The footsteps returned, and Avery moved toward the trash can. “Unless you want my pee stick by your coffee, you’ll have to come toward the trash can and have a look.”

Spencer rose and with no fanfare crossed the room and looked at the stick. It was white.

Avery held up the test jar with the color bar on the side. “As you can see, white is negative.”

“How do I know you peed on the stick?” he asked.

“I’ll do the next one right in front of you if that’s what it takes to prove I’m clean.”

He had no doubt. “Not necessary.”

She dropped the stick in the trash can, crossed to the sink, and washed her hands. “Now that we’ve cleared that up, you can rule me out as a potential victim.”

“Did you ever know Marco Walker’s girlfriend Elena Sanchez?” Spencer asked. “Or her friend Laura Davis?”

Avery folded her arms and leaned against the counter. “Unless they were around Walker two years ago, I didn’t know her. Back in the day, Walker had several girlfriends at a time. None of them, including me, lasted very long.”

“Because he was violent?” Jordan asked.

“Yeah. And he liked to farm his girls out to his friends,” she said. “If he owed anyone a favor, he got one of his girls to pay the debt back. I always refused. Pissed Walker off, and he told me to get out. I did and got clean for a couple of months. It was harder than I realized, and I returned to him that last time.”

“Any of Walker’s friends have an obsession with strangulation?” he asked.

Avery studied him closely. “Jordan told you how she found me that last time, didn’t she?”

“She did,” he said.

“It’s too close to the current cases to ignore, Avery,” Jordan said.

“Are you saying I could have been this guy’s victim?” Avery asked.

“I don’t know,” Jordan said. “But I can’t rule it out.”

“What do you remember about that night?” Spencer asked.

Avery’s cheeks flushed. “Not much after I got high. It was powerful stuff.”

“Who tied your hands?” Spencer asked.

“Walker. Like I said, the rest was all a blur.” Avery rested her hands on her hips and tipped her head toward the ceiling. “If I had more to tell you, I would. But I don’t remember. Is there anything else you want to ask me?”

“No,” Spencer said.

Jordan raised her chin. “Know that I trust you. But I had to ask.”

“You sound like Rogan,” Avery said.

“Who is Rogan?” Spencer asked.

“I saw him for a few therapy sessions when Avery was struggling,” Jordan said. “I needed someone to talk to, and he encouraged me to talk through what I was feeling. Can’t say I’ve mastered the talent.”