Page 25 of The Perfect Obsession
Ryan rang the bell.They waited patiently, aware that if the resident was three or four stories down, it might take a minute to get to them.Sure enough, it was closer to two minutes before they heard a female voice on the other side of the door.
“Can I help you?”she asked cautiously.
Ryan held up his badge and ID to the peephole as he answered.
“LAPD, Mrs.Krantz.I’m Detective Hernandez, and this is Ms.Hunt.We’re investigating a case, and your name has come up.We need to speak with you.”
“What’s it about?”she wanted to know.
“It’s a murder case,” Ryan said, adding, “It’s connected to Thornfield Academy, and it’s time sensitive.We really need to have a word.”
After several seconds of silence, they heard the door unlock.It opened to reveal a pleasant-looking woman with shoulder-length brown hair.They already knew, from the info Jamil and Beth had given them on the drive over, that Amanda Black Krantz, 28, was a popular social media influencer.Her specialty, according to Beth, was recreating meals from exclusive restaurants in her home kitchen.She apparently had over 2 million followers.
“I’d really rather wait until my husband gets home to have any discussion,” she said.“I just texted him.”
Ryan looked at Jessie with an expression that said, Doyou want to handle this one?She nodded that she did.
“If you’re uncomfortable with us coming in, we’re happy to talk out here, Mrs.Krantz,” she said.“Unfortunately, you won’t be able to reach your husband at this time.We just came from his office, where we interviewed him.And because we wanted your input without the filter of having spoken to him first, he’s without his phone until we’re done speaking with you.”
“Why were you talking to Alex?”Her tone was fearful.
“Because he knew the victims, just as you do,” Jessie said.“You may want to sit down.This could be difficult to hear.”
Amanda Krantz seemed unsure about how to respond to that.“Maybe youshouldcome in after all,” she finally said.
She led them through the foyer, passing an elevator along the way.They rounded a corner into an expansive living room with views of the hills and, in the distance, the heart of Hollywood.It was a clear day, and the iconic Capitol Records building gleamed brightly.Jessie had been in homes like this before, but they still took her breath away.Krantz sat down on a gray cashmere loveseat and motioned for them to take the matching sofa.
“Okay,” she said as she grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it against her chest, “I’m ready.Tell me what happened.”
“Mrs.Krantz—,” Jessie began.
“Please call me Amanda.”
“Okay, Amanda.Two classmates from your graduating class were killed in the last 48 hours.We understand that you were friendly with both of them, and we’re hoping you can shed some light on the situation.”
“Who died?”she winced, her voice cracking.
“Caroline Sheffield was killed two nights ago.Diana Hartwell last night.”
Amanda squeezed her eyes shut tightly, as if trying to force the news out of her head.They waited to see how she would react beyond that.After a few seconds, she opened them and exhaled heavily.
“We were all friends,” she said softly.“I mean, I hadn’t seen them in a little while, but I still consider them friends.What happened?”
“They were both strangled,” Ryan told her.“Beyond that, we don’t know much.”
Jessie kept a straight face at the statement.What he said was mostly true.But it was clear he didn’t want to reveal too much either.There was always the chance that Amanda Krantz was involved in the deaths, either on her own or in concert with her husband.They weren’t about to share details that the killer would know but someone else wouldn’t.
“We know this is a lot to process,” Jessie said.“But we’re really hoping that, as their friend, you might be able to offer some insight into their connection, beyond just being high school friends who kept in touch.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Jessie continued delicately.“It seems highly unlikely that they were killed on consecutive nights using the same method out of pure coincidence.And the most obvious connection between them, something that might make them targets of a killer, is that they went to the same high school.But they also remained friends since then, with each other and with you.”
Amanda still looked confused about what they wanted, so Jessie went on.
“We don’t want to just assume that it was their high school connection that led to their deaths, when it might be something more recent.Is there anything that jumps out at you that might have led someone to want to harm them both?Did either of them ever say they felt like they were in danger?Did either mention running afoul of someone?”
Amanda shook her head.
