Page 72 of Be Very Quiet

“Does she have a family?”

“Recently divorced, no kids. The split wasn’t amicable. She lives alone now.”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“I had a showing yesterday afternoon and went home after, so around one.”

“What about anyone else in the office?”

“Pearl told me she left before Georgia, but I think Theo was here.” Rex stood. “I’ll call him in here.”

Rex left and returned with a man Luca recognized from taking classes at Liliana’s studio. Rex introduced him to Reese.

“Wow, why is the FBI here?” He looked from Reese to Rex.

“He’s here about Georgia. When was the last time you talked to her?”

“Yesterday, around five. She had a meeting with a client but seemed distracted and upset. I offered to go with her, but she refused.”

“You haven’t heard from her since?” Reese asked.

“No, but it’s strange that she didn’t mention taking time off. It surprised me when Pearl told me she wasn’t coming in this morning.”

“How well do you know her?” Luca asked.

Theo shrugged. “As well as you get to know a coworker interacting daily. We started around the same time. Good, but not great, I would say.”

“Do you know if she was seeing anyone?”

“Georgia?” He chuffed a laugh. “No, she was down on the entire male species, as she called us. She told me more than once that Rex and I were the only men she could stand to be around for any period of time.”

“What about female friends?” Reese asked. “Did she mention hanging out with anyone?”

“She hasn’t lived in Miami Beach long but enjoys spending time with the women at the studio next door. Liliana, Shonda, Kasey, and Jody.”

“That’s all the questions I have for now.” They stood to leave. “If you hear from her, contact me immediately.” Reese handed Rex a business card.

“I will, and I would ask for the same courtesy if you find her.”

“I’ll let you know,” Reese assured him.

Once they left the office, they headed to Georgia’s apartment across the Julia Tuttle Causeway. It was an older building, nicely landscaped, not far from the interstate. Reese parked, and they walked up the iron steps to the second floor.

Luca knocked and waited for an answer, but there wasn’t one. A curtain covered the small window, making it impossible to see inside. Luca pounded harder this time, but still no response.

Having been a cop, he knew it was risky to pose a solution to Reese. He’d once lived by the rules, but now that he was no longer on the force, he’d learned to bend them to the breaking point. “If you step away for a minute, I’ll get us inside.”

Reese shook his head. “We need to do this by the book. If we find something, we don’t want it thrown out on an illegal search. Let’s find the building manager.”

He was right. They wanted an airtight case if it turned out Georgia was in on the killings.

They followed the sign to a leasing office. When they walked in, the woman sitting at the reception desk looked up, and her eyes widened. “Welcome to Meadowbrook Apartments. How can I help you?”

“We need to speak to the building manager.” Reese flipped open his badge. “Official business.”

The woman looked at it, and her mouth dropped open. “The FBI? What’s happened?” She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m the building manager, Ruth.”

“We’re conducting a welfare check and need access to an apartment.”

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