“We weren’t exactly speaking at that point.”

“In the days or weeks before her death, did Chloe have any event she attended where there might have been a photographer—a wedding or a modeling job?”

Alice paused to think. “Yes. She did some modeling. She was behind on rent and got this gig at…I think it was the auto show. Is that in March? She paid her March and April rent with the money.”

Niki pulled out her phone and sent a text to Matty. Check auto show for connection to Chloe. “Did she say anything about meeting a photographer at the auto show?”

“Like I said, we weren’t talking much, but maybe. I think it was later that week when she said something about getting some headshots done.”

“And you told Detective Voss that the guy drove a black SUV?”

“He pulled up in front and honked, and that irritated me. I went to the window and saw Chloe get into this older, black— It was big, but I wouldn’t call it a truck either.”

Niki pulled up a stock photo of a 1986 Chevy Blazer she had on her phone. “Did it look like this?”

“Yeah. It could have been one of those.”

Then Niki pulled up the same year model of a Ford Bronco. “What about this?”

“They look alike to me, but yeah—except it had that mark on the door.”

Niki perked up. “What mark?”

“A faded spot. It looked like a big teardrop. I told the other detective about it—at least I think…” She looked at Niki as though struggling to find a memory. “I’m sure I did.”

“There’s nothing in the file about any tear-shaped mark. Can you describe it more?”

Alice held up her hands to indicate a circle the size of a turkey platter. “It was about this big around, with…you know, a point at the top like it was a tear or a drop of water. The truck was black and the mark was kind of gray, like it had faded where there used to be a sign or something.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

“I’m sure I told that detective about it.”

“Did you see the driver?”

“No. The windows were tinted.”

“Anything else you remember about the truck or the guy?”

Alice took a minute to think on it then shook her head no. “I’m sorry, I can’t remember anything more.”

Niki’s phone dinged. “Excuse me a second.” She opened the text and found a set of pictures from Matty. High-end cars—Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches—all parked inside the Minneapolis Convention Center. Niki had seen those pictures on Spencer’s website, filed under corporate events, but hadn’t given them much thought. Matty’s message read:

Spencer shot publicity for

T.C. Auto Show. March 15-17.

1 week before death.

There would be surveillance footage and photos from that event, tons of them. If they could find one with Chloe and Gavin together, it would fill in Gavin’s MO. It wasn’t a lock, but this was a step in the right direction.