FORTY-SIX

FORTY-SIX

KYLE JANOWSKI DRIVES AWAY from the Bowers house with more questions than answers. Who is doing this to the Bowers family? Is he right about David? And how does Camille Striker fit into the equation?

And what about Marcie? How much does she know?

His phone rings. Officer Risely, whom he just left at the Bowers house. He puts it on speakerphone. "Hey, Ginny. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, Sarge, I just forgot to tell you. You asked me to look into that lease at the apartment building? Camille Striker?"

"Right."

"Turns out David Bowers is paying for it. Month to month. Told the landlord she was his cousin."

"Thanks, Ginny." Kyle punches out the phone.

Who the hell is Camille Striker? She lived in Chicago most of her life. He knows her professional background but not much more.

But what she does — or at least did — for a living can't be a coincidence. That and the fact that ever since she arrived in town, strange things have been happening to the Bowers family.

He finds the number and dials it, still on speakerphone.

"This is Ollie."

"Agent Grafton, it's Sergeant Janowski from the Hemingway Grove PD."

"Sure, Sergeant. Remember, it's Ollie. Or Graf."

"Right, sorry. Ollie. Ollie, can I bother you with another question on that same topic we discussed?"

"Silas Renfrow, you mean."

"Yes, exactly," says Kyle. "Would you happen to remember if Silas Renfrow had a girlfriend or wife?"