Page 39 of Little Twisted Things

“No. I got a call from a client I needed to take. I specifically told her to stop at your desk and give you her address.”

“What did this woman look like?” I asked.

“She was about five feet seven. She had auburn bob-style hair and green eyes.”

“Age?” I asked.

“I’d say early thirties.”

“Do you have cameras in this place?” I asked.

“Only outside.”

“I need to see the footage from the day this Scarlett Tisdale was here.”

“Of course.” She typed away at her computer and then turned the screen toward me. “That’s her.” She pointed at the screen.

“She made sure the cameras couldn’t pick up her face,” I said.

“Thank you, Ms. Meadows. I appreciate your time. And I’m sorry for your loss.”

“They were getting divorced,” she said.

“Who?”

“Bart and his wife. It was getting messy. Bart was trying to get full custody of his son, and Nadine was livid.”

“So she knew about your affair?”

“Yeah. She found out.” Celia lowered her head. “She tried to kick Bart out, but he refused to leave. I tried to reason with him and told him to just move in with me for the time being until things got settled, but he wouldn’t.”

“Okay. Thank you again. If I have any more questions, I’ll give you a call.” I walked out of her office.

I drove back to the station.

“Vinnie, I need you to pull up everything you can on a woman named Scarlett Tisdale.”

“On it, Luke.”

I walked into the captain’s office. “We’re looking for a female, early thirties, five feet seven, with a bob-styled auburn hair and green eyes. She goes by the name Scarlett Tisdale.”

“Do you have a picture?” he asked.

“No. She met with Celia Meadows a few days ago. I believe she cloned her phone. She set up an appointment with her to come to her home but left without ever giving her the address. She knew there were cameras in the parking lot and purposely hid her face. I have Vinnie digging up whatever he can find on her.”

“Luke.” Vinnie stepped into the office. “There are two Scarlett Tisdales. One is fourteen years old and lives in Ohio. And the other is forty-five and works at a strip club in Vegas.”

“Jesus Christ.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “She gave a fake name.”

21

Dahlia

“How is Nadine?” I asked Tess as she walked into the gallery.

“She’s okay. The detectives were there questioning her.”

“Did they say if they had any suspects yet?” I cautiously asked.