“I don’t know,” said Zelda. “Our patients aren’t prisoners, and we cannot hold them here against their will, you know. This center is devoted entirely to voluntary rehabilitation.”

“Because if cases were sent to you by the state, the state would have oversight on your operation,” Bruxton sneered.

“How did Claudia leave? Did she call a taxi?” I asked.

“She went with Brenda,” Zelda said.

“Brenda Collins, the cleaning lady?”

“Yes. Many of the girls here form—I mean, formed—close friendships with Brenda,” Zelda said. “She does errands for them, or takes them out if they, ah, need something.”

“Brenda’s brother was the local drug dealer,” Bruxton snapped. “You think that had anything to do with Brenda’s popularity among the addicts?”

CHAPTER 36

We drove back with Bruxton, picking up a couple of pizzas on the way to the motel. He checked in and came over to our room. “Make yourself at home, detective,” said Jesse. “Figure anything out yet?”

“I don’t like loose ends,” said Bruxton. “There are too many here. Claudia Moore is missing. Trina Greene is dead. Brenda Collins is dead. Dr. Gorevale, patient molester, is dead. Nothing adds up.”

“Tariq Lawrence was shot,” I added. “His driver was killed.”

“You’re making me feel like a wuss for just getting suspended,” said Bruxton. “There’s been a lot of blood spilled over something we can’t figure out. Trina Greene’s death was suspicious. Brenda Collins’s was clearly murder. Gorevale’s is just freaky. Martin Sklar tried to murder Tariq, but what kind of connection could there be between him and, say, Trina Greene?”

“You don’t think Martin killed her, do you?” Even though I’d lost faith in my ex, I didn’t believe he was running around killing people. Even if he had threatened Kaylee Quan.

“New Year’s Eve at your sister’s building, someone knocked out the power and took out the security camera,” said Bruxton. “That’s the work of a pro, not an amateur. Thanks to your nosy neighbor Mrs. Decarno, we know two men went to your sister’s apartment that night. Trina Greene was killed on purpose. Every instinct tells me she was.”

We were silent for a moment. “I should call Padma to find out how Tariq is doing,” I said.

“Why don’t we take this party to my room?” said Bruxton. He and Jesse shuffled out with the pizzas and drinks. I called Padma and talked to her for a few minutes. She had seen Tariq that afternoon, just for a few minutes, and she was elated. “The doctor said she had never seen such a strong will as my cousin’s,” she said proudly. “He is doing much better than they predicted.”