The girl’s stomach looked like a watermelon. It was hard for Hayley to believe she could walk without falling over.
As soon as Salma disappeared, Lizzy said, “This is never going to work. Maybe we should update one another at a later date.”
“We just have to make do,” Hayley said.
“You two need to find out what the deal is with Salma . . . if she has family who’s worried about her.”
“I’ll see what I can find out,” Kitally said.
“About Wayne Bennett,” Hayley went on. “Have you found anyone who will testify against him?”
“Not so far. It’s going to be tough. Bennett’s threatening his victims and their families with their lives.”
“What about the young woman he had with him last night? The girl who left with the police?”
“They took her to the station to fill out reports, but she refused to press charges against him.”
“I have an idea,” Kitally announced.
“Let’s hear it.”
“As I mentioned to you on the phone, Bennett owns at least a dozen rental homes, including the one you visited last night. Why don’t we set up cameras in every house that isn’t occupied? If and when he takes someone to one of the houses, we’ll have a video recording of what he’s doing.”
“Tommy has agreed to install the cameras if we can get access,” Hayley added.
“Not a bad idea,” Lizzy said. “Although illegally obtained evidence won’t be admissible in court.”
“Unless we say that the videos were sent to us by an anonymous person.”
“Well, even then, probably. Still, it’s worth a shot. Let’s set up surveillance on the homes to see which ones are empty and go from there.” Lizzy opened her file and looked through her notes. “Owen Dunham. I’ve been meaning to ask you two about him.”
Hayley shrugged it off. “We dealt with that problem.”
Lizzy lifted a brow. “So what happened? The plan was to place stolen items in the trunk of his car.”
Lizzy turned to Kitally. “Hayley seems to have lost her voice, so why don’t you fill me in.”
Kitally crinkled her nose but didn’t say a word.
“One of you better tell me what’s going on or the meeting is over.”
Hayley grunted. “I cut off his balls and tossed them in the river.”
Lizzy looked perplexed. “You’re kidding, right?”
Hayley shook her head.
Kitally refused to make eye contact.
Lizzy looked over her shoulder as if she thought someone might have overheard. Then she turned back to face Hayley and said in a low voice, “What would possess you to do such a thing? You don’t think you’re going to be the first person investigators think of? Three years ago, you cut off a man’s penis and now someone’s testicles, and you don’t think anyone is going to put two and two together?”
Silence.
“What is your ridiculous fetish with male body parts anyhow?”
Hayley refused to answer such a ridiculous question. Lizzy wasn’t herself and hadn’t been for a while now. If it were up to Hayley, every convicted rapist would have his testicles removed. “Owen Dunham and I do not share any connection whatsoever,” Hayley told Lizzy matter-of-factly. “Our paths never once crossed before that night. I never even heard his name until he showed up on our list.” Hayley lifted her hands in frustration. “You might feel better about this if you look at the file and read over his long list of criminal activity.”
“I guess I should be happy you didn’t kill the man,” Lizzy said as she looked deep into Hayley’s eyes. “Because you’re not a killer. Don’t you ever forget that.”
“Hayley threatened to come back and remove whatever was left if he went to the police,” Kitally added. “I think Dunham got the message loud and clear.”
Hayley stared back at Lizzy, unblinking, refusing to look away as she waited for her to move on to the next guy on the list. Because, clearly, Lizzy would not be able to handle the truth. The harsh reality was that Hayley had gone back that very night and taken care of Dunham for good. Kitally and Lizzy would never know what happened. It only mattered that Dunham would never have a chance to hurt anyone else again.
Lizzy’s shoulders visibly relaxed before she said, “So all evidence was removed?”
“Trust me,” Hayley said. “It’s all been taken care of.”
“I’d like you both to stay away from Dunham and Holmes for now.” Lizzy looked over their list. “What’s going on with the Ghost?”
“Nothing so far. There hasn’t been a sighting in days.”
“Well, good. Maybe she’s lost interest.”
“What about Scott Shaffer—number four on the list?” she asked next.
“As far I can tell, he’s been lying low and staying out of trouble,” Hayley said. “I’ll keep an eye on him and let you both know when he’s on the prowl again.”
“Sounds good. Other than doing surveillance on Wayne Bennett’s properties,” Lizzy said, “I need you both to go to Miriam Walters’s place of work.”
“The missing girl?”
Lizzy nodded.
“Where does—or did—she work?”
“At the mall. It’s all in the file, along with a short list of people who might have seen Miriam with Bennett.”
“What exactly do we want to know?” Kitally asked.
“We need to talk to anyone who might have been in close contact with Miriam before she disappeared. Did she mention going away for a while? Do any of her coworkers know what she used to do after she left work? Did she ever talk to anyone about Wayne Bennett? Did she ever meet him for lunch? If so, where did they go?”
They heard the rattle of keys before the front door opened. It was Jessica, home early. She left her belongings on the table and joined them in the living room. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Hayley said.
“You all look pretty serious for it to be nothing.”
Lizzy shrugged. “Just getting up-to-date on a few things.”
“That’s right,” Kitally said, her voice a little too cheerful. “We were talking about Lizzy’s newest client, Gus. He lost his wife, and he thinks someone at the Shady Oaks Nursing Home is responsible. In fact,” she said, turning to Lizzy, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the note that was written on the stationery in your file. I’m pretty sure I found a match.”
Jessica stepped closer and picked up the list of names. “What is this?”
Lizzy snatched the paper out of her hand and tucked it inside the file on her lap.
“What’s going on?” Jessica demanded.
A phone rang.
It was Lizzy’s cell. She picked up the call as she came to her feet and walked away from the group as she listened. When she returned, she had her coat and keys. “I have to go. I’ve got a live one.”
“Does it have to do with Wayne Bennett?” Hayley asked.
Lizzy nodded.
“President of SRT? That Wayne Bennett?” Jessica asked.
“One and the same,” Lizzy said. “He’s using his nonprofit organization to take advantage of young vulnerable women.”
“And he’s getting away with it,” Kitally added.
Jessica followed Lizzy to the door. “So who was that on the phone?”
“A girl named Olimpia Padula who says Bennett raped her. She’s willing to talk, even if it means sitting in front of a jury and telling her story.”
“Mind if I come along?”
Lizzy shrugged and then turned back to Hayley. “You two get busy working on the things we discussed. We’ll talk later.”
“What about Gus and the nursing home?” Kitally asked.
“Take care of it,” Lizzy said before she left the room. “You can fill me in later.”
Moments after Lizzy and Jessica left the house, Kitally saw Salma peer into the living room. “Is it safe?”