Page 78 of Hard Evidence
There was an “Out of Order” sign on the intercom outside Sophy’s apartment, and the door was propped open, so I hurried up the stairs.A guy in jeans and a leather jacket was jogging right down the middle, and he didn’t move over.Jerk.I flattened myself against the wall to let him pass.
Alexa had assured me that Sophy was home again today, but she didn’t answer when I knocked.How did Alexa know where she was?Was she tracking Sophy’s phone?Because that was creepy, and was it even legal?
“Hi,” I called.“Are you home?”
“Who is it?”
So shewasthere.
“It’s Jessalyn Morrow.”
I’d decided to drop the “Packer.”It was one more reminder of Ridge that I didn’t need.
“Is Justin with you?”
“No, he stayed home today.”
Dawson had driven me to the apartment building, but since Sophy didn’t know him, he’d gone to put up more posters instead of hovering behind me in the apartment.She opened the door an inch, and it caught on the chain.
“Is he gone?”
“Is who gone?”
“Whoever was in the hallway.”
“There’s nobody here but me.”
She closed the door, removed the chain, and finally widened the gap enough for me to step inside.
“I’m not even sure we should be speaking.”
“We’re all just doing our best to find Amie.What’s worrying you?”
Because something clearly was.The chain on the door, the way she was gripping her phone so hard her knuckles were white.
“I feel sick.The police came here again, and they kept asking about the baby.Do I know who the father is?Brett said it wasn’t him, so could it be Justin?”
“Wait, they think Justin is the father?”
“They didn’t come right out and say it, but for sure that’s what they’re thinking.And I kept telling them that I don’t freaking know.Amie didn’t even tell me she was pregnant.”
“I don’t think Justin and Amie have that kind of relationship.”
“Neither did I, but who knows?”Sophy shrugged and sagged onto the arm of a chair.“I don’t know.I don’t know anything anymore.Amie said Saige was messing around again, but she made it sound like no big deal, and then some guy shows up yesterday and says she owes him money.That if she doesn’t pay, he’ll take her belongings to cover the debt.But she isn’t here, and the police told me not to touch her room, so what am I supposed to do?”
“Take her belongings?Is that even allowed?”
Another shrug.“I think he was here again this morning.”
“Is that why you used the chain?”
She nodded.“We need one of those peepholes.”
“Justin runs a building company—I’ll ask if he could fit one.”
“The police told me I shouldn’t speak with Justin.”
Her words chilled me to the bone.They really had him under suspicion?Why?Didn’t they believe me when I said he was home the evening Amie disappeared?If Amie had come to harm, then somebody else was responsible.I thought of the big man who’d nearly flattened me as I climbed the stairs.Could he be involved?
