Page 134 of Another Girl Lost

He laid a gentle hand on my back, running his fingers up my spine. “Words can change everything.”

“You don’t need to carry my baggage.”

“Try me.”

I tipped my head back. “Dawson. He’s investigating a death that might have been related to Tanner.”

Luke clicked on his bedside light. I winced as my eyes adjusted. “Dawson?”

“He was asking about Sandra Taylor. She went missing months before me, and we might have been imprisoned at the same time.”

He smoothed his hand down my arm. “What do you think?”

I tried to draw comfort from his touch but could find none. “Della mentioned another girl, but I never saw her.”

“Did Della ever mention Sandra Taylor by name?”

He spoke about Della as if she were real. That was touching. “No. She always called herthe Other Girl.” I shook my head. “I know, I know. There was no proof of Della. Just my made-up cellmate.”

“I never said that.”

“Every cop in the city did. Does.”

He touched my cheek. “My money is on you.”

I smiled. “I’m not sure I’d bet on me right now. Remember Tiffany Patterson, the girl I tried to lure all those years ago?”

“Yes.”

“She was found dead. Dawson said it was murder.”

He frowned. “When?”

“She stayed at my place a couple of days ago. Then I dropped her off at her car. It happened shortly after that.”

“Dawson has interviewed you?”

“Yes.” A slight smile tugged my lips. “Don’t bet on me.”

He drew in a deep breath. “I’m paid to sum people up. If I had to defend you, I could do it with a clear conscience.”

“Thanks. At the rate it’s all going, I might need to get bailed out one day.”

“Is it that serious?”

“Dawson has wondered out loud if I’d been willingly working with Tanner. I did try to lure Tiffany to the van, and after my release I got into a lot of trouble.”

“But you waved off Tiffany, and the rest amounted to a traumatized girl acting out. Once you got the proper help, that behavior ended.”

“Boy, you’re good.”

He grinned. “Like to think so.”

I drew in a breath. “There’s a new cop in the department. Margo Larsen. She reminds me so much of Della. She doesn’t exactly look like her, but I can’t shake the feeling they’re the same person.”

He kissed me on my shoulder. Soft. Delicate. Like Della had kissed me when I was upset. He turned my face toward his. “What about Margo reminds you of Della?”

“Her eyes. Her confidence. And I think she and Dawson are sleeping together.”

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