

“People have pretty much forgotten what Tanner did to me, and I bet they’ve forgotten you dated him. Neither one of us wants that information to land in the headlines again.”

Her frown deepened. “What’s that mean?”

I was enjoying her discomfort. “The past will stay the past if we’re both careful.”

She shoved out a sigh. “What do you want?”

“Tell me about Tanner.”

“What the hell? Why would you want to know more about him? Is this a sick game?”

“I want to understand him.”

She hugged her purse close as she leaned forward. “He was a sick fuck. That’s all you need to know.”

“I heard you talking to Debbie. Sounded like you were crazy about him.”

“You were listening?” she hissed.

“Why do you think I’m here? You’re one of my last connections to Tanner.”

“I’m not connected to him.”

A smirk yanked my lips. “Yes, you are. Forever. Just like me.”

Lynn shook her head. “I’m not playing this game.”

My fingers curled into a fist. “Did you know about me?”

“I never knew about you or anyone else,” she insisted.

“I don’t believe you,” I said.

She dropped her voice to just above a whisper. “I didn’t know anything about the basement.”

“What about Cindy? Who the hell was she?”

She sat back. “Tanner’s cousin.”

“He had no close family. You just said he was lying.”

“It was a feeling. I had no proof.” She shook her head. “You give me too much credit. I was stupid to stay with him.”

“You had to be curious about Cindy.”

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