Page 42 of Another Girl Lost

“I’ve always lived here. Can’t imagine anywhere else.”

She nodded slowly, as if this weren’t a surprise to her. “Any word on our Jane Doe?”

Jane Doe. In his mind, the victim was Sandra Taylor. “Waiting for the autopsy. DNA, X-rays, dental records.”

She leaned a fraction closer, ensnaring him in her soft perfume. “If there are any records for Sandra Taylor, they shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

He didn’t want to talk to her about the case. That was part of the reason he was here.

Margo moistened her lips. “Can you do me a favor, Dawson?”

“Depends.”

“I swiped right on a guy, and he’s just arrived.” She glanced over her shoulder and then leaned even closer to him. “Let’s just say, not as advertised.” Her shoulder brushed his. “Mind backing me up if he comes this way?”

He’d hung up his white hat a long time ago. “I’m just having a beer.”

“Oh, come on, Dawson. Help a girl out.”

He didn’t want to know what shit pile she’d fallen into. But he also wasn’t anxious to send her along. Nice to have the company of a sexy woman. “That sounds like trouble.”

Her laugh was throaty, deep. “You’re intrigued by me, am I right?”

“Am I?”

“Sure. I saw the surprise on your face when you recognized me.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’m a cop. I’m good at summing up people.”

He caught the approach of the man in the corner of his eye. Out of habit, he shifted, freeing his jacket from his weapon. “Don’t count on me.”

“Oh, I don’t. But I figure my chances are better if you back me up.”

The man approaching Margo was tall and dressed in jeans and a blue shirt. He had a phone in hand and was glancing at the picture and then her. “Margo?”

Margo sipped her wine. “No, sorry.”

“I’m Brad.”

She shook her head as if the name meant nothing.

The man’s eyes narrowed. “You sure? This picture looks just like you.”

“You got the wrong gal.”

The man’s quizzical expression hardened. “Are you fucking with me, lady?”

Margo stilled but didn’t flinch. “You’ve got the wrong lady.”

“Why would you drag me here?” the man demanded. “Is this a game?”

“She’s with me,” Dawson said.

The man directed his attention to Dawson. “Who the fuck are you?”

Dawson shifted so the badge clipped to his belt buckle was visible. “I’m the guy that’s going to cause you trouble if you don’t back off.”

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