The Second Girl(50)

“She make that obvious to you? Because she sure does with everyone else.”

“Yeah, she did, a little. How do you get along with your dad?”

“What does that have to do with Miriam Gregory?”

“Damn, you don’t sound like a sixteen-year-old. You are sixteen, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m not one of your peers, so I think you need to step it down a bit, okay?”

She doesn’t say anything, just looks away. She probably heard her mother and that f*cked up her attitude. I’ll stay away from the family thing.

“I think you know I’ve been hired to try to find Miriam Gregory.”

“Yeah.”

“She’s been missing for a long time, but it’s like I have to start from the beginning again. That’s why it’s important I talk to you and all of Miriam’s friends. She been a friend of yours for a while?”

“Since elementary school.”

“That’s a while. When was the last time you saw her or spoke to her?”

She almost answers right away, but then pauses to think about it.

“Early summer. I don’t remember exactly when, though.”

“Was this in person or over the phone?”

“In person.”

“Where did you see her?”

“At the park.”

“Okay, Justine, let’s start over. It’ll make it a lot easier on the both of us if you don’t just feed me bits and pieces. I don’t know this area. I’m a DC boy. So when you say park, for all I know you’re talkin’ about Lafayette Park.”

“South Run Park.”

“It just so happens I know a little bit about that park. I’d like to show you a couple of pictures; tell me if you know any of these kids.”

I pull out a photo of Amanda and then the yearbook with Edgar’s photograph. I show her Amanda’s first.

“She’s a bitch,” she says.

I admit, but only to myself, that I am taken by surprise.

“What’s her name?”

“I think Amanda, and she’s not a friend of mine.”

“I got that impression. Why is she a bitch?”

“She stole my f*cking boyfriend.”

“Did the police ever show you a picture of her?”

“No, and I don’t understand why you are.”

“I’ll get to that.”

It actually makes sense they wouldn’t show her a picture. Miriam went missing months before Amanda, and they didn’t know about Edgar until Amanda. I’m sure Caine is only a few steps behind me with interviewing Justine. At least I would hope he is. I open the yearbook and show her Edgar’s photo.

“Is this the guy who used to be your boyfriend?”

Now she’s really surprised, but she can’t hide it like I can. I can almost hear her thinking, How did he put that together?

“Yes, that’s Edgar,” she tells me.

I wanna tell her how lucky she is he got taken away by Amanda, but I bite my tongue.





Forty-five



When did you and Edgar meet?”

“Last year, but we didn’t really hang out until summer.”

“So he knew Miriam?” I ask, even though I already know.

“Of course. She was—is—my best friend. I mean, she’s not dead, right?”

“I wouldn’t be trying to find her if she were. Do you know a guy named Greg?”

She’s got that look again, wondering how I know all this.

“Yes.”

“Go on.”

“He’s just a friend of Edgar’s. Do they have something to do with Miriam?”

“Aren’t you all friends?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You have a cell phone, Justine?”

“I used to, but my mom took it away. Why are you asking me all these questions?”

“Okay, I’ll be straight with you, but that means you gotta be straight with me. Trust me, girl, I’ll know if you’re not.”

I shoot her my best, sort of hard but not too threatening look and she blinks, so that means I win.

“I know all about Edgar and his little weed-dealing crew at South Run. I know all about the two of you and your relationship. I know Miriam was mixed up in it, too. I don’t think it’s something your mom, or, for that matter, the police, is gonna take lightly. Am I right?”

I’m pretty sure the little nod she gives me means I’m right, so I continue.

“I used to be a narcotics detective in DC, but I played with the big boys, not the minors. You guys are too easy. It didn’t take me long to put together the connections. I still need your help, though. There’s still a lot I don’t know, mainly, where to find Miriam. So I don’t care about the drugs you’re doing or the friends you’re hanging out with. The only thing I care about is finding your friend Miriam, okay?”

“Okay.”

“But don’t get me wrong. If you lie to me or hold anything back, I’m going to give your mom everything I have, including a number she can call to have you get a piss test.”

“You can’t do that.”