Don't Make a Sound (Sawyer Brooks #1)(81)

“What did her boyfriend do?”

“They argued, and then he stormed out. I never saw him again. Kylie told me not to worry. Said he didn’t like her sleeping with other men, but he’d resigned himself to it.”

“Interesting.”

He nodded. “Anything else?”

“Did the police talk to you about Kylie’s murder?”

“Yes,” he said. “Detective Perez talked to a few of us.”

“And you told him the same story you just told me?”

“Yes.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go.” He stood.

Sawyer shoved her notebook and pen inside her purse and came to her feet. Again, they shook hands. His gaze roamed over her face and neck. “Looks like you have a dangerous job.”

She smiled. “I can handle it.”

“I’m sure you can.” Sawyer watched him walk away and then went to the front desk to sign out. Westover had said Zach was resigned to Kylie sleeping around. It wasn’t Sawyer’s place to judge. And it fit what Aria said Zach had told her about Kylie sleeping with other men. Had Zach hit a breaking point? she wondered as she walked across the parking lot. Was his alibi as solid as it sounded?

A woman called out to her.

Sawyer turned that way.

The woman was heavyset and had lots of brown hair rolled into a messy bun at the top of her head. She wore a turquoise blouse over colorful leggings.

“Are you the reporter from the Sacramento Independent?” she asked.

“I am.”

“My name is Brianne.” She caught her breath. “I wasn’t here when the detective talked to everyone, but Matthew told me you were coming to talk to him, so I thought I’d tell you what I know.”

Sawyer waited.

“When I read the write-up in the paper about Kylie’s murder and her boyfriend’s arrest, it surprised me that nobody mentioned Waylan Gage.”

“The author of the Jacqueline Carter series,” Sawyer said.

“Yes! Kylie was absolutely obsessed with Waylan Gage. Since learning about Kylie’s death, I haven’t been able to sleep. I can’t get what she said about the author out of my mind.”

“What did Kylie say?”

“That she was going to get into Waylan Gage’s pants, even if it killed her.”





CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

After leaving Good Day Sacramento, Sawyer had gone back to the library to research Waylan Gage and hit the jackpot.

At 5:00 p.m. on the dot, Sawyer sat across from Sean Palmer.

Palmer was leaning back in his chair, his feet propped on his desk. “You do recall my asking you to leave the Kylie Hartford investigation alone?”

“I do.”

“And you realize there is a standard probation period?”

“I do.” She frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me that forensics found unidentified DNA in Kylie’s apartment?”

“Because it happens all the time—could be the landlord, the plumber, a friend who stopped by,” Palmer said. “So what do you have for me that couldn’t wait until Monday?”

Sawyer proceeded to tell him everything she knew about what Zach was doing the night Kylie was murdered, including seeing footage of Zach walking in and out of the brewery, proving that he couldn’t have murdered Kylie.

Before he could respond, Sawyer said, “And that’s not all. I think I know who the killer is.”

Palmer lifted a curious brow.

After leaving Good Day Sacramento, Sawyer had gone to the Copy Cat to make print copies of the digital pictures she’d taken at Kylie’s apartment. She slid an eight-by-ten glossy of Kylie’s apartment across Palmer’s desk.

“Kylie Hartford was at Waylan Gage’s book signing the day of her murder.”

“So you’ve said.”

“When I walked into the apartment, the book was on the floor, wide open. It had been signed by Waylan Gage.”

“Yes,” Palmer said. “I’ve seen the picture. Kylie could have had the book for a while,” he suggested. “This doesn’t prove that she went to the book signing.”

He folded his hands. She could see that he was getting impatient.

Sawyer shook her head. “That’s exactly what it proves. The book in question wasn’t released to the public until the day of the signing, which means Kylie met Waylan Gage in person on the same day she was killed.”

“Listen,” Palmer said. “You’re not a cop. You are a rookie reporter with very little experience. But,” he added with emphasis, “after I talked to you on the phone when you were in River Rock, I made a few calls myself. It turns out the author sold over three hundred and fifty hardbacks that day. He wouldn’t have had time to give much individual attention to his fans, but somehow you want me to believe that they hooked up after he finished signing books for the day?”

“I do,” Sawyer said. “I met with Matthew Westover at Good Day Sacramento, where she worked.”

He said nothing.

“Matthew Westover is the same man who Kylie’s neighbors told police Kylie was ‘dating.’” Sawyer used her fingers to make air quotes. “Matthew has known Kylie for a while now, and he didn’t deny hooking up with Kylie. He also told me that her boyfriend knew everything.”