In Her Tracks (Tracy Crosswhite #8)(54)

“I have to get back to work.”

Tracy thanked Sprague and hung up. When she walked back into the A Team’s bull pen Nolasco had, thankfully, departed.

“That was Carrol Sprague,” she said to Kins.

“What did he say?” Kins asked.

“He said Evan got over his cold and was healthy as a horse.”

Kins squinted. “I thought he had a bad case of the flu and went to the emergency room?”

“So did I,” Tracy said.





CHAPTER 24

Tracy and Kins drove to the Home Depot in Shoreline. Tracy was certain Carrol Sprague had lied when asked about his brother’s health; she wanted to determine if he was lying about his work history the past week as well.

On the drive, Mike Melton called. Tracy put him on the speaker so Kins could participate in the conversation.

“Tracy Crosswhite,” Melton said. “I thought you were home with your new baby, not out chasing bad guys. To what do I owe this pleasure? Or is this about your voice mail telling me to push your DNA analysis to the head of the line? Nice touch, by the way, telling me the victim is a young woman. As if I don’t worry enough about my girls.”

“Sorry about that.” Tracy smiled. “Just wanted to let you know what we’re dealing with.”

“I know. And I’ve asked everyone and anyone to bust ass. I’ve turned in all the chits I have.”

“You’re the best, Mike.”

“That’s what they tell me.”

“Kins and I will buy you dinner.”

“Just pick your favorite taco truck,” Kins said.

“Not me. I’m on a diet.”

“What?” Kins said. “That’s blasphemy.”

“My daughter the nutritionist says my high blood pressure is related to what I eat. She’s got me on some diet. I can’t remember the damn name, but I’ve never eaten so many vegetables in my life.”

“That’s the price you pay for raising smart and caring daughters, Mike,” Tracy said.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll call when I have something for you. In the interim, picture me eating a carrot . . . and enjoying it.”

Tracy had no sooner disconnected than her phone rang. Caller ID indicated Kaylee Wright. Again, Tracy switched to speaker.

“I was correct about the shoes,” Wright said. “The running shoe is a New Balance 880v10, which is relatively new and retails for a hundred and thirty dollars.”

“We can conclude from that price that a woman working as a receptionist who just put down a security deposit and last month’s rent on an apartment was serious about her running,” Tracy said.

“It’s a serious shoe,” Wright said.

“What about the boot?” Tracy asked.

“Made by Merrell. A men’s Yokota 2. It’s a midline hiking shoe, waterproof. The wear on the sole indicates it’s well-worn by someone who pronates when he walks.”

“Help the uneducated,” Kins said. “Is pronates the inside or outside of the foot?”

“Outside.”

“Can the average detective observe a person pronating, as opposed to . . . walking with most of his weight on the inside of the foot?” Kins asked.

“The word is ‘supinate,’ and no, I don’t think you could. Not unless it was highly pronounced.”

“But if we get a suspect and a court order asking for his shoes, you could do a comparison?” Kins continued.

“If it’s the same brand of shoe, the wear on the sole would be like a fingerprint,” Wright said. “Assuming that the size is the same.”



Tracy and Kins arrived at the Home Depot and, through a series of questions, an employee directed them to the office of the store manager, Helen Kne?evi?. The woman looked besieged, seated at a utilitarian desk covered with paper. She stared up at a computer monitor and didn’t divert her eyes when Kins knocked on her door. “Yes, what is it?” she asked.

“Ms. Kne?evi?,” Kins said.

She looked from the monitor to the door. Then picked up a pair of glasses from a stack of papers and slipped them on. “Can I help you?” She spoke with an Eastern European accent. Tracy guessed Russia or one of its neighboring countries.

Kins made introductions. “We just have a couple questions about one of your employees.”

“Who is the employee?” she asked, sounding cautious.

“Carrol Sprague.”

Kne?evi? invited them into the office, motioning to two seats across the desk. She looked concerned. “What is it you want to know? I cannot tell you any personal information. It is against company policy.”

“We just want to confirm the days he worked this past week,” Kins said.

“May I ask what this is about?”

“We’re investigating a case. Mr. Sprague may be a material witness. We just want you to confirm the days and the hours he worked—specifically Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday,” Kins said.

Tracy knew Kins was trying to get as much information as possible before they spoke to Carrol Sprague. They would then give Sprague as much rope as they could to hang himself.

“That’s it?”

“That’s a start.” Kins smiled.