Josh piled out of Ryan’s car and powered up the walk, carrying a bright green duffel rolled like a log. The girl on the lawn saw him coming and smirked. She always smirked when she saw him and made cracks about his size, so Josh knew it was coming.
“The police were here. Skylar’s dead. Somebody killed her.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Did you roll over and crush her?”
“Where’s your friend, looking for a better roommate?”
The crime scene tape was gone. The police had finished their work and left Rachel’s place to her family and the landlord. Josh knew what he wanted and hoped it hadn’t been moved. He unrolled the duffel, covered the sidelight, and broke the glass. He reached through and groped around until he found the locks.
The place had been cratered like Cole said. Her art supplies and tables and cabinets had been tipped over, but her canvases remained stacked along the walls. The police probably felt they weren’t relevant. Morons.
The shelves lined with cans of spray paint were intact. A bright gold key and a small paper name tag hung by a purple string from a hook on the right side of the cabinet. Josh had seen her hang the key on the hook when she told him about Locke and Richter and the cash she’d found in Grady Locke’s loft. She’d also found a spare key to Locke’s loft. This was the key. The card contained the entry code to Locke’s building.
Josh took the key and searched through the canvases. Some were finished paintings and others were works in progress. When he found the painting he wanted, he fitted it into the supersize duffel and left.
The dark-haired girl was gone.
They loaded the canvas into Ryan’s backseat and blasted off for downtown L.A. Ryan snickered as he raced the close of business hours.
Ryan said, “This is so frickin’ cool.”
Josh miked up and decided what he wanted to say.
“No talking.”
Ryan gave a thumbs-up. Josh hit the record button.
“This is Josh Shoe. Stand back, sit down, and stick around as I get . . . In Your Face.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No, no. Way too seventies. Do it again.”
Josh thought some more and started again.
“Josh Shoe, recording on the streets of Los Angeles. Rachel Bohlen, who was also known as Skylar Lawless, was murdered while seeking the truth. The voice you’re about to hear is that of Skylar herself, who will tell you how she came to be murdered. She will name the people who killed her. Listen.”
Josh stopped.
“Well?”
“Not bad. A little long, but we can use it as a lead-in to her first clip.”
Josh checked the time.
“Drive faster.”
The Sandman’s council website listed three offices, one in City Hall and two in Richter’s district. Grady Locke, being Richter’s chief of staff, would have offices at each location. When they were ten minutes from Grady Locke’s loft, Josh phoned the City Hall office, identified himself as a segment producer for CNN, and asked to speak with Locke. Two transfers later, a deputy communications director told him Locke could be reached at their district office. This was good news. With Locke on the far side of town, they had more time.
They parked in an alley across from Locke’s building. Josh miked up again as Ryan rigged his phone to a selfie stick. In a flash of inspiration, Ryan had suggested they post video clips as an extra on their website. Josh thought the idea was brilliant.
They piled out of the car and lined up a shot of Josh with the entry to Locke’s building visible over his shoulder. Ryan handled the camera.
Ryan said, “Action.”
Josh began.
“Grady Locke, one of the men responsible for Skylar’s death, lives in the building behind me. Nice place. This is what years of corruption will buy. This is where Skylar Lawless discovered the truth. C’mon. Let’s see what we find.”
Cut.
Ryan beamed.
“Awesome.”
“Watch for the dude. If he comes home, call fast.”
Ryan would stay below watching for Locke.
Josh shouldered the duffel, hustled across the street, and entered Grady Locke’s building using the code he’d gotten from Rachel. The elevator took him up to Locke’s floor. He let himself in with the key and deactivated the alarm by entering the entry code. Being stupid, Locke used the same number for both. Rachel had laughed when she told him.
Rachel had told so many stories about Locke and his view, Josh went from room to room, checking the views from windows the size of walls. Josh didn’t think the views were all that special. Maybe they looked better at night.