SWNOVELS Get Dirty: Chapter 39
ED WATCHED MARGOT’S FACE INTENTLY AS KITTY FINISHED catching her up on everything that had happened in the last week: the copycat DGM, Rex’s death, a half dozen or so missing persons, and the bombshell revelation that Christopher Beeman was dead.
Her poker face was impressive. She took it calmly, dispassionately, the only glimmer of emotion coming when Kitty mentioned Olivia’s mom’s suicide attempt.
As Kitty fell silent, Margot stared at the blank wall on the far side of the room, and Ed knew that her brain was hard at work, analyzing and cataloging all the information she’d just downloaded.
“The footage from Rex’s birthday party,” she said at last, eyes still fixed on the wall. “What grade was he in?”
Kitty glanced at Ed for confirmation. “Sixth?” she said.
Detail-oriented she was not. “It was Rex’s thirteenth birthday,” Ed said. “Which would make it eighth grade.”
Margot nodded to herself. “And the photos of Amber were from a fat camp?” Again, no hint of emotion, but Ed couldn’t help wondering what Margot was feeling. Amber had tormented her ruthlessly about her weight in junior high, and the revelation that Amber had been a fat kid herself just a year or two earlier should have elicited a mix of anger and glee. Or at least it did in him.
“Yeah,” Ed said.
Finally, Margot turned to Kitty. “Was Donté pissed off about you joining the ’Maine Men?”
Kitty flinched. Once again, Margot’s scientific mind had hit the nail on the head. “Yeah,” she said. “Mika too.”
“I see.” Margot pressed her palm to her temple, grimacing, and Logan launched to his feet, hovering over her protectively.
“Are you okay?” he asked breathlessly. “Maybe you should rest. We can come back later.”
Margot leaned into Logan, and Ed’s stomach knotted up. Why couldn’t that be him?
“I’m fine,” she said. “I just can’t believe Donté, Mika, Theo, and Peanut are the new DGM.”
“What?” Kitty cried.
“How could you possibly know that?” Logan asked.
“Mika went to St. Alban’s with Rex,” Margot began. “Shouldn’t be too difficult to trace that video back to her. You said yourself that she and Donté freaked out when you joined the ’Maine Men. I’d guess that Theo went to Camp Shred. Not at the same time as Amber, but soon after. I think we already knew they were two of DGM’s biggest fans.”
“I caught Theo logging in to the school email server in Coach’s office,” Kitty said, nodding as she suddenly put the pieces together. “He looked nervous as hell when I barged in on him.”
“He was probably setting up the fake email account,” Margot said.
“What about Peanut?” Kitty asked.
“Based on what I’ve seen of their interactions, she hates Amber Stevens as much as I do.” Margot blinked and her eyes softened. “As much as I did. And she would have been in a position to steal the opening-night video from Mr. Cunningham’s office and tape over it with Amber’s montage.”
Ed applauded enthusiastically. “Nicely played, Sherlock Holmes.”
“Donté . . .” Kitty slowly rose to her feet and began to pace in a tight circle. “He and Mika were so pissed at me. And they’ve both been distant lately.” Then she laughed, manic and uncontrolled. “Oh my God, Margot. You’re right! It’s because they were keeping this secret. From me of all people. Isn’t that freaking hilarious?”
“Less hilarious,” Ed said, “if the cops figure out that they’re involved.”
Margot looked up at Logan and opened her mouth to say something, but Logan cut her off. “Don’t apologize.”
Margot blushed. “I didn’t want anything to happen to you. The less you knew about what was going on, the safer you were.”
“Now it’s my turn to keep you safe.”
Ed wanted to strangle him. “And how are you going to do that?” he asked, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
“For starters,” Logan said, squeezing Margot’s hand, “I’m not letting her out of my sight ever again.”
“I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Mejia will have something to say about that,” Ed replied.
“What’s your damage, dude?” Logan asked. “You’ve been on my case all freaking day.”
“I—”
“You have got to be kidding me!”
Kitty’s head whipped around to the doorway, now occupied by the scowling figure of Sergeant Callahan. He wasn’t in uniform, instead comically out of place in dress slacks, a striped button-down shirt, and a sports jacket.
“You guys again?” he said.
“Sergeant Callahan.” Ed raised his hand for a high five. “Long time, no arrest!”
Sergeant Callahan glared at him. “Don’t tempt me.”
