Page 148 of Trigger

“I think I’m being followed.”

“Since when?” Tye asked him.

“For a while now. At first, it felt as if someone was watching me,but I thought it was just my imagination. Then I thought I heard footstepsbehind me a few times when I was going back home from the club. But I was neveralone, so I guess the psycho killer didn’t have a chance to attack me.”

“You think it’s the guy who killed Sophie?” I said, scribblinginto my notepad.

“No shit, handsome. And then the other night, I was in my bathroomwhen I heard the knob turning in my front door. I almost got a heart attack.Luckily for me, some kids broke into the grocery store across the street, sothe cops showed up, and the guy left. But if it weren’t for that, I wouldprobably be dead.”

“Did the intruder say anything? Or leave anything behind?” I askedhim.

“Not that I noticed, although I didn’t stick around toinvestigate. I’ve slept at my friend’s place, and I never returned home.”

“I’ll tell John Smith to dust the front door,” Tye said, pullingout his phone. “Although I doubt that we’ll find anything.”

I nodded in agreement.

“Look, I’m scared to death, okay?” Luz said, looking aroundnervously. “Do something. Protect me. That’s what you guys do, isn’t it? Orshould I just take a cab, go home, and wait for someone to bludgeon me todeath?”

His words made me think.

“You said that Sophie took the cab before you parted ways. But youcouldn’t remember the plates or the car model, right?”

“That’s right. I went to Nirvana on foot while she took the cab. Ihelped her get inside because she was tipsy.”

I frowned, going through my notes.

“You didn’t say that last time. You said she took the cab, but notthat you helped her inside.”

“So? What does it matter?”

“Did the driver say anything?”

“No. Actually, yes. He asked if she was off the clock.”

Tye’s eyes swiftly moved and found mine.

“He thought Sophie was a sex worker,” he said, confirming mysuspicions.

Luz frowned. “Wait… Do you think that cabbie killed her?”

“What did he look like?”

He rubbed his forehead with a frown. “I can’t remember… I think hewas bald. Slim. Pretty, but his eyes seemed creepy. But nothing more than that,sorry.”

“That’s why Sophie’s crime scene felt different,” I mused.“Because the killer came to her apartment and realized she wasn’t a sex worker,unlike the other victims. And it made him angry.”

“And now he’s cleaning up his tracks,” Tye said, pointing his chinat Luz.

I nodded. “Mad equals sloppy.”

“And mad people make mistakes.”

I looked at Luz. “Do you have a place where you can stay?Somewhere safe?”

“No,” he scoffed. “Where the fuck would that be?”

“Okay. We’ll arrange a safe house for you tomorrow. But tonight,I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

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