Although Mandy felt bad for Crystal, she bore no guilt. She didn’t know Garth’s plan, and wasn’t there when it happened. Crystal was not her fault. And she didn’t seem to feel much guilt about Adrianna, either. Mandy was quick to point out that the whole thing—meaning Adrianna’s death—was just a terrible “accident.”

And yet here Mandy was, embroiled in a scheme that would certainly end in her being sentenced to do hard time, and maybe forever. Why did she agree to go along with Garth’s plans? How did he convince her to participate in such horrible things?

“He’d…expose me,” she told him.

The BP monitor beeped loudly. Decker knew he was working on borrowed time. “But you knew it would come out, Mandy. That you gave Adrianna Pavulon. Why compound your mistake? Why not just go to the police? That was your first instinct and it was a good one.”

“It wasn’t just Adrianna,” she moaned. “It was the other…he’d expose me.”

Decker said, “You mean the snapshots of you in leather?”

Again, the BP monitor started beeping. She was silent.

Decker took a logical guess. “And there were sex tapes, too.”

“He’d…expose me.”

The nurse came in. Again, he was asked to leave.

Decker was going back to L.A. in a few hours. It was now or not for a long time. He said, “Who took the pictures and the tapes, Mandy? It might help your case down the road. It’s important that we know.”

“Crystal Larabee,” Mandy whispered. “The bitch…”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

AT SEVEN IN the morning, Decker thought he’d have the squad room to himself, but Wanda Bontemps was already at her desk, her attention focused on the computer. She didn’t even look up when he came through the door.

“Good morning,” Decker said, out loud.

Wanda greeted him with a smile that opened up her face. It wasn’t one of those “nice day, isn’t it” kind of looks, but a “we got the bastard” grin. “Have a minute?”

Decker motioned her into his office. Wanda was wearing a hunter green blouse and black slacks, with Vans on her feet. Under her arm was a case folder. He closed the door and the two of them sat down. “What do you have for me?”

She laid the papers on his desk. “A copy of Roxanne Holly’s homicide file.”

“It’s very thick. Want to cover the highlights?”

“You’ve got it.” Wanda took out her notes. “According to Roxanne Holly’s roommate, Latitia Bohem, Roxanne went out for drinks at a local restaurant called El Gaucho and never returned. The place was about four blocks from Roxanne’s apartment. Lots of locals go there. It was a balmy night, so she decided to walk.”

“Alone and in the dark?”

“Yes.”

“Never a good idea.”