Chapter 13

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The shiny badge on the officer's blue uniform shirt caught the sunlight coming through the window. "Thank you for coming in to talk with me. I'm Lieutenant Gomez."

First Gracie shook the officer's hand, and then Clara took her turn. Wayne lifted his chin at Gomez and stood at the back of the room. Both women sat beside each other, their hands cupping the armrests on their chairs. He'd often seen Clara and Gracie reach out for the other and hold hands, but in front of Gomez, they sat woodenly, eyes forward, and silent.

"I apologize in advance. I'll never get your names right so I won't try." Gomez's eyes had softened for a moment before he opened the folder. "I asked Wayne to bring you here today because we're investigating a crime in the alley behind Vavoom's."

"Wayne's already told us." Gracie sat forward on the edge of her chair. "There were clothes belonging to a missing girl behind the bar."

Gomez nodded. "We're going to have to ask you to keep the bar closed until our investigators finish searching the area. We don't expect to be there more than twenty-four hours. What typically happens is the different crime lab people come in, they do their business and get out leaving with all the information they need. They'll then meet together back at the station, discuss their findings, and if there are any questions or the need to return to the alley, they know the site hasn't been compromised by outsiders."

"We understand." Gracie's back rounded forward. "We'll help you in any way we can."

"Will they be able to find the girl from what was left in the alley?" Clara scooted forward, mirroring her sister.

"We always hope that we can find some clue." Gomez picked up a paper, turned it around, and set it on the edge of the desk closest to the sisters. "This is an air view of the block where the bar is located. We found a camera on the outside of the building here." He pointed to the picture. "We're hoping that you have a security tape we can view."

Clara shook her head. "I wish we did, but there's no security setup at the bar. We've only recently bought the business and cameras weren't included...or at least mentioned in the sale. Could it be that the previous owners ran security cameras?"

Gomez nodded. "Yes, most businesses have a security company that runs the recordings. We were hoping that the lone camera we found would be active."

"I'm sorry," said Clara.

The questions Gomez was asking could've been done by Wayne. He folded his arms across his chest. He could've gotten the answers faster, letting the others know, speeding up the process.

"When was the last time each of you was at the bar?" asked Gomez.

"Last night." Gracie looked at Clara. "I mean this morning."

Clara nodded. "We locked the front door at one-fifty because all the customers had left. It was probably fifteen minutes after two when we left through the back door to go home."

Gomez cleared his throat. "Together?"

"Yes," said Clara.

"We drove her car," added Gracie.

Clara shrugged. "We usually do. Mine is newer."

"My car is older and not as reliable," said Gracie.

Gomez's gaze shifted left to right, trying to follow the information given to him by the sisters. Wayne scratched his jaw. Of course, identical twins would receive attention but the way Gomez sat spellbound watching them pissed him off.

Gomez caught Wayne's warning look and shifted through the papers on his desk. "There was nothing out of the ordinary in the alley? A person? A car? Noise? A light?"

"No," said Gracie.

Clara made a noise. Gracie looked at her sister. Then, Clara said, "There was a cat. I don't know if that's important, but it was howling down at the end of the street. We both stopped outside my car and laughed about it."

"It was in heat." Gracie shrugged. "We were tired."

"It was funny last night." Clara paused. "It isn't funny now. You know, knowing what you found. I'm sorry."

Wayne stepped forward and put his hands on Clara's shoulders and squeezed, letting her know she was doing a good job answering questions. He could feel the trembles underneath his hands. She was nervous.

"That's okay. All information can help." Gomez looked through the papers silently. When he was finished, he asked, "Are you usually alone when you close the bar?"

"We always leave together." Gracie crossed her legs. "Even when we each drive our own car, we make sure we get to the cars together. We understand the dangers and the alley being hidden from the main street."

"Good. It's always best to play on the safe side." Gomez closed the folder and looked up at Wayne. "I've discussed this with Wayne earlier, but I'd like to suggest that until we solve this case and understand why the evidence was found behind your bar, that you always leave with each other or have someone you trust escort you from work."

"Do you think the kidnapper was there?" asked Gracie.

"That's information we don't have. As of right now, Megan Hillard is a missing juvenile." Gomez stood from the desk. "But, if anything changes, we will let you know. If you could stop at the desk on your way out and leave all your contact information with Lieutenant Murray, we'll let you know the moment you're allowed back into the bar."

Clara and Gracie stood at the same time. In unison, they said, "Thank you, Lieutenant Gomez."

Gomez's lips twitched in amusement, and he nodded. When the twins turned, Gomez looked at Wayne and lifted his brows. Wayne ignored the Lieutenant's fascination with the sisters and put his hand on Clara's lower back, letting Gomez know where he stood.

He walked the sisters out to the desk and waited by the front door while they supplied all the information requested. Then, walked them to the car.

Wayne leaned down into the open driver's window once Clara was seated. "I'll follow you back to your house."

"We'll be fine." Clara's gaze dropped to Wayne's chest. "You probably need to go help in the search, and we're not planning on doing anything today after being told we can't open the bar. I'm just going to stay home."

"Clara..." He went down to his elbows on the window frame and lowered his voice. "You need to take what's going on seriously."

"Trust me. I am. A girl is missing." She crooked her finger and motioned him closer.

He leaned down and stuck his head in the car, and she cupped his cheek, stretching to kiss his lips. She kissed him tenderly, almost shyly. He licked his lip when she pulled away, wanting nothing more than to take the time, take her home, take her to bed.

"I'm going to swing by your place tonight." He tapped the car door with his hand. "No arguing with me. I'm coming over and spending the night."

Clara smiled softly. "Okay."

He stepped away and put on his helmet, sat his motorcycle, and waited until the sisters pulled out of the parking lot. He walked his bike backward out of the parking spot and then rode away from the police station.

Thad waited for him on Peninsula Street. From there, they were going to Buffalo Street to meet Chuck and Glen before they pay a friendly visit to the Columbia Villa Crips — a local gang running under the blue banner, that would've heard if anyone brought in a new girl to pimp out in their territory.