“You okay?” Scott asked. “You spaced out for a couple of seconds there.”

“No, I’m good. You’re right. Let’s get something to eat.” She reached into her purse and handed him her keys. They had taken her car from the city, but she was always happy to let someone else drive.

They were almost to the Audi when a black Dodge Charger pulled into the parking lot, slowing as it approached them. The driver’s tinted window rolled down, and she recognized Carter Decker.

“Someone called in a complaint about leaflets littering the beach.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Fine. Write me a ticket then.”

“Hey, it’s nothing like that, okay? The only reason I even heard about the complaint was it’s yet another ‘summer people are fucking assholes’ stories making the rounds in the department. When I heard it was a missing person flyer for Hope, I figured I’d find you here. Email me the PDF, and I’ll have some of our high school volunteers post some more of them around town tonight, okay?”

Next to her, Scott held out his hand toward the open car window. “Hi. Scott Parker.”

“Oh sorry,” Lindsay said. “This is Detective Decker. I’ve mentioned him to you.”

Decker gave Scott’s hand a quick shake. “I can only imagine.”

“Why are you suddenly helping me?” Lindsay asked.

He tapped the steering wheel a few times before answering. “Look, I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot. Hope’s case may not meet the markers for the response you’re looking for from the police department, but we also serve a community caretaking function, and you’re still looking for your friend. I’m not your enemy here.”

“Did you even bother to look into the College Hill Strangler case?”

Lindsay could see that Scott was thinking of intervening, but she gave him a look that made him stand down.

“Not that I’d normally share this information,” Decker said, “but yes, I’ve been in contact with the Wichita Police Department, our own major crimes team, and the FBI. As I explained to your father, there’s no reason to believe that particular case is connected.”

“So you just let women disappear under your jurisdiction and don’t give a rip?”

“I never said that. But maybe it’s possible you’re paying too much attention to a random DNA sample.”

She shook her head. “And maybe you’re not paying enough attention . . . to anything.”

“Well, you’ve got my email for those flyers if you want to use it.”

As he drove away, Scott finally spoke. “So that’s Decker.”

“I told you he was an ass. He’s already made up his mind about Hope. I don’t trust him. And what was that ‘Hi, Scott Parker’ thing?”

“You didn’t tell me that he’s hot for you.”

“You have to be kidding me.”