Page 63 of Two for Joy

“Where is it now?”

“At home, they don’t let me bring it here, I take notes, then write up when I get back.”

“Who has access to your apartment?”

“My mother has a key.”

“Anyone else, partner?”

Holly snorted, shaking her head. “No, he wants me back, but—”

“I just need to know who might have read that article.”

“Only me … but…”

“But what?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Tell me.”

Holly frowned. “Someone broke into my apartment a few months ago, but there’s been a spate of break ins around the area. Expensive places like that draw a lot of attention.”

“Did they take anything?”

“Jewelry, money.”

“The laptop was there?”

“They didn’t find it. I hid it under the sofa. Practically brand new, state of the art, curtesy of my—”

“Every good thief would look under the sofa. Someone has read that article.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Copycat Killer!”

Holly darted looks at Paul, and Fred, then looked back at Romeo. “There’s a copycat?”

“Yeah, someone that leaves magpie feathers at the scene of the crime, and then sends me one to the prison. A feather for each victim.”

Holly’s lips popped open. “You think they’ve read my article?”

“I think they could be using it as a blueprint.”

“But the police haven’t said anything, they haven’t made any statement about a copycat.”

“They’re keeping it quiet. You need to contact DI Grimes. Tell him about the article and tell him to look at the break in again.”

“I will.”

“Then Chad will be out of the spotlight.”

Holly froze, and her expression soured. “Chad? What has this got to do with him?”

“He’s their best lead on the copycat, but they’re wrong. The article is how the killer knew about the dogs, the movie, the magpie—”

“Wait, where’s Chad now?”

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