Page 73 of Dead Man's List

Sam smiled at her. “Look at you, delegating like a pro.”

She lifted her brows. “Iama pro.”

“Not at delegating.”

She sighed. “Fair point. I’m learning.”

“I have something else for you. I got another call tonight while Akiko was driving me here. Carla Norton, the landscaper’s wife. She’d called Jennifer Porter to offer her condolences on the loss of her sister and niece. Jennifer asked her how someone could have known that she did the wraps for Norton Landscaping.”

“I just assumed the killer had seen it on Jennifer’s website. Norton’s wraps are in their photo gallery.”

“Well, the killer would have had to check the website for every auto body shop in the area. Possible, but time-consuming. Carla asked their staff if anyone had requested a recommendation for detailing trailers. One of her landscapers said he was approached by a ‘dude with a neckbeard and sunglasses’ who asked who’d done the wrap. Her employee told him.”

Kit made a face. “A neckbeard and sunglasses means the employee didn’t get a good look at his face. Great disguise unless he actually has a neckbeard. When was this?”

“At least two months ago, according to Carla Norton. She said her employee was working on a lawn at the time and didn’t think anything of someone asking about the wrap.”

“Why would he? And two months ago? That means Munro’s killer has been planning this for a while.”

“Not terribly surprising. Getting the wrap done—and coordinating a potential mob to help him kill Munro—that would take some time.”

She grimaced, still hating the multiple-hands theory. But she had to consider it, of course. It was just…

Someone would have spilled that secret, either before the deed or in the days after. There was still time. Someone might come forward. But Kit’s gut told her not to hold her breath waiting.

Her gut also told her that Sam had more to say. “You look like you’re busting to share.”

He grinned. “I am. Neckbeard was driving a tan Chevy Suburban, a model somewhere between 2015 and 2018. Carla’s employee didn’t get the plates, but it could be a lead.”

Kit sat up straighter. “Not the Ford truck he drove when he picked up the trailer?”

“Nope. Maybe you can look at the street cams again. A tanChevy Suburban dragging a trailer with no wrap, assuming he cut the wrap off after abducting Munro and stealing the Ferrari.”

Kit smiled at him, feeling a zing of excitement at the new direction. “Now,thatwe can do.” She wrote it on the board. “We don’t know where he took Munro between Wednesday night when he grabbed him and when he dumped him in Anza-Borrego. We don’t know where the torture took place.”

“If it were me, I would have just done it in the trailer. Backed the Ferrari out and…well, do what he did. Then I would have abandoned the trailer. If someone found it, so what? It couldn’t be linked to me.”

“I’m not sure if I’m impressed or scared that you’re putting yourself in a killer’s mind.”

“Part of my job,” he said lightly, but she could hear his irritation.

“Sorry. I did it again. I know you deal with killers. It’s just that you’re so damn…nice.”

“So are you.”

“Not really. Not nearly as nice as you.”

“Thatcould be true.” He said it with a smile that told her she was forgiven. Again. “Carla Norton gave me the name of the landscaper who talked to the man. Said he’d be happy to talk to you. I emailed the guy’s contact info to you.”

Kit checked her phone and, sure enough, there was the email from Sam. “We’ll try to talk to him tomorrow. Wanna come with?”

“Can’t, sorry. Have sessions most of tomorrow and I’m on duty at New Horizons starting at four.”

“Pesky day job.”

He shrugged. “Pays the bills. SDPD doesn’t pay enough to cover my rent.”

“Certainly not enough to put you in the crosshairs of someonelike Ronald Tasker. Promise me that you’ll be careful. I don’t trust that man.”

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