The Bait by Carol Ericson

Author:Carol Ericson [Ericson, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-03-09T16:23:35+00:00

Chapter Ten

Jake finished reading the final report on the CCTV footage on the most recent dump site, just as Fiona put the last of the dishes into the dishwasher.

He snapped his laptop closed and said, “That wasn’t so bad, was it? And don’t pretend your mother doesn’t make you do chores at home. She already filled me in.”

“Was that when she was telling you to keep your new girlfriend away from me?” Fiona threw him a look that was half challenging, half fearful.

His hands clenched, and then he took a deep breath through his nose, blowing it out through barely parted lips. “Does Kyra’s past really worry you? She killed a man in self-defense. She killed a man, not only to protect herself but a younger child in the home. Yeah, she’s no stranger to violence, but some kids don’t have it made—like you do.”

Fiona had the self-awareness to look ashamed, or at least she’d dropped her bold gaze. “Actually, Mom’s the one who freaked out when I told her. I think it’s kind of badass.”

“Language, please.” Jake folded his arms. “So, you are the one who told your mother. I thought it unlikely that she was reading the LA Confidential blog up in Monterey.”

“Well, you’re both always telling me not to keep secrets.”

Should he confront her with the Jazzy Noir page and wipe the smug smile off her face? His personal cell phone rang, saving him from making a decision. Even better, the call was from Kyra.

“What’s up?”

Fiona made a show of opening the refrigerator and studying its contents.

“I made a discovery tonight.” Kyra sounded breathless, which made his pulse jump.

“What kind of discovery?”

“I think Laprey has been on Websleuths, and I think he may have been in touch with the copycats.”

The blood rushed to his head, and he squeezed the phone. “How do you know this?”

“Because I’ve been scrolling through Websleuths myself.”

He should’ve known, but a thrumming excitement replaced any irritation he felt. “Start from the beginning. Don’t leave anything out.”

He scribbled notes on a pad of paper as Kyra told him about using the name Laprey to create an account on Websleuths and the private messages she’d been exchanging with people on the site.

When she finished, he asked, “What kind of rules was this person spouting off?”

“He didn’t say, exactly. The whole thing spooked him, and he didn’t want anything to do with that poster.”

“Did he tell you some of the other names this user had?”

“LA Guy was one of them. Card Sharp was another. Get it? Card Sharp.”

Jake got it. “We need to question this Toby Dog, Kyra, but don’t tell him anything. I don’t want to scare him off. He may not want to get involved. I’m going to have IT trace him and those usernames he mentioned. When we get in touch with Toby Dog, I want it to be a surprise.”

“Jake, I’m sorry I went behind your back on Websleuths and then didn’t tell you.”

“I thought we were past all that. You still

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