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“He killed two women in Detroit. He never killed more than one in the same place. This was different, but how and why?” Rishi Patel’s eyes narrowed as he studied the woman and then turned to look at me. “How well do you know Miranda here?”
“Very well,” I answered. “I see her every day when I get my coffee.”
“Have you met her outside the coffee shop?”
“No.”
He was starting to wonder. He was slowly connecting dots—though they seemed peculiar—in his head. He was trying to make sense of it. I knew Daphne. I knew Miranda. It wasn’t a coincidence. Soon the Detectives would find out about that, too.
“He might have met her in the coffee shop,” Detective Rishi said, his brows knitted together. “But why change his whole MO now?”
“Because the fucker is bored,” Detective Rosario said.
“Detective, you need to go to Hot Cuppa. They may have receipts and lists of orders. If he met her in the coffee shop, he would’ve ordered something to not stand out like a sore thumb.”
“You’re right, Doctor West. I’ll send someone to Hot Cuppa. I hope they’ll cooperate without a subpoena.”
“I’m going to check on the local flower shops,” Detective Rishi said, giving me another suspicious look before he walked away.
I collected all the samples. I knew the forensic report would reveal the same result as Daphne’s—same wig, same cheap dress and shoes, same makeup and nail polish—except for the lipstick shade.
My throat closed as I was taking a sample of the lipstick for evidence.
I’m sorry, Miranda.
After telling the CSRU to move Miranda’s body to the ME office, I walked to where Ryden was. He touched my shoulder when I reached him with a tired smile.
“Hey? You okay?”
“No. I’m not okay. This is… not okay.”
“Who is it?” Ryden asked as he softly caressed my cheek.
“Miranda… my barista from Hot Cuppa. She calls me Doc and knows my coffee order by heart. She always gave me extra dark chocolate.” My eyes burned. “She was…I liked her and—” Someone tugged at my dress. I looked down to see a blonde girl in a green dress. She was holding something out to me.
“Miss? Your friend asked me to give this to you,” she said.
“Friend?” She nodded vigorously.
“He said ‘thank you’ for your help.” She handed me a stapled brown packet.
I quickly took it from her, making sure no one saw me. Ryden and I hurried to his car. I tore it open, and my lipsticks fell out.
I gasped.
Scarlet Rouge and Berry Rush. My lipsticks.
“Is that…” Ryden asked, and I nodded.
My phone vibrated with a new message.
TP: Thank you, Love. I’ll return the rest when I’m done with them.
“Fucking bastard,” Ryden growled, seething. “I’m going to bury him for this.”
I took a calming breath. He was pushing me to break. He wanted me to break. But I wouldn’t. Not yet.
“Let’s go to Hot Cuppa.”
