Page 37 of Obsession

“An impound yard. Apparently, it had been left in a grocery store parking lot for over a day, so they had it towed. Carl is going to send someone to pick it up.”

“Tell him not to do that until I say it’s okay. My contact will want to check it before anyone else gets their fingerprints all over it. Text me the address and I’ll forward it to him.”

Instead of transforming back into Billy, Teddy donned his Detective Thompson disguise, and then slipped off the set unseen.

When he reached the production sedan he was using, he found a flyer sticking out from under its window wiper and pulled it free. On it was a picture of a young man, withmissing: justin rogersprinted below it. According to the flyer, Justin had last been seen the day before, near whereStorm’s Eyehad been shooting. He had not been heard from since.

Teddy guessed the flyer was the work of concerned friends or family. He studied the picture for a moment, but didn’t recognize Justin, so he set the paper on his passenger seat to throw away later.

His first stop was at the grocery store where Rebecca’s Mercedes had been left. He talked to the manager who’d had it towed, but all the woman knew was that the vehicle had been there at least a day when she’d made the call. Neither she nor any of her employees had seen anyone near it.

Teddy went to the impound yard next.

A flash of his police badge earned him a quick escort to Rebecca’s car.

He walked around the vehicle, looking for dents or scratches or scuff marks that might have come from a struggle when Rebecca was taken. But he found none.

He went over every inch of the car’s interior, looking for fingerprints and anything that could aid him in finding the kidnappers. Unfortunately, whoever had ditched the car had done a thorough job of cleaning it first. Which was a clue in itself—the kidnappers weren’t mere opportunists but experienced criminals.

He texted Mori that someone could pick up the car and left.

26

At five p.m., the cast and much of the crew were released for the day. Those who remained would be shooting B-roll of the street and the buildings surrounding it.

Stacy, who had joined the others in the cast seating area for the last few shots, hopped out of her chair and looked at Matthew. “Free tonight?”

“Me? Yes, I’m free. Why?”

“Adriene and I are having dinner at the hotel in about an hour, why don’t you join us?”

While it wouldn’t be as good as eating with Tessa, it would be a great excuse to be at the hotel and toingratiate himself further within the group. “If you’re sure I wouldn’t be imposing.”

“Not at all. At the very least, we owe you a meal.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“You say that, but it’s not true.”

He curled his lips into a shy smile. He was getting very good at playing the reluctant hero. “Sure. I’d love to join you.”

“Great. Meet us in the lobby in an hour.”

When Matthew reached his car, he found a flyer on his windshield. Without even looking at it, he crumpled it up and threw it onto the ground, then climbed inside and headed to the hotel.

27

Kordo sipped from his glass of beer and eyed the lobby of the Santa Barbara Hills Hotel. From his table at the bar, he could see all the way to the hotel entrance. He had spent most of the day on the set, but when Barnett failed to show up, he’d decided to switch tactics and watch for him at the hotel.

Though plenty of people moved in and out, Barnett had yet to make an appearance there, either. But unlike on the set, Kordo was sure he’d show up soon. It was nearing dinnertime, and everyone knew those Hollywood types always liked to dress up and go out for glamorous meals.

All Kordo needed to do was wait.

???

Matthew arrived at the Santa Barbara Hills Hotel a full twenty minutes before he was to meet Stacy and Adriene. To kill time, he took a seat at the bar.

The bartender, a woman about his age, walked over. “What can I get you?”

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