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Back Lost Hills Save as PDF
Chapters (49)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. Contents
  5. CHAPTER ONE
  6. CHAPTER TWO
  7. CHAPTER THREE
  8. CHAPTER FOUR
  9. CHAPTER FIVE
  10. CHAPTER SIX
  11. CHAPTER SEVEN
  12. CHAPTER EIGHT
  13. CHAPTER NINE
  14. CHAPTER TEN
  15. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  16. CHAPTER TWELVE
  17. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  18. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  19. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  20. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  21. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  22. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  23. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  44. CHAPTER FORTY
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  48. Author’s Note and Acknowledgments
  49. About the Author

She made a note of the information, thanked him, and was about to start the car when her phone vibrated to signal the arrival of a text. It was from Nan.

Her pillow didn’t have a pillowcase.

There were a lot of reasons Caitlin might not have had a pillowcase on her pillow, but it still struck Eve as odd.

Eve texted.

Did Coyle take the pillowcases from Tanya’s bed?

Nan replied.

Yes. He took all of the bedding, most likely because it was covered with blood and perhaps his own DNA in the form of semen, saliva, or body hair.

That made sense. It also explained why he left Caitlin’s bedding behind. There was no blood on it.

But did he take Caitlin’s pillowcase? And if so, why? Did he need it to carry something? If so, what?

It was frustrating. The last thing Eve needed was more questions. What she wanted now were answers.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Parkway Realty was in an old storefront shopping center that had been remodeled to match the architectural style of the Commons and its Rolex clock tower across the street. The real estate office was tucked in a corner of the shopping center between a clothing store that sold $500 jeans and a bakery that sold $12 cupcakes, prices Eve would never pay for either item.

Eve badged the petite blonde twentysomething receptionist at Parkway’s front desk, asked to see Donna Stokes, and was greeted instead by Clarissa Kelton, who introduced herself as the managing Realtor.

Clarissa was long limbed and long necked, her equine physique underscored by a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and the skintight Ariat horse-riding breeches that she was wearing. Eve was sure that Clarissa had a crop to go with the ensemble.

“How may I help you, Detective?” Clarissa asked, looking down her long, narrow nose at Eve.

“I’d like to talk with Donna Stokes.”

“Donna hasn’t been in for a few days. The last time I saw her was Monday, but I’m in and out a lot myself, showing houses.” Clarissa turned to the receptionist. “How about you, Tess?”

“I don’t go anywhere,” Tess said. “I haven’t seen her since Tuesday.”

“Is it unusual for Donna not to visit the office for days?” Eve asked.

“Not really. Realtors aren’t required to spend time in here. I have some who work almost entirely out of their cars,” Clarissa said. “Donna could be out of town or maybe she got lucky. There was one time she hooked up with a guy on Tinder, a tantric sex instructor, and she didn’t come up for air for three days.”

“It’s not as fun as it sounds,” Tess said. “After a few hours, it starts to feel like constipation.”

Clarissa regarded Tess with a raised, sharply tweezed eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Eve asked, “Do either of you have Donna’s cell phone number and home address?”