Gated Prey (Eve Ronin #3)(26)

“Who did you call from your hospital bed a few weeks ago?”

Just him. “I’m learning from my mistakes and trying to share my wisdom.”

“You’re not old enough to have wisdom. Have you read your email?” Duncan asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“Not since last night.”

“I was up early this morning. Lots of info has come in. For instance, we got the lab report on the contents of the shredder at Joel Dalander’s house. It’s credit cards. Probably from the wallets they stole during the home invasions. They probably jotted down the numbers, expiration dates, and security codes and then shredded them.”

“I wonder how much stuff they were able to buy, or cash advances they were able to get, before the cards were reported stolen and the account numbers deactivated.”

“I don’t know, but the take from the cards might have been worth more than the merch they took.”

“It would be great if we could match the designer bags and other bling we found in our searches, and on Sherry Simms’ eBay and Poshmark pages, to items stolen in earlier home invasions.”

Duncan shrugged. “I don’t see how. A handbag is a handbag.”

“It couldn’t hurt to show some of the bags and wallets we found to the victims. Maybe they’ll recognize a scratch or stain. Wouldn’t you recognize your wallet if you saw it?”

Duncan took out his canvas Velcro-sealed wallet, a bulging binder of receipts, credit cards, and cash that looked like it might burst. “Who’d steal this?”

“Nobody, but you get my point.”

“I do. That’s time-consuming grunt work our two deputies can do for us.”

“Speaking of deputies, do we know if patrol found any of the cars belonging to the three assailants?”

Duncan set aside his empty plate, sticky with maple syrup, and pulled the plate of bacon and sausage in front of him. “Nope. They’ve checked every street in the vicinity, including the two adjacent gated communities, and the parking lots at the two shopping centers that are within walking distance. Also, there’s no record of cars of their make, model, and year being towed since yesterday.”

“So we still don’t know how those three got into Vista Grande or how they planned to get out.”

Duncan shook his head. “We’re going to have to go through the gate log and the entrance and exit videos and match every guest and license plate.”

“I started last night. Oh, the glamour of police work.”

“That’s what gets the job done, not boob tape and car chases in Rolls-Royces. Be sure to tell the writers that if your TV series ever happens.”

“You tell them. I’ll still be right here, doing the job in the real world.”

Duncan wrapped a piece of sausage in bacon and popped it in his mouth. “I didn’t say I’d be the show’s technical consultant.”

“You didn’t say you wouldn’t.”

Eve’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the caller ID. It was her agent again, right on cue, as if he’d overheard them talking about the show. She ignored the call, but looking at her phone gave her an idea.

“The only phones on the perps were burners. But we know Paul Colter definitely had his own phone. His mom gave us the number. And I saw iPhone chargers, but no phone, at his place and in Nagy’s studio.”

“Everybody has a phone.” Duncan was nearly finished with his meat and his gaze drifted back toward the buffet, where the hostess was putting out a platter of fresh cinnamon rolls. “What are you getting at?”

“Let’s reach out to the cellular providers for the tracking data on their real phones and see where the three guys were when their devices were last switched on. It could lead us to where their cars are parked now. The locations might give us some idea how they got here and planned to get away.” If they learned that, Eve believed they’d know if there were others involved in the home invasions who were still at large.

“Good idea. I’ll write up the warrant requests. We also need to find out how these three men are connected. Did they come together on their own or are they working for someone?”

Eve was stuffed, but the smell of the cinnamon rolls was intoxicating. “And we need to find Sherry Simms. She was selling stolen goods.”

“We don’t know that. It could be stuff she found legitimately at swap meets, estate sales, or garage sales.” Duncan got up and made a run for the rolls before they were all gone. Eve got up, too, telling herself it was just so they could continue the conversation.

“So why did she run?”

Duncan took a plate and gingerly picked up two hot, sticky rolls. “Hey, I’m on your side. I’m just thinking like the judge who is going to deny any warrant involving her. Not being home when the police come knocking isn’t a crime.”

That was true, and such a depressing thought, that Eve decided to console herself with a cinnamon roll. They headed back to their table and sat down.

Eve began to delicately unfurl her roll, exposing the cinnamon inside. It was how she’d eaten them since she was a child and the ritual had become part of the pleasure. “Let’s make a list of things we need to do and divvy it up.”

They discussed the tasks ahead, then Duncan said, “You can go through all the videos and security logs, since you’ve already started and watching it would put me to sleep.”