Eric spat in disgust, narrowly missing Lindsey’s shoes. “Bitch!” He turned abruptly, shoving her away, and raced out of the alley. “Both of you! Bitches! You don’t know anything. Can’t prove anything.”

Carly took her friend’s arm. “Come on. We’re getting a coffee.” She led her inside, selected a table near the back, then hurried to the counter to order two coffees and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. Not the healthiest—and probably not as good as Tina’s—but this was a time for comfort food.

Once they’d relaxed for a few minutes, Carly clasped Lindsey’s hand. “So what’s going on?” She’d begun to guess some of it, but why leave to guesswork what evidence could provide?

Lindsey closed her eyes for a moment. “You know, the whole thing about animals—cows and sheep and horses—being released from their pens and paddocks? Not stolen, but…let go? Well, I just found out that Eric’s behind it.”

Carly made what she considered a heroic effort to stay calm. Not to react. Still holding Lindsey’s hand, she said, “Tell me how you found out.”

Lindsey sighed. “His cell phone, of course. He had photos on it, selfies of him basically committing the crimes, and he was stupid enough to leave it on the table here while he went to the bathroom. And it wasn’t only him. Some of his loser friends, like Jeff Nolan and Freddie Lansing, were part of it, too. They’re in a few of the photos, so I know who they are.” After a tearful pause, she shook her head. “I’m sure he’s already deleted the pictures.”

“We can’t ignore this,” Carly said decisively.

Lindsey nodded.

“All right, I’m going to get Eli’s cell number from Cord right now, and then I’ll call him, make an appointment for us. Okay?”

Another nod.

Carly texted Cord with a vague message and received Eli’s private cell number minutes later. No questions from Cord, just the info she’d requested. She left Eli a voice mail, explaining that she and Lindsey urgently needed to meet with him. He got back to her in a minute or so, and said he’d see them at the office in half an hour.