Page 57 of Be Very Quiet

Audria jumped and spun around. Damn. It was Rolland. She did not want to tase his ass, but she would if he didn’t leave her alone.

“Look, how many times do I have to tell you I’m not interested? Go away.”

“I’m coming to you,” Christian said in her ear. “I’ll be your pimp and beat Rolland’s ass.”

“No. Stay there.”

“What?” Rolland looked confused. “I didn’t move.”

“Well, do. Go bother someone else.”

Before she realized his intent, he reached out and grabbed her necklace, tearing it from her neck. “Hey!”

“We’ll call this a parting gift.” He sauntered away.

Audria was torn between going after him and retrieving the jewelry or waiting for The Mortician.

“Don’t engage,” Luca instructed.

“The camera was on there,” she groused.

“Use the backup pen.”

“Yeah, okay.” Audria dug the pen from her purse. She was bummed because she’d liked the pendant of a swimming mermaid, even if it was a cheap fake. She’d picked it out from the choices Kelli had offered her.

Turning her attention back to the surrounding activity, she witnessed several deals being made, both of the prostitution and drug kind. She wasn’t surprised when the black car returned. This time, the window lowered, and a hand gestured for her to come to him.

“This could be it, guys.”

“I’m ready to roll,” Christian replied. He would follow her, along with another unmarked police car.

Audria approached the driver and tried to look sexy. She chewed on the top of the pen, attempting to look seductive, but in reality, she wanted the camera to capture his face.

“Got him,” Reese announced. “We’ll run him through facial recognition now.”

Audria smiled to herself. Luca would also send it to Tyler, and he would probably get a hit way before the FBI.

The man asked her price, and she quoted him the amount Kelli had recommended. It was in line with what the others charged. Not too low that she seemed desperate, not too high that he balked.

“Get in.”

With a deep breath, she rounded the hood, opened the door, and slid into the passenger seat. The car smelled like sweat and cheap cologne. She cataloged the driver. Thick, sable hair, scruffy cheeks and chin. He nervously glanced in the rearview mirror before merging into the flow of traffic.

“What’s your name, honey?”Gah. Audria winced. Kelli had told her to use pet names, but it so wasn’t her style.

He glanced over at her, and his gaze dipped to her cleavage. He licked his lips.Gross.She fought a shudder.

“You can call me Ed.”

Ed. Close to Ted, as in Rader. Was that a coincidence? He obviously wasn’t the original Mortician. Maybe he was a fan, copying his killing style.

“What’s your last name, Ed?”

He glanced over at her. “You need that for this?”

“Well, it helps.”

“Smith. Ed Smith.”

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