‘Can you describe this person?’ Cord asked.

‘His back was to me, so I didn’t see his face, but he was tall’ – she blinked in a manner Alyssa could only assume was intended to be flirtatious – ‘about as tall as you, but not as broad-shouldered.’ She reached out and touched Cord, her manicured fingernails playing with the hairs on his arms.

Alyssa wondered if anyone else noticed how Cord stiffened before he smoothly removed his arm by shifting his stance.

‘Okay, tall like me. What about his hair? Was it dark? Light? Do you remember what he was wearing?’

‘Dark brown hair, like Gabriel’s. And his clothes were business attire.’

‘You said this man’s vehicle was blocking the sidewalk,’ Alyssa said, ignoring the way the woman’s nostrils flared before shooting daggers her way. ‘Did you happen to notice the make or model or maybe catch a glimpse of the license plate?’

‘No.’

Alyssa didn’t let the sharp, one-word response rattle her or stop her from forging forward with her questions. If Ms. Carpenter had information that might help them solve this case and bring the girls home, she was going to pry it out of her one way or another. ‘Did you overhear what they were arguing about?’

This time Barbara Carpenter huffed out an insulted breath of air. ‘I’m not into eavesdropping.’

Methinks you protest too much, Alyssa thought. It was what her husband always said to the kids after they got busted and refused to admit to whatever wrongdoing had been discovered.

‘Of course you’re not. That’s not what my partner was implying.’ Alyssa recognized Cord’s tone; it was the one he used when he was trying to charm someone into taking the irritation down a notch. As usual, it worked. ‘Is there anything else you can think of that might help us?’

‘No, I don’t think so. But I do hope you’ll find whoever did this. I won’t feel safe until you do.’ Ms. Carpenter actually fanned her face like an old-fashioned damsel in distress. If it weren’t for two missing girls’ lives being at stake, Alyssa might’ve found it amusing.

‘I appreciate you taking the time to come in. I’m going to have Ruby’ – he tipped his head – ‘take down your contact information before you go.’ Ms. Carpenter’s face lit up like a Fourth of July finale when he pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to her. ‘In case you think of anything else that might assist us.’

Alyssa didn’t bother to give her card to Gabriel’s neighbor because she doubted it would make it farther than the nearest trash can. After Ms. Carpenter left – with a hopeful and suggestive peek back at Cord – she turned to the young officer who still stood patiently off to the side. ‘Sandra, right? Did you need to speak to me about something?’