Page 6 of Spark
“Neither of those is horribly uncommon among humans turning into teenagers,” Chloe said.Nearly all the girls she’d mentored had been in possession of varying degrees of attitude, not to mention a boatload of hormones that seemed to make their decision-making skills null and void.
“No, but they’re also not convenient when we need her cooperation,” Sinclair said.“Esme has refused to talk to anyone since we brought her here.”
Chloe looked at the clock on the wall.Did a little math.Blinked.“That’s, what?Ten hours?”The kid must be exhausted, terrified, and feeling defensive as hell.Probably not in that order.
As if she’d read Chloe’s mind—not super hard, considering she wore her feelings like a billboard—Addison said, “She’s safe and well-cared for.Paramedics gave her the all-clear at the scene, and as her case manager, Tom has been with her the whole time.”
Taking the baton, Tom continued, “I immediately brought in a child psychologist and a Guardian Ad Litem to explain the legal end of things to her and emphasize that she’s not in any trouble.She stonewalled both of them.Sergeant Sinclair tried.Detective Hale tried.I tried—twice—but all she’ll say is that she didn’t do or see anything.She won’t even admit to making the nine-one-one call.”
Whoa.This kid was dug in pretty deep if she was denying things the police could prove.“Are there any leads other than what Esme might have seen?”
“Patrol canvassed the area and we’re still pulling whatever video feeds we can.There aren’t a lot of cameras around the warehouse, though.”Xander gave up a slight shake of his head.“I’m not saying we won’t get anything at all, but it doesn’t look like it’ll be much, and whatever wedofind is going to take time we don’t have to lose.”
Addison murmured, “The more time this guy has, the greater the chance he can ditch the murder weapon, his clothes…anything that could connect him to the crime.”
Chloe’s thoughts twisted and spun, her gut going along for the ride.“Don’t you guys have people who go over crime scenes with, like, microscopes, looking for evidence?”Hair, fibers, fingerprints—those had to count as things to connect the murderer to the crime.
“We do have crime scene technicians at our disposal,” Capelli said, “although they don’t technically use microscopes in the field.Only once potential evidence is brought to the forensics lab.”He cleared his throat and ran a hand over his light blue button-up shirt, straightening.“And I am belatedly realizing that reference was not meant in the literal sense.So, yes, CSU has processed the scene, but forensic testing is an exacting process, and it also takes time.Especially DNA analysis.”
“So, the fastest way to figure out whoever killed this Brinkman guy is to find out what Esme saw,” Chloe said, earning nods from everyone in the group.
“It’s also the fastest way to make sure she stays safe,” Maxwell said, and Chloe’s pulse whacked against her breastbone at the implication.
“You think she’s in danger?”
“We think whoever did this is very dangerous,” Addison semi-corrected, her voice as cool and calm as a summer lake at sunrise, “and we don’t know if he sawher.The sooner we can find him—or them—and make an arrest, the better.And since we’ve all struck out trying to get her to talk, and the clock is ticking fast, we thought you might be able to give it a try.”
A sound that wanted to be a laugh came from Chloe’s throat.Giving advice, she got.But actually talking to Esme?Trying to get her to talk to Intelligence?“You can’t be serious.”
The look on her best friend’s face said she was.Very.“We know it’s not exactly conventional.But you grew up in the foster care system.You’re a trauma survivor.You trusted Intelligence with your life on a case.We’re hoping Esme might connect with someone who knows where she’s coming from and what she’s feeling, firsthand.”
“Plus, you’re already on CFS’s books as a mentor,” Sinclair said, nodding at Tom, and Chloe turned to look at him more closely.
“You’re her case worker, and like Addison said, my trying to get her to open up isn’t exactly SOP.Are you sure you’re on board with it?”
Tom nodded without hesitation.“Her safety could be at risk.At the very least, it’s likely she saw something highly traumatic.We need her to connect with someone, and Detective Hale is right.Esme will probably relate to you better than anyone else.”
“And it’s perfectly legal,” Addison added.“We’ll have to observe the conversation, of course.The Guardian Ad Litem will be in the room with you the whole time to make sure Esme’s legal rights are protected, and you or Esme can ask for me or Tom to come in for an assist at any time.”
Chloe’s heart twisted.“What if she won’t talk to me, either?”If this kid had shut out everyone else, chances were high she’d stiff-arm Chloe, too.
“None of us wants tomakeher talk,” Sinclair said, and Chloe knew him well enough to know he meant it.“But the longer she stays quiet, the higher the chances that someone gets away with murder.We have to do everything we can to find out what she saw.”
The words echoed in Chloe’s head, setting her resolve in bedrock.“Okay.I’ll try.But first, I need to see the crime scene photos.”
Maxwell and Addison both reacted at the same time.“No,” Addison said, as Maxwell shook his head, Sinclair joining in.“That’s not necessary.”
Except that it was.“This kid can spot bullshit from forty meters out.You want me to empathize with her?To tell her I know what she’s feeling, how scared she must be?Then, I need to reallyknow,without filters.”
“The photos are quite graphic,” Capelli said, but on this, Chloe couldn’t back down.
She pointed to herself with an index finger.“Targeted by a serial killer who crushed his victims’ windpipes with his bare hands, remember?I’m a big girl.I can handle it.If I’m going to gain Esme’s trust, I’llneedto handle it.”
To Chloe’s surprise, Addison put her hands up first.“Okay.Just be sure, because Capelli isn’t exaggerating.”
Chloe was fairly certain Capelli had never exaggerated in his life.Just like she was positive she could handle some crime scene photos, no matter how bad they were.“I’m sure.”
Sinclair lifted his chin at Capelli, his blue stare on Chloe’s like ice.Before she could second guess the ask, Capelli brought the monitor in the bottom center of the array to life with a few keystrokes.