Ed grinned. “That is a nice business-casual look you’ve got going on.”
“It was date night with Mrs. Callahan,” he said, then added under his breath, “who is going to kill me.” Then he turned to Kitty. “You want to explain to me what you’re doing here?”
“We were here helping a friend,” Logan answered, “when we heard Margot was awake.”
“Well, now I’m going to need you all to vacate,” Sergeant Callahan said sternly. “I have some important questions to ask Margot.”
“Will do, sir,” Ed said. He grabbed Kitty and yanked her toward the door.
“Sergeant Callahan,” Kitty said, shaking Ed off. She looked to Margot, who nodded her head quickly, decisively. She seemed to know exactly what Kitty was thinking: spill everything to Sergeant Callahan once and for all before someone else gets killed.
Sergeant Callahan sighed impatiently. “Yes?”
“We need to talk to you about the murders.”
“For chrissakes!” Sergeant Callahan planted his hands on his hips. “What did I tell you guys about interfering? I’ve got three unsolved murders, five missing persons, and as we speak the FBI has taken over my office at the station. So the last thing I need is you guys coming to me with crazy theories.”
“But we know who the killer is!” Kitty cried.
“Kitty,” Ed said with a nervous chuckle. “I’m not sure we should be bothering the nice police officer with this.”
Sergeant Callahan arched an eyebrow. “Really? What’s his name? A description of what he looks like? Home address? Maybe the kind of car he drives? Do you have any of that information?”
“Er, no,” Kitty said. “But we know—” She paused. Something on his wrist glittered in the harsh overhead lights, drawing her eye. It appeared to be a very expensive watch. Like the one Amber Stevens might have given to Ronny DeStefano.
If I was the killer, you’d be the next victim on my list.
“Yes?” Sergeant Callahan said. “I’m waiting. What is it you know?”
“Nothing,” Kitty said, forcing a smile. “You know, you’re right. We’re way out of our league here.” She grabbed Ed by the arm and hustled him toward the door. “I’m sorry we wasted your time.”
“It’s okay,” he said, clearly taken aback by the radical shift in the conversation. “I suggest you kids go home, go to sleep, and keep your noses out of this before you wind up in custody on federal charges. Do you understand me?”
“Can Logan stay?” Margot asked. “He was there that night, you know. In the theater.”
“Mr. Blaine has already answered my questions,” Sergeant Callahan said with a softer tone than he’d used since his arrival. “And I do think we should be alone.”
“It’s okay,” Logan said, standing up. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. “I won’t go far.”
Kitty felt Ed’s arm tense up.
“Promise?” Margot asked.
Logan smiled. “From now on, I’ll always be right by your side.”
“Why didn’t you tell him?” Logan asked, hurrying down the hall after them.
Kitty paused in front of the elevator and released her grip on Ed’s arm. “He’s not going to listen to us.”
“He might have,” Logan said, “if you showed him the photo and the note. They need to know about Sunday.”
Kitty shook her head. “Sergeant Callahan isn’t going to do anything about Sunday.”
“Why not?” Ed asked tentatively.
“Because he’s wearing Amber’s dad’s Rolex.”
“The sergeant is the killer?” Logan asked, clearly confused.
“Oh, come on,” Ed said. “You can’t really believe Sergeant Callahan is behind all this. That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Kitty’s mind raced. “Amber was right at the station today. We’ve done more productive research than the entire police department. Why? Because someone on the inside is thwarting the investigation.” Without even realizing it, she’d begun to pace. “If he’s not the killer, then he’s protecting someone. Either way, he’s involved.”
“Who are we going to tell?” Logan asked. “Should we go to his boss?”
“No!” Ed cried.
Kitty arched an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“I just meant that his captain isn’t going to listen to us,” Ed said. He cleared his throat. “And if Sergeant Callahan finds out we’re on to him, it would be a disaster.”
Kitty nodded. “Good point.” Every once in a while, it was good to have Ed around.
“We can’t do nothing!” Logan cried.
Kitty stopped abruptly and glanced down the hallway toward Margot’s room. Going up against Sergeant Callahan was dangerous, but for once they had the upper hand. If they struck now, they could catch him in the act. But they were going to need reinforcements.
“What?” Logan asked, sensing her excitement. “What are you planning?”
Kitty slowly turned back to them. “Time to call in the cavalry.”