Page 75 of Every Last One
“Which is a scary thought,” Neal began. “They don’t get the money, they’re prepared for the other.”
Sandra nodded, recalling the shot caller’s repeated claim that she was prepared to do what she must.
“There was something in the heat of her voice when she saidourlives that made me feel she wasn’t necessarily referring to her accomplices. I also got the feeling this destruction cuts real close for her personally,” Brice said.
“Me too. Possibly a loss very close to home. A spouse like Sparling, or a child?” Sandra said. “Since it seems today may have been motivated by medical debt, she likely owes the hospital money too.”
Gibson returned to his chair. “I’ve searched the system in the DC area for Alaya,but the results are overwhelming. I tried narrowing it down by referencing the vehicle registrations we looked at. No Alaya.”
“Maybe Alaya isn’t her real name,” Brice suggested.
“She answered to it without hesitation,” Sandra volleyed back.
Brice shrugged. “It’s her online name.”
“Which suggests even if Alaya is an alias, it must mean something to her for her to choose it. I’ve also been thinking more about her ‘destroyingourlives’comment.It’s possible someone else is burdened by her situation. Maybe she was sick…?” It was just the glimpse of a possibility, but no one in thevehicle could answer that question at this point. Not without a name, and even with one, Luis couldn’t disclose patient records without violating HIPAA. The act was put in place by Congress to protect a patient’s privacy. A court order could overcome that barrier, but for right now, they were in limbo.
FORTY-ONE
5:30 PM
Eric grabbed the door for a woman leaving the library and hurried inside with the textbook from Shane Perkins’s apartment. It was in a clear, plastic evidence bag, and the librarian at the checkout desk narrowed her eyes when he set it on the counter.
“Can I help you?”
He fussed with his jacket and cleared the way to his badge. “Detective Eric Birch.”
“What can I do for you, Detective?”
“This book was signed out from your library by Shane Perkins, and I need to know who took it out before him.”
“You want the entire borrow history?”
“That would be great.”
“Do you have a warrant?”
“Is that really necessary? Let me show you something.” Eric put on gloves and opened the book.
The librarian gasped when she saw the damaged interior. “If you did that, you’ll need to reimburse the library for the book.”
“There was a note stuck in there that is a key piece of evidence in an active crisis situation. Your cooperation would beappreciated.” Eric could saycrucial,but he didn’t want to put too much pressure on the woman.
She pinched her lips. “Fine. One minute.” She positioned herself behind the computer and tapped on the keyboard.
As Eric waited, he hoped this would be what netted that fourth perp’s identity. He suspected it wasn’t the plan for Perkins to hang on to the book. That led to the question of why he had.
“All right, here we go,” the librarian said. “Before Shane Perkins, it was checked out by Carmen Feeney. Do you want her number and address?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“Before her, Tom Sparling. Need his information?”
Eric shook his head, recalling Neal mentioning that name and that another officer would be checking out his home. “And the person before that?” He reined in his excitement that so far the people who had withdrawn this book matched the names the team had already uncovered. If this track record held that meant the next name would be the person behind the username Alaya Princess.
“Mindy Ashmore. That line up with what you were thinking?” The librarian stood back and studied Eric.
Alaya/Mindy… not really.“Did anyone check this book out before her?”
